A beautifully decorated tree is the heart of a festive home. It doesn’t take a professional designer, just a little planning and a few good habits. Here’s a simple order that works for almost any tree.
1. Pick a spot and fluff the branches
Choose a place away from radiators and fireplaces, close to a power outlet. If your tree is artificial, take time to separate and shape every branch, working from the inside out. A well-fluffed tree looks fuller and gives ornaments more room to shine.
2. Start with the lights
Lights always go on first. Begin at the base near the trunk and work your way up, weaving the strand in and out of the branches rather than just wrapping the outside. As a rough guide, many decorators use about 100 lights for every foot of tree height for a bright, even glow.
3. Add garland or ribbon
Drape garland, beads or ribbon in loose swags or in vertical cascades from top to bottom. Ribbon is an easy way to tie your color scheme together.
4. Hang your ornaments
Start with your largest ornaments and place them deeper in the tree to add depth. Then fill in with medium and small ornaments, spreading colors and textures evenly. Hang favorite and heirloom pieces at eye level where everyone can see them.
5. Finish with picks and fillers
Floral picks, berries, pinecones or sprigs of faux snow fill the gaps and make the tree look layered and full.
6. Top it off
Add your star, angel or bow last, then finish the base with a tree skirt or collar. Step back, switch off the room lights and check for dark spots. A few small adjustments make all the difference.
Tip: Choose two or three main colors before you start. A simple palette, such as red, gold and green, always looks pulled together.