Christmas Tree Decoration Guide: Streamlined Steps to Create a Fashionable Holiday Tree
The All-Purpose Guide for a Spectacularly Decorated Christmas Tree
Ever wondered about the perfect approach to adorning your Christmas tree, real or artificial? Let's face it, it's not just about throwing Christmas decorations haphazardly and hoping for the best. Though there's a plethora of Christmas tree ideas out there, some generic tips can apply regardless of your desired tree style.
I'm a seasoned interior stylist, answering some frequently asked questions: What's the optimal order for decorating? How to achieve an even distribution of ornaments? What may be missing, causing my tree to look barren? This guide simplifies the Christmas tree decorating process for you, now and forever.
What's the Series of Events for Decorating a Christmas Tree?
For the best possible outcome, take a systematic approach to decorating your tree. Unless your Christmas tree is completely bereft of ornaments, follow this methodology:
- Lights
- Garlands
- Large decorations
- Regular ornaments
- Special ornaments
- Sprays and filler foliage
Following the removal of the tree from its box and preliminary decorations, there's one crucial step you shouldn't neglect: "When it comes to artificial trees, dedicate time to fluffing every single branch," says David Lawson, Christmas tree designer and founder of David Lawson Design. "Although not the most entertaining task, it significantly enhances the final outcome."
Raring to go? Let's embark on this festive journey.
1. Light Up the Night
"Following the fluffing, we move on to the lights," David explains. "I always start at the base and progressively ascend." Opting for a pre-lit Christmas tree is a massive timesaver, particularly given the tedious task of untangling lighting before installation.
Experiment with various Christmas light hacks. Generally, I prefer the zig-zag method for placing Christmas lights, but some enthusiasts insist on putting them around the trunk's core for a fuller appearance. Make your choices before adorning the tree with ornaments.
2. Introduce the Garlands
Garlands play a crucial role in Christmas living room décor, not only your fireplace. This category encompasses long decorative pieces that need to be wrapped around the tree. Place these garlands beforehand to establish their impact on the overall structure of the Christmas tree décor rather than encountering obstacles during the placement of other ornaments.
Priced at $9.99I chose these Scandi wooden bead garlands to bring a form to this tree.
3. Display Larger-Scale Decorations
We can now introduce the first layer of our larger decorations. Although you might not possess oversized options like the wood-effect starts from Amazon, adhering to the principle of starting from the largest to smallest helps define the dominant elements of the design early on.
Depending on your strategy, you might prefer larger decorations at the tree's bottom, gradually diminishing in size as they ascend, or evenly dispersed from bottom to top. The zig-zag technique is useful in this scenario – avoid symmetry but encourage the eye to travel vertically.
Priced at $18.99I bought these wood-effect stars from Amazon to grace this Christmas tree, very impressed by their quality.
4. Work with Smaller, Regular Ornaments
Before you get carried away with your other ornaments, categorize your baubles:
- Simple and filler ornaments
- Cohesive sets with an increased degree of appeal
- Special one-offs
First, we'll introduce the middle section of the more recognizable ornaments you have in multiples, balancing them across the tree. Then move on to the simple ornaments or the filler baubles, filling gaps carefully but avoiding overfilling at this stage.
5. Save the Best for Last
David Lawson suggests leaving your most precious Christmas tree ornaments until the very end. "I add the most special ones at the conclusion so I can select prime locations for them," the Christmas tree designer shares.
6. Incorporate Sprays and Filler Foliage
Picks, also known as sprays, are an excellent way to add volume to your Christmas tree. "I finish off by adding foliage, hazel branches, grapevine, etc., to add texture and visual interest," explains Lawson.
The beauty of these sprays lies in their narrow entry point into the tree, allowing for volume addition to fill out any gaps left during the fluffing process. Budget-friendly gypsophila trees are also trendy, enhancing even sparse-looking trees.
7. The Final Touches
Always evaluate your tree from various angles, especially those visible to guests.
Once satisfied with the layout, introduce your tree topper, and something to mask the base. This could be a pot or basket, a tree skirt, or simply wrapped gifts.
FAQs
Which Elements Should be Placed First on the Christmas Tree?
A common question, what belongs at the beginning on the Christmas tree? If your tree isn't pre-lit, the first item should be the lights. Following assurance of their arrangement, proceed with the larger ornaments, placing the heaviest ones to ensure contact with the strongest branches. Then layer medium-sized and smaller ornaments, reserving the favorites for the finishing touches. By following this step-by-step, you're sure to get it right!
Use artful decoration and rustic charm to elevate your living room's atmosphere during the holiday season. Instead of following trends blindly, infuse a personal touch by integrating textures and designs that resonate with your home-and-garden lifestyle.
Consider incorporating beaded garlands from Scandinavian artisans to complement the wooden bead garlands surrounding your adorned Christmas tree. These materials help create an intriguing texture and seamlessly blend with the rustic theme that many favorable Christmas tree trends embrace.
Embrace the rustic trend in more subtle ways, such as introducing wooden decorations, displayed alongside vintage ornaments inherited from family or purchased from quaint home-and-garden stores. This approach helps preserve the nostalgia of the past while embracing the winter season's warmth and coziness.
From decorating techniques to selecting the right accessories, creating a visually appealing Christmas tree is possible with the right guidance. Find inspiration in resources dedicated to demonstrating Christmas decoration trends and implementing them successfully in your own home-and-garden lifestyle.
