HOW TO DECORATE A CHRISTMAS TREE - PART II

It's that time of year again.   

aamna-shariff

Time to Deck the Halls, Jingle the Bells and Dash Through the Snow... 

and time to 

Trim the Tree.

Today I installed holiday decor in my client and friend Betty's house.  I thought it might be helpful and fun to take you through the steps I use to decorate her artificial tree.

Naked, it's all trunk, skinny little branches, pine cones and blobs of faux snow.  

A true Charlie Brown tree.  

But, be patient.... it gets better! 

ELEVATE THE TREE 

We place it in an urn each year, to elevate it 

and because it gives it a feeling of importance and a little elegance.  

#1  ELEVATE THE TREE

(even bigger trees look better elevated

I put my 7-9 foot tree each year on a 18" tall chest

it provides ample space for packages, too)

LIGHTING THE TREE

On a fresh green tree the lights would come first.  

Rule of thumb is one strand of 100 lights per 1 foot of tree.  

I like to follow each branch out and back in to the trunk with the lights.  

This makes the tree glow from the center out.   

And I never wrap completely around a branch

I like to be able to remove the lights easily

Betty has a lighted tree, so my first task is ribbon.

#2 A MINIMUM OF 100 MINIATURE LIGHTS PER FOOT OF TREE

(so a 6 foot tree - 600 lights (approximately 6 strands)

an 8 foot tree - 800 lights (8 strands)

you get the picture)

ADD RIBBON

I use wired ribbon so I can manipulate it in and out, trying to keep the pattern visible and meandering down the tree.  Once at the bottom, I repeat on the other side of the tree.  Larger trees are easier to do if you repeat that 3 or 4 times, breaking it up into smaller sections.  This ribbon is approximately 2.5 - 3.0 inches wide.  Larger trees can handle wider ribbon.

 #3 WEAVE IN RIBBON IN SECTIONS

(allow ribbon to disappear into the tree and emerge again.  

this is a more natural look, and wired ribbon 

is easier and more forgiving to work with

you will eventually get the hang of it - nothing about this is symmetrical

or even - just don't let your ribbon areas get too long or droopy)

ADD A TOPPER

Traditionally its a star or an angel, but there are many more choices to top a tree - for example we had this wonderful dangling gold glittering plant thing (is that enough adjectives for you?) and a long beaded multi-strand garland.   I created a topper with the first and allowed the second to trail down the tree.  Its much easier to put your topper on before your tree is full of ornaments and you are in danger of dislodging any.

#4  ADD TOPPER

(add the topper to your tree before you put the ornaments on.  

use your imagination - 

I've seen lanterns, wreaths, crowns, sparkling branches, 

florals and clock faces top a tree

but if you are more traditional in your decorating - find an amazing star)

NEXT:  DOMINANT ORNAMENTS

Betty has a collection of hand selected ornaments.  Some are the wrong color for our theme this year, but most will work beautifully.  Because we are using a lot of red this year, I collected the red ornaments to place evenly about the tree, distributing the vibrant color over the tree, followed by the ornaments with the most gold, her secondary color.   Don't decorate only the ends of the branches.  Place ornaments at varying levels along the branches - some closer to the trunk, some closer to the ends.  This will give your tree depth and dimension - and it will hold more beautiful ornaments...

#5 ADD LARGEST OR MOST COLOR SATURATED ORNAMENTS 

TO THE TREE - DISTRIBUTING EVENLY

(and distribute along branches, not just at the ends)

FILL IN WITH MORE ORNAMENTS

Put the rest of the ornaments on your tree,

 using the same formula as above and filling in the spaces left by the first layer of ornaments.  

 #6  ADD THE REST OF THE ORNAMENTS

(add more ornaments, filling in the blank spots, and don't 

forget to hang some in deep and some closer to the end

I also like to pinch the wire hanger so that they don't go flying

if the family dog or kids run by)

GARLAND IS THE FINAL TOUCH

If you are using garland, add it next.  I don't use it for Betty's tree - it would be overkill.

#7 ADD GARLAND

add your garland last, and weave or drape it around your tree

The finished product - simply elegant...

Now who's a Charlie Brown tree?