It’s December, which means we’re officially in Christmas decorating season! If you haven’t put your tree up yet, now is the time to get cracking. The tree is the decorative centerpiece of the Christmas season, and is a wonderful activity to do as a family to get everyone in a festive mood. To help make your tree look its best this year we’ve pulled together some decorating ideas and helpful hints to get you inspired!
For starters, decide amongst the family what kind of aesthetic you want your tree to have this year. Will it be simple and minimalist, or colourful and chaotic? Do you have a colour scheme you want it to fit into? If you’re in a small space will you use a full-size tree or opt for something smaller, like a table top tree, instead?
Once you’ve decided how you want your tree to look it’s time to start putting on the decorations. No matter how many (or few) ornaments, lights and garlands you have there’s a secret to decorating that will ensure your tree looks great every time – decorating in layers!
The first layer is the Christmas lights. Wrap the lights around the tree starting from the bottom, and work your way up to the top. Putting the lights on first means that when you turn them on your tree will be illuminated from the inside out, and the light will catch the colours from your other decorations, creating a beautiful and vibrant look.
Next up come the garlands. Whether you have tinsel, berries, paper ribbons or strings of baubles, this is their time to shine! Garlands are lovely and decorative in their own right, but you don’t want your individual decorations getting covered. Start from the top this time, and drape the garlands downwards. Remember to start small, and use more as you get towards the bigger, thicker branches in the middle and at the bottom of the tree.
Next up come the baubles! Generally speaking it’s best to put the biggest pieces on first, so the smaller ornaments don’t get lost. But if you have specific ornaments that mean a lot to you be sure to put them in pride of place!
Now you can put on the final touches – tree toppers like a star or an angel are a beautiful way to finish off the decorative process. Tidy up any wires sitting around the bottom of your tree with a tree skirt, and if you want to go all out set your tree on a rotating base – the perfect way to see your handiwork from every angle!