The best order for decorating a Christmas tree is to create a Christmas tree topper, which can make a statement. A simple pearl garland adds movement without distracting from the ornaments. A rustic burlap-like ribbon is also a great choice.
The first step in decorating a Christmas tree is adding illumination. Christmas lights are one of the most important parts of the tree, and there are no shortage of options when it comes to Christmas tree decorating. Professional Christmas tree decorating tips usually suggest starting with bigger ornaments first, as they fill up space and give a clear sense of direction.
When decorating a tree, two things should be considered: ensuring you choose the right tree for your space and style, and knowing how tall your ceilings are. Most faux Christmas trees come pre-lit, but for those who keep it real during the Christmas season, add the lights first. Fluff the tree, wrap the lights, put on the topper, drape the garland, place filler ornaments on the interior of the tree, and space out large statement ornaments.
The ribbon goes first, followed by spigs or branches, large items (heavy or long), ball ornaments, and treasured ornaments. Place the largest Christmas decorations toward the bottom of the tree, mixing them up.
The first step in decorating a Christmas tree is adding the lights. Tree lights typically come on green or white wire strands, but you can also find them on plain bright shiny balls. For a 6ft tree, 300 bulbs or 15 meters of lights are needed.
Building a theme is the first step in learning how to decorate a Christmas tree professionally. A cohesive theme or concept can help create a visually appealing and festive look for your tree.
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The Christmas tree is the STAPLE of Christmas decorating, and let me tell you–it seems like I’ve tried every theme you could …
Do you put tinsel or baubles on trees first?
To add color to your Christmas tree, use tinsel sparingly, avoiding overloading the tree with decorations and ornaments. Try draping tinsel in and out of branches to create a wave shape, or use a long piece from the bottom to the top. Use extra or small pieces to decorate tabletops or fireplaces, or even create pop-up Christmas trees. Remember to go to tinsel town before putting decorations and ornaments on your tree to avoid snagging. A little tinsel can go a long way, so use it sparingly and enjoy the beauty of your tree.
Do you put ribbon or beads on Christmas tree first?
To achieve a cascading effect on the tree, one should begin by adding lights and then proceed to add ribbon. It is advisable to add ornaments last, in order to avoid damaging them. The process of ribboning should commence at the pinnacle of the tree and conclude with the attachment of the ribbon to the innermost branch. In the event that a natural tree is utilized, this step may be unnecessary, as the needles will serve to maintain the tree’s position.
Does garland go on first or last?
Prior to suspending ornaments, it is recommended to affix garland at the pinnacle of the tree and subsequently proceed in a descending manner.
At what stage do you put ribbon on a Christmas tree?
The use of a bare tree in the decorating process has the advantage of simplicity and eliminates the risk of accidental damage to decorations. The use of different types of ribbons is a further option for achieving this result.
How do you decorate a Christmas tree sequence?
The expert Christmas tree decorating tips include building a theme, fumbling and shaping, stringing lights, dividing the tree into sections, dressing the tree, adding interesting details, adding a tree topper, and finishing with a skirt or collar. To create a unique theme, start with classic ornaments in colors like silver, gold, white, red, and green. Experts often combine large and small ornaments for depth, tucking them deeper within the foliage for a beautiful, layered look. This will help create a unique and festive Christmas tree. Remember to follow the steps outlined below to create a beautiful and layered look.
What goes up first on a Christmas tree?
To create a pre-lit faux Christmas tree, start by adding the lights first. Start from the trunk and wrap around the bottom of the tree, weaving the lights evenly throughout the branches until reaching the top. Using the lights plugged in makes it easier to identify missing lights or areas of the tree. Take a step back at the end of each step and look at the tree from multiple angles to determine what is needed. This will help you avoid the headache of adding decorations after the tree is decorated.
When decorating a Christmas tree, what goes on first?
To decorate a Christmas tree, start by adding green or white wire strands, or black variations if your tree is black. Choose the color that matches your tree to hide the wire. Illuminate the tree from the inside out, starting at the base and working up, wrapping lights around every major branch. Fluff the branches as you work around the tree. Experiment with different lighting schemes until you find one you like.
Mix and match lights, such as a white or clear background with colored strands wrapping the outer areas of the tree. For more information on designing your perfect tree lighting scheme, refer to our complete guide to putting lights on your Christmas tree.
What is the best way to put decorations on a Christmas tree?
To create a visually appealing Christmas tree, balance the décor by arranging embellishments from the top and working towards the bottom. Cluster your baubles in different sizes to add flair and visual appeal. Balsam Hill’s design consultant, Brad Schmidt, recommends clustering three baubles of different sizes in a ‘Z’ shape. Hang larger baubles closer to the center for depth, and use smaller ones towards the end of the branches. The White Company also suggests buying baubles in threes, sixes, or twelves and adding them first in a ‘Z’ shape.
What is the Christmas tree rule?
Christmas trees are traditionally kept up until 12 nights after Christmas, which is also the origin of the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. In the Christian religion, the Christmas season ends on The Feast of Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. Some believe waiting too long after the Twelfth Night could bring bad luck.
To avoid fire hazards, fresh trees can last a month or more if properly cared for. To ensure freshness, buy locally and cut the tree yourself, ideally at a top Christmas tree farm. If the tree is pre-cut, remove a 1/4-inch disk from the bottom to prevent sap from sealing off the bottom and preventing water absorption in the stand.
Ensure the tree stand holds at least a gallon of water per inch of stem diameter, and check the stand daily to ensure the trunk is not submerged. Avoid getting lazy and checking the stand daily to ensure safety.
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I decorated trees for a company that decorated businesses at one time. They also had a huge annual Christmas decor store we decorated also. One of the most important things I learned was garlands are the end all be all of a beautiful Christmas tree. They’re everything! Big thick multi element garlands made from strands of beads or pearls, wide ribbons of different types, lengths of lace, garlands mixed to create larger garlands. A good green garland as a base for it all (thick or not), then picks, ribbon bows, florals, feathers or leaves tucked into the garland for interest. In many cases strings of lights were woven into the garland also. Weave the garland in & out of the tree. Never just wrap it around the outside, tuck it in also. Spiral it from top to bottom. You can also add 2 complimenting garlands and cross them over each other by winding your garland around the tree – 1 clockwise & 1 counter clockwise. The steps to decorating a tree are, assemble the tree, fluff & a basic shaping. Add lights if needed then add the garland. At this point do another shaping. Add the tree topper & large florals/bows/ornaments. Move the branches to form openings for the larger stuff. Do a more fine tuned shaping then add smaller ornaments. Baby’s breath is an amazing addition to most any tree. For heavier or bulky ornaments use a fine wire & wire them into place. Your ornaments should be at various depths on your tree, not just hanging on the ends of the outer branches. Bury them all the way to the trunk & start with these first when adding smaller decorations.
Such a beautiful tree. I’m not a fan of ribbon on trees because people tend to just wrap the ribbon all the way around the tree on the outside. But I love love love your tip about the ribbon. That gives such a great look with just the perfect amount of ribbon. I am definitely trying that this year. And the hydrangeas? Love!!!
I love going to the woods and getting real pines a cones of different kinds. And I hit my neighbors magnolia tree and real red berries from the bushes I have in my yard.. I use floral tape to make pics. Last year I got a silver tensil tree and I did it to that tree. I had already made 30 pics for my green tree but I was surprised with an Amazon gift box and it was a silver tree so I used my green pics on it and it was beautiful
Beautiful tree! We have 6 trees I decorate each year: the largest tree holds all our family and heirloom ornaments, a tall pencil tree with all Victorian ornaments, a white tree in our bedroom with silver, gold, and pink ornaments, a primitive tree with dried fruits and “rusted” jungle bells, a 3′ tree with varied glass ornaments, and a 2′ tree that is not decorated except for a burlap skirt.
Oh my goodness hehe we just bought a new tree this year from lowes and I’m sitting here perusal you decorate and I sooooo want to go put up my tree NOW lol I absolutely love Christmas and the entire Christmas season and I am soooo ready for November 1st…. That’s when my house looks like whoville puked on it 😂 love love love both your websites thank you for sharing these tips ❤️❤️💚💚
I have all artificial trees livingroom is 7′ Nutcracker theme, kitchen is 6′ Gingerbread theme, guest room 6′ Victorian theme, study 4′ Patriotic theme, main bedroom two 4′ Gnome theme, 1′ Old Fashioned ceramic tree, sewing room 2′ Sewing theme (use tape measure for garland, thread, thimbles, scissors, etc), laundry room two Dollar tree white trees combined Snowman theme, and lastly workroom two green Dollar Tree trees Santa’s workshop theme. Also a tomato cage faux tree outdoors. I love Christmas!!! I start decorating the beginning of November and usually done by Thanksgiving! Everything comes down on New Years day.
Shannon your tree is beautiful. Thanks for sharing those tips. I put my star on first also…..You don’t know how many people have told me over the years I do it wrong!! I just say that’s what works for me but feel free to do what works for you 🙂 🙂 I have had my main tree on a revolving stand for many years; it takes more ornaments but I love it. I never use garland on my trees even though I love it…..in the many years and the gazillion trees I have decorated (I’m old and I decorate 5 or more trees throughout my house…not counting the little ones 🙂 )….I have NEVER mastered being able to put garland on a tree so it looks good. Garland is my nemesis 🙁 🙁
I have a fake tree. Bought a 6 and a half foot tree with lights on it. My ornaments are ones the kids and I have made and collected over 44 years of marriage. It’s very colourful and tells lots of stories. Ps want to go smaller in the tree but feel in love with the big one. Each year my son brings it up and puts it together and my daughter makes sure the lights work. I just help decorate it and enjoy it.
Hi Shannon. I’m 74 and have had all types of decor plus I always zigzag my garland b4 I start putting on rest of decor. This yr I’m going winter wonderland with white and some silver with white fur and a touch of aqua. We live in southwest Texas so since snow is scarce I decided to bring it to my home. My 4 grandkids and senior friends are excited to see it. I started collecting supplies 4 months ago as well as supplies to make my daughter in law’s wreath. Loving your ideas. Thanks so much.
The last several years I have done woodland/plaid . One year was black and white plaid and one year was red plaid and one year was a mixture. But I think I want to go with whimsical this year. It’s been about 8 years since I have done that so I think it will be a nice change from what we have gotten use too. I am also considering green and red and white lights. I changed my Halloween tree lights this year to orange and purple and love the glow it put off. 🤷♀️ Your tree is beautiful and I love the non traditional topper. Thinking outside the box is wonderful 😁
I love all your article’s! Your are so creative. When you make the “fake” bows and you do the 2 loops, are you making both the loops from the one piece of ribbon or do you cut a smaller piece and make a loop and add it to the first loop. I hope this makes sense. I have a fake tree. I hate cleaning up pine needles! My biggest issue of decorating my tree wil be what color scheme I want to use this year! My whole house is done in blues, dark blues, white and gray. But my ornaments from last year are red buffalo check. I’d have to buy all new decorations to match my house.
I almost had to stop perusal at the beginning when you started with the scent things. For people who are allergic to this type of thing it is a kindness not to fill your house with artificial scents. It is so easy if you want a good smell in your house to get one of those little tiny dip size crockpots put some liquid in there with some nice spices and turn it on low. Please don’t fill your house with the chemicals that are involved in all of these scent sticks candles melts whatever
I don’t go all the way around my tree with the garland. It’s up against the wall so the back won’t be seen. It took me years to figure that out…duh.🤕 lol Too bad I didn’t see this article years ago. Too many times I have said to myself “Shannon, where have you been all my life?”.☺️ You have been a lifesaver. I throughly enjoy your Christmas articles, it’s my favorite holiday. Tfs sweetie. Have a wonderful day.🤗
I love your Christmas tree topper…great idea!❤️ I love your tree, it turned out so beautiful! I used burgundy, white, silver & clear decorations for the last 2 years…I was so pleased w/ how it turned out!😊❤️ As always Shannon, thank you for sharing all of your hard work, creativity, talent and inspiration! Stay safe, healthy and positive! God bless you and your family!🙏❤️🇺🇸😊🌲
We just bought this Tree from hobby lobby. Bought it early because it’s always, ALWAYS, sells out. It’s our first flocked tree and wanted to do a winter wonderland theme with it. The pop of red looks nice too. We also thought of gold or silver mixed in there. We really have no idea how to decorate it but this article is God sent. Beautiful and inexpensive which I definitely like. Thank you for sharing.