1) It is important to start with a THEME.  Themes can be ethnic (Hawaiian), colors (like blue and silver or red and green or purple and gold), eclectic (a mixture of color coordinated items where all elements go together), playful, object oriented like stars or fairies, patriotic….you get the idea, right?  All elements including the ribbon, ornaments and colors should help develop the overall theme.

 

2) If you are using an artificial tree, get it in shape before you start putting it together.  I call it fluffy the tree.  But the idea is to pull, form and shape the branches until they look like a REAL tree branch.  Start with the lower branches and work your way up.  Then shape the tips so they look as natural as possible.  Obviously, when you are using a real tree, what you see is what you get.

 

3) Stabilize the tree.  Whether it is real or artificial, you don’t want the tree leaning or falling.  In some of the hotels I have decorated, they actually had their maintenance department create plywood bases that the trees were attached to and the bases had wheels so the trees could be moved around the ballrooms as needed.  You probably don’t need to do that in your home, but in case you do, it’s a great idea. If your tree is over 12 feet tall, you really should use guide wires high in the tree, attached high on the trunk of the tree and extending to a wall or ceiling.

 

4) If your tree trunk is a little bare, use an artificial garland and wrap it around the trunk to cover up the bareness and make the tree look fuller.

 

5) Plan to use 100 lights per foot of tree height for trees 7 feet tall and as many as 150 lights per foot if the trees are more than 7 feet tall.  Consider using shorter strands because they are easier  to use than 100 light strands because of cord lengths.  It is also easier to replace strands if you have to.

 

6) Follow package instructions as to how many light strands to attach together.  Generally, you cannot connect more than six strands together.  Be very careful NOT to attach too many or you create a fire hazard.  Use a multiple strip outlet or special tree light cord attached to the trunk of the tree to safely plug in all strands.

 

7) Put the lights on FIRST.  Start at the top of the tree and work your way down.  If you have them plugged in while you are attaching them, it is easier to ensure even placement.  Place lights on one branch at a time starting at the inside by the trunk and working your way out to the tips.  Wrap the lights around the main spine of the branch.  As one branch is finished, return to the trunk and move to the next branch, repeating the process.  This can take 15-20 minutes per 50 light strand.

 

When you are ready to start adding the decorations, turn the lights out.  This eliminates distraction and allows for a more balanced distribution of the decorations.  Place the topper on first, next add any fabric, ribbon, vines, permanent foliages, bead or tinsel garlands.

 

9) The next step is to add the ornaments.  Follow a plan.  Visualize the tree as a group of triangles, and decorate each triangular area evenly.  Make sure ornament placement and color distribution is balanced.  Place large or important ornaments on the tree first, in prominent focal areas.  Then place supporting ornaments that may be smaller and less important.  Finally, finish with filler materials such as small sprays or permanent, dried or preserved flowers.

 

10) Check your work!  Plug the lights back on and look at the tree from a distance.  Make any adjustments and fill in any holes.  Tape down electric cords, arrange the tree skirting, scatter packages under the tree.