How to decorate a Christmas tree

Check what decorations you’ve already got

Once all the decs have been dragged down from the loft, lay them out so you can remind yourself what’s there!

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. 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! You're probably wondering how many lights you'll need for your tree - the general rule-of-thumb is to have around 100 lights per foot of your tree.

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.

If your tree is in front of a window, don't forget to wrap the lights around the back of the tree as well, or grab a set of curtain lights to give your window some sparkle.

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.