How to decorate a Christmas tree
Nothing says Christmas more than putting the tree up. What better way to get stuck in than with some hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine and some nibbles? Pop on some Christmas music and get stuck in! Here are just a few of our favourite little wins to transform your tree into a magical centrepiece.
Get in the Christmas spirit
Putting the tree up is a big Christmas event for the whole family, so start by getting everyone into the spirit! Pop some cheesy Christmas tunes on, pour some hot chocolate (or mulled wine for the grown ups!), throw on some cosy Christmas pjs and get ready to feel festive! Remember to give yourself plenty of time so you’re not rushing to get it finished, and you can properly enjoy it!
When you’ve picked the perfect spot for your tree, start by giving the floor and skirting boards a good clean (especially if you’ve had to move furniture to make room for it!). Once all the decs have been dragged down from the loft, lay them out so you can remind yourself what’s there!
Top tip: When packing your decs away again for next year, pop them into labelled storage boxes to make next year’s decorating day a breeze!
Check what decorations you’ve already got
Don’t start decorating your tree until you know what look you want, what decorations you already have and what you want to buy this year.
Have you chosen a theme? Or are you going to mix it up this year? Are all your old baubles and lights in good condition or do you need some replacements?
Trying to watch the pennies this year? How about starting a tradition of making your own decorations, something the whole family could get involved in. Do that every year and imagine all those happy memories dangling from your tree in ten years’ time!
No matter what look you decide to go far, planning ahead at this stage will help make sure you get a Christmas tree you’re happy with and make all that hard work worth it.
Give your tree a good fluff!
Got an artificial tree? Once you’ve unpacked and assembled it, decided on your theme and sorted out all your decorations, it’s time for the fun to really begin!
Get started by fluffing out the branches! Trust us when we say, you don’t want to miss this step out.
Opening out the branches will make the tree look fuller, so be sure to separate every single one to cover as much area as possible. As you bend each branch, alternate the direction and fill all the gaps.
Spoiler alert: we’ve got plenty more ways to fill some of the gaps later on so don’t worry if your tree’s not yet looking its best!
Top tip: Take a step back and look from the opposite corner of the room at a wider angle as you may spot a gap you missed closer up.
Light it up
Next, it’s time to add some lights! It’s important to know how many you’ll need based on the size of your tree so here’s a handy guide to help!
Before hanging your lights, quickly plug them into a power socket to check they’re in working order – especially if they’re last year’s lights that have been in hibernation for a year.
If your tree isn’t sitting close to a power socket, make sure you’ve got an extension lead handy too.
As you hang the lights, start from the top and snake your way down from left to right. Aim for the lights to finish at the bottom of the tree nearest the power socket.As you go, tuck the lights into the centre of the tree so the wires are well hidden.
Bring out the baubles!
Now it’s time to add some colour and sparkle with the all-important baubles!
Start by hanging multipack baubles - these will be your base layer. It’s always good to have at least one pack of these, as the colours will all co-ordinate, saving you time matching everything together. As you go, avoid hanging duplicate colours next to one another.
When hanging statement baubles, hang them in groups of three in a triangle shape to make sure they look balanced and don’t overpower a certain area.
Tree still looking a little sparse? Just a few oversized baubles in coordinating colours can really add ‘wow’ factor and bulk it out.
If you’ve got little ones, they’re bound to have heard of the naughty elf. If you’re setting up the tree when they’re asleep, how about hiding one in the tree for them to find in the morning to really kick-start the advent mayhem?
Top tip: Keep any delicate baubles safe from little hands and paws by removing the top from the bauble and shortening the string so it’s harder to pull from the branch. If the bauble’s a little heavy, hang it as normal and then bend the branch back on itself (artificial trees only!) to trap the string and prevent any sliding.
Add your magical finishing touches
Once the decorations are done, finish by filling any gaps with garlands, tinsel, sprigs or bows. Weave garlands in and out of the branches in an upwards, diagonal direction for maximum effect.
Now all that’s left to do is add the final finishing touches. First take a step back and check for any gaps, (or ask someone else to check for you) and fill any in you spot. If you live in a busy home with little ones and pets, it’s probably a good idea to give the tree a quick shake just to make sure there’s no loose baubles that can easily be knocked off!
Now for the bit the kids have all been waiting for (and most likely been bickering over…)! It’s time to add the topper! When the kids have helped to carefully add this all-important finishing touch (without knocking the whole thing down!), it’s time to stand back and admire all your hard work.
Finish by covering the tree base with a tree skirt or a faux snow blanket. If you’re wanting to go extra festive this year, why not add some Christmassy ornaments to your lounge? You could even treat the sofa to a festive upgrade with a few Christmas-themed scatter cushions!
After all that effort, now’s the perfect time to treat the family to a cosy evening snuggled on the sofa with blankets watching a cheesy Christmas film, all while munching on a mince pie or two.
Whether you’re wanting to add a little festive magic with some new decs or you can’t wait to see their face light up with that little something you know they’ll love, we’ll help you make the magic go further this Christmas! Take a look at our magical one-stop Christmas shop.
