CHRSTMAS TREE DECORATING TIPS

What do you need?

1. A healthy Christmas Tree & Stand that holds water

• If you are buying a cut tree, cut an inch or so off the bottom of the trunk before putting in its stand. If you haven’t cleared space in your home for the tree yet, place the trunk in a large bucket of water in a cool, shaded, sheltered spot like an unheated garage (or a covered porch, if it doesn’t get below freezing in your area).
• Trees can absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first 24 hours, so it’s crucial that your tree stays well hydrated. They can absorb up to a quart of water per day for every inch of its diameter, especially in the first week.
• The old wives tale of adding turpentine to the water has no scientific proof of actually working. Be very careful when using turpentine as if it gets on your skin it can case a reaction.  The smell is also off putting and takes away from the lovely pine scent.
• A good Christmas tree stand should be at least 24 to 30 inches in diameter. The larger the diameter of the stand, the greater the support will be for the tree. This not only ensures that the tree is straight in the stand, but it makes it more difficult for the tree to tip over. It’s also important that the tree stand be big enough to hold the full diameter of the tree trunk.
• The Christmas tree stand needs to have solid contact with the floor for stability. If you have a deep carpet in the room where you want to put your tree, put a sturdy piece of plywood under the stand (the tree skirt will cover it if you cut the board down to size).
• Live Christmas trees need to have their bases constantly submerged in fresh, clean water to keep the tree as moist as possible. Trees that are allowed to dry out are an extreme fire hazard. Some Christmas tree stands have a water reservoir in the base, which helps to keep the tree adequately watered.
• A good rule of thumb is to fill the reservoir with one gallon of water, or add one quarter for every inch of the tree’s trunk diameter. Check the water every day and refill it to the original surface level as needed.

 

2. Start with the lights first

Tyes of Lights:

1. Traditional Incandescent Lights

These Christmas tree lights, which come in a variety of sizes and colours, are the most popular type of tree lights. They can also be used outdoors. They warm up the branches of a real tree, which will release the scent of pine into the room.

2. LED Lights

These Christmas tree lights are newer than the traditional incandescent lights and don’t produce heat. They’re typically more expensive, but they are flameproof, fireproof, and completely safe to decorate a Christmas tree with.

3. Globe Lights

These Christmas tree lights are round and come in many sizes. They look like balls of color on the tree, and while they have a softer glow than mini lights, the light they produce covers a larger area on the tree.

How many lights?

We recommend approximately 100 lights per 1½’ of your Christmas tree’s height, but if you want yours to have some extra sparkle, you can place 100 lights per 1’ of height.

Steps for putting on your lights:

• Before stringing lights on a tree, check that they’re in working order.
• Use the plug as the starting point, wrapping the lights around your Christmas tree’s trunk, working your way up from the centre of the base of your tree. Continue wrapping the lights evenly around the branches nearest to the trunk, and then weave it upwards from the middle of the crown.
• When you reach the crown, weave your way back down, arranging the lights further out on the branches.

3. How Many Christmas Tree Ornaments?

Below are guidelines for the number of average-sized ornaments to place on a tree.

5′ Tall Tree: ~50 ornaments
6′ Tall Tree: ~65 ornaments
7′ Tall Tree: ~135 ornaments
8′ Tall Tree: ~150 ornaments

Balance the décor

Given the many Christmas tree decorations you’re likely to have, you have to ensure that everything is well-balanced and spread out to your liking.

• Arrange embellishments from the top of the tree and then work towards the bottom. This way, you can easily check your design as you dress up your tree to create a balanced, visually pleasing tree, buy baubles in threes, sixes, or twelves, and add these on first in a ‘Z’ shape.
• You should hang larger baubles closer to the centre of the tree to give it more depth, and use small ones towards the end of the branches.
• Dangle delicate glass baubles at the top of the tree to prevent any breakages, and add special ones last to ensure they are in the perfect position.

4. Layer and style ribbons

Another great tip is to layer your Christmas tree with decorative ribbons, which will elevate your tree’s aesthetic. We suggest you use one type of ribbon or pair ribbons of contrasting textures and different widths to create more impact. Ribbons with wired edges are easier to sculpt into loops, rolls or bows, and they hold shape better than non-wired ribbons.

5. Use tree picks

• Using Christmas tree picks and sprays is a creative way to fill in the sparse areas of your tree.
• Tree picks and floral sprays come in many forms and add a different kind of texture to the whole look., such as decorated branches, twigs, berries, or even pine cones – use them as subtle accents to complement the entire look of your tree. Grouping picks together using floral wire is a creative way to elevate the visual appeal of your tree without overpowering other decorations.
• They are great for adding lively splashes of colour, not only to Christmas trees, but to wreaths and garlands, too. Make sure to choose picks with bendable stems to make shaping easier.

 

6. Choose the right tree topper

A statement tree topper is a beautiful way to complete the designer look of your tree. Make sure to choose one that best fits your theme and the proportion of your tree and take into consideration the height of your ceiling too. Star tree toppers or angels are traditionally the most popular, but there are lots of alternative designs to choose from, including personalized designs, or you could make your own topper.

 

7. Finish off with a tree skirt

A Christmas tree skirt is the finishing touch to your decorations and serves to balance the overall design of your Christmas tree. Tree skirts have many benefits too, from covering the unsightly ‘legs’, trunk or stand of a tree, to protecting your floors and carpets from any fallen pine needles (if you have a real tree).

It naturally draws attention to the tree’s lower portion and helps to produce a complete, harmonious look. Plus, it’s the perfect backdrop for beautifully wrapped Christmas presents.

There are many web sites offering suggestions on themes, DIY sites, great for the whole family to do together and are more personal and memorable.