Image via Alan Cleaver
Lighting
Always choose Christmas lights with wires matching the color of your tree-for traditional trees choose lights with green wires, for white trees choose lights with white wires.
Don’t just string the lights around the outer edges of your tree branches-working from the inside out, bottom to top work lights from the trunk to the outer edges and back as you go around the tree. This gives the tree a greater depth when lit.
Use enough lighting-plan on a 100 light strand for every foot of tree.
Garland
Start at the top of the tree and wind garland downwards around the branches. Small, more lightweight garlands look wonderful draped delicately between branches while larger, wider garlands such as wide ribbon look best loosely wound around the entire tree.
Ornaments
I like to begin decorating my tree by placing our favorite, most sentimental ornaments on the tree first. I place them in good position (albeit out of reach of the tiniest hands) so that I can see them when I admire my tree.
Once you have your sentimental ornaments placed start placing your largest ornaments evenly around the tree and work your way down in size. Be sure to use a variety of sized ornaments and place them both at the ends and middles of the tree branches. Avoid placing all ornaments at the same depth on the branches…placing them at varying depths adds interest to your tree.
Finish your tree off with any specialty decor like tinsel or clip on lights.
I’m signing off for the rest of the weekend to enjoy time with my family, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!
Great tips! I have all of my decorations at Hansel and Gretel from the storage unit. I’m hoping to get the trees up and get at least one decorated! My goal is to have this place ready for Santa by Sunday!
lucy recently posted..Turkey Craft Night with The Smoking Glue Guns
I can’t wait to see all of your decor Lucy!
Can’t wait to follow along with all your tree progress throughout the week. We’re getting our tree tomorrow, so I promise to try to follow your instructions as well as possible.
I just realized I need garland though! Oh no!
Courtenay recently posted..The Brick Wall Gets Christmassified
Thanks Courtenay! We’ve got a tummy bug working through the house so I might have to delay getting a tree a few days but I’m slowly getting decor up!
great little tips Melissa! hope you are doing well!
laura @top this top that recently posted..Easy Burlap Candle Rings and a Wreath Giveaway
Thanks Laura! We’re all doing well, trying to fight off a tummy bug we’re all taking turns with but other than that-fantastic! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the great tips! We wait until December 1st to start decorating but I’ve got it all pulled out and ready to go!! I’m looking forward to seeing your tree, I’m sure it will be beautiful!
Inspire Me Heather recently posted..Stories of a house part 1 – making an entrance
Thanks Heather! I was planning on getting my tree today but we’re sick so I’m hoping it will still happen this weekend, I have stacks of tree decor sitting out on my dining table just waiting for a tree!