Decorating the Christmas tree can be a daunting task. By breaking the process down into a few simple steps, it becomes a much more fun and manageable project. Following is a series of photographs I took while decorating the tree at a clients house.
First, it is great to set the mood. Christmas music always helps, as does some cider on the stove, and on a cold day, a fire in the fireplace. The sounds and smells of Christmas are unmistakable. The first photo shows the corner where the tree goes before the tree is added. We have removed a chair that normally occupies the space to creat a little more room for the tree. My client wanted a large tree, and I accomodated her request with this nine foot tree. When you measure for an articifial Christmas tree, remember that the last 8 to 12 inches of the height is going to be the single sprig of green that sticks out the top. It is easy to bend that part of the tree over, so you can cheat a little bigger tree in a space sometimes by using that trick.
When possible, I like for a tree to almost touch the ceiling. This tree is heavily laden with decorations which makes the lower branches touch the floor when the tree is finished. I gave the tree a little extra boost in height by placing it on a pedestal of concrete blocks. The pedestal lifts the lower branches perfectly, which you will see in the last photograph in the post. Make sure that the base of the tree is stable on the blocks. We also placed a carpet remnant under the blocks to prevent damage to the wood floor.
The next image shows the lights. This tree was pre-lit with tiny clear lights, but for more visual interest, we added pinceone lights. The pinecone lights are clear, large glass bulbs in the shape of pinecones. They add a great deal of sparkle to this tree. Pinecone lights are available at Bobby Todd Antiques. The following image shows the tree fully lit.
The next step is ribbon garland. It is easiest to put the ribbon on the tree before the tree is decorated. This way, you can get it draped perfectly and put the ornaments in the areas that won’t be covered up with ribbon. I like nice deep swags with the ribbon. For this tree, we used five different ribbons for a look rich in color and texture. Don’t be afraid to incorporate colors from your room into your Christmas decorations. You can always add a touch of traditional red and green in with your colors. Ribbon garland is easiest to apply when two people are helping with the tree. One person can be draping the ribbon while the other person is holding the ribbon bolts and keeping the ribbon straight. I run all five ribbons at the same time. The look is just as good as running them seperately, and the time it saves is priceless. For this tree, we used a total of 30 yards of each ribbon used.
The next photo shows the tree after we put glitter twigs and berry picks on it. Picks and twigs add a fun element to the tree, and really make it look like it has just been brought in from outside. Picks also help to fill in some holes which might be in the tree. I like to put a cluster of picks and twigs at the top of the tree to make it seem more full, and then also have them sticking out of the tree all the way down. When you put them in the tree itself as well as the top, the twigs and picks seem more a part of the whole concept of the tree and not just a “topper.”
Place the largest ornaments on the tree next. Large ornaments can be used to fill in holes in the tree, and also used deep within the tree to add visual depth to the tree. Pick a spot to start, and evenly place the ornaments on the tree. Don’t be afraid to put a large ornament near the top of the tree. This really helps keep your color scheme tied together, and keeps the tree looking uniform. A good idea before you start placing the decorations on the tree is to group them by color. Typically, I cover a sofa with a sheet to keep glitter off the upholstery, and organize the ornaments for the tree there. Group by color and size, and put all of one type on the tree at the same time. Start with the biggest and work down to the smallest.
The next photo shows the addition of yellow gold balls to the tree. This color adds a brightness and freshness to this tree, and incorporates the yellow that is in the room.
Continue to layer on the ornaments. The final thing we add on this tree is a peppermint garland. Decorative beaded garlands like this should always be added last. You want them to be completely on the outside of the tree and not hidden by other ornaments. When you “coat” the tree with a garland like this it really acts as a unifying factor in your design.
The next image shows the completed tree.
The final image shows the tree skirt. I had this skirt custom made for my client using scraps and bits of trimmings left over from the drapery and upholstery projects we did in her home. Every room is represented in this skirt. This is a fabulous tree skirt, but a couple of yards of red velvet or an old quilt would work just as well. I find that tree skirts you buy in stores are not large enough. They never show because they aren’t large enough to stick out from underneath the tree. A few yards of fabric will most always be a better choice.
Now that the work is done, the cider is hot, and the fire is cracklin’, sit back and enjoy your beautiful creation.
Christmas tree empty corner
Blocks to elevate tree
Decorative lights
Fully lit Christmas tree
Ribbon garland on Christmas tree
Berry picks and glitter twigs
Large ornaments
Gold ornaments
Addition of large figures and colorful ornaments
More ornaments added
Completed Christmas tree
Christmas tree skirt
