Hello Sweet Friends,
The holidays will be here before we know it, so I thought I would update one of my most popular posts: Decorate your Christmas tree like a pro.
In this post, you’ll find many tips from the experts, as well as from my own personal experience as a florist. You may even want to save this post, and refer to it year after year.
From choosing a tree to picking a theme to deciding when to put up your tree; you’ll find all your answers to your right here. I’ve also included some Amazon links to share with you for some wonderful items to help you decorate your tree.
I’ve separated this post into ten categories starting with the best time to put up your tree. I hope you find these ideas useful and are inspired to confidently decorate your Christmas tree this holiday season. Let’s get to it.
1. When should you put up your Christmas tree?
The good news is there is really no wrong or right time to put up your Christmas tree, it is all your personal preference and what works for you and your family. Traditionally, the first Sunday of advent (late November to early December), St. Nicholas Day (December 6), or even as late as Christmas eve were popular times to put up your tree, depending on where you live and your customs. Although some people put up their trees as early as the first of November, the most popular times nowadays seem to be the day/weekend after Thanksgiving or the first week of December.
Southern Living has an informative article on Why It’s Never Too Early To Put Up Your Christmas Tree. It’s a good read if you’re on the fence about when to put up your tree.
When I put up my tree, I like to have hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music, and make an evening of it. I normally put my tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving but in recent years, since I began Craftsy Soul, mine has been up by the middle of November.
2. Choosing the perfect Christmas tree
The first decision that needs to be made is whether you would like a fresh cut tree or an artificial tree. There are certainly pros and cons to each. Even though artificial trees are more and more realistic looking, you just can’t beat the look and smell of a real, fresh cut Christmas tree. When I was growing up, we always went out in the woods and cut our own cedar tree; a tradition my mom still continues to this day. I, however, switched to an artificial tree years ago.
RealSimple has a great article to help you decide whether to go with a real or artificial tree. And here is another good read from The Nature Conservancy about which type of tree is better for the environment.
If an artificial tree is for you, there are so many choices out there. Make sure to choose a good quality tree and decide whether to get an unlit or pre-lit tree. My personal preference is to use a pre-lit tree, however, there are a few disadvantages. Also it is best to avoid trendy colored artificial trees and stick with a green or snow-flocked style. This makes it easier to change colors/themes of a Christmas tree from year to year. Whitestores shares the pros and cons about unlit vs. prelit trees found here. Weekend Craft has an informative guide to buying an artificial tree found here.
Here is a great deal for an unlit artificial Christmas tree, affiliate link. If you prefer a prelit tree, I found a budget-friendly option for you. For those of you with a more generous budget, Balsam Hill has some gorgeous options like this one. With any artificial tree, new ones included, you will need to fluff and shape the branches. You may find this task a little tedious and time-consuming, but it will make a huge difference in how the final decorated tree looks. It’s a good idea to begin at the bottom of the tree and work your way up. For larger trees with separate sections, shape and fluff the lower section before adding the next section.
If a real tree is for you, Martha Stewart has a great article on how to choose one. She discusses all aspects of having a real fresh-cut Christmas tree; the types of trees, how to tell is if a tree is fresh, watering and safety tips, etc. Make sure you have a good sturdy tree stand for your fresh tree like this one from Amazon. It may be pricey, but it is heavy-duty and maintains a very high rating.
3. Christmas tree lights
If you have a prelit artificial tree and do not wish to add any more lights to your tree, you may skip to the next topic. The first step to decorate your Christmas tree is adding lights. Choosing between white and colored lights used to be the only decision regarding lights for Christmas tree. Now there are so many different type of lights to choose from; still, flashing, twinkling, incandescent, LED, fiber-optic, indoor, outdoor, plug-in, battery-operated, remote-control. All the choices can make your head spin. And some strands of lights even have multiple functions and color choices.
Also, you will need to decide on how many lights your tree will have. A good rule of thumb is that you will need 100 lights for each foot of tree. So, a five-foot tree will require 500 lights, six-foot tree – 600 lights, and so on. When adding lights, it’s best to start at the bottom of the tree and work your way up towards the top. Better Homes and Gardens has a comprehensive article on stringing Christmas lights here. If you have a real tree, you should consider LED lights because they are cool to the touch and thus safer than the regular Christmas lights. If you are unsure of what color to use, I feel like you just can’t go wrong with steady-burning white/clear lights. They match any color scheme or theme; it’s just a no-brainer. For basic clear steady-burning lights, here is a good option from Amazon, https://amzn.to/4hyfIPq. And a great LED option, https://amzn.to/4nZzPIB. And if you would like a lot of extra sparkle to your tree, I just love these cluster lights from Amazon; I even add them to my prelit tree.
4. Choosing a color scheme and/or theme
Now for the GOOD stuff…. choosing a theme or color scheme when you decorate your Christmas tree. There are so many different colors and themes to choose from. My decor style ranges from the minimalist, simple, “less is more” look to the very opulent “it’s not done ’til it’s overdone” style. When it comes to Christmas trees, I lean more toward the latter. Scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration, I am never disappointed. When choosing a theme, it’s good to stick to two (no more than three) colors, and build on that. Here are a few gorgeous trees for inspiration.
Here is a link to my Pinterest board, Christmas Tree Inspirations, for more ideas. The sky is the limit, my friends, when it comes to Christmas tree themes.
5. Glass baubles and other ornaments when you decorate your Christmas tree
Glass baubles are a MUST to decorate your Christmas tree. Use colors that go with your theme and cluster different sizes together for more visual appeal. How many baubles do you need for your tree? A good method to use is 10-12 ornaments for each foot of Christmas tree. For example, 80 (more or less) works well for a 7 ft tree. You can get great deals on faux glass baubles in many different colors at stores like Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Dollar General. And honestly, I don’t really think you can tell the difference, so that makes faux glass baubles a smart choice. If you like shopping online, Amazon has a great deal on faux glass baubles; they come in three sizes and 18 different colors https://amzn.to/3zumikV.
My latest Christmas obsession are the flocked ornaments. They can be mixed with the faux glass ornaments in coordinating colors to add texture to your Christmas tree. They can be found at many stores, but if you like the convenience of Amazon, here is a great deal on them.
6. Adding ribbon when you decorate your Christmas tree
Just like with the baubles, using varying sizes and colors of ribbon will add interest and texture to your tree. Wired ribbon works better than non-wired; it is easier to work with and it will hold its shape. If you want to know how much ribbon you will need for your tree, Stacey over at Wilshire Collections has some good tips. As a general rule, about 9 feet of ribbon per foot of tree height works well. For ideas on how to add ribbon to your tree, read KelleyNan’s post. I’ve added ribbon to my Christmas tree this way for the last couple of years and I prefer it!
Balsam Hill has more tips on adding ribbon to your tree here.
You can find many different beautiful ribbons at most craft stores but if you prefer to shop online, this the red velvet ribbon I use on my tree and wreaths. https://amzn.to/3Nn8BKp. And for a more designer look ribbon, here is a beautiful option, https://amzn.to/3Jkv5Ow
7. Adding decorative picks to your Christmas tree
When you decorate your Christmas tree, don’t overlook decorative picks for tree decor. Picks come in many different forms; berries, florals, branches, foliages, pine cones, etc. They can add a splash of color to your tree as well as adding visual interest and appeal. Choose picks with bendable stems for easier use. As with the baubles, you can cluster the decorative picks together for more interest. When I add picks to a tree, I usually just nestle the pick into the branches of the tree without securing it and I’ve never had any trouble with them falling out. Dollar Tree is a great source of decorative picks if you’re on a budget. I’ve seen some really nice picks at my local Walmart too. If you can catch a sale, Michael’s always has a nice selection. If you decorate your tree with traditional red, I LOVE these red berries from Amazon. These mixed glitter berry branches are beautiful as well.
8. Tree topper options
Choose a tree topper to match your theme and color scheme. Bow tree toppers are very popular but I still love to use a traditional star or angel for the top of my tree. There are so many other options out there now, it can be hard to choose. I’ve seen trees with a bow topper along with decorative pics surrounding it. Southern Charm has a good DIY for a tree topper bow here.
If you’d like a star to top your Christmas tree, here is a really pretty choice from Amazon https://amzn.to/3SqsrsC (affiliate link) Or if you prefer an angel tree topper, here is a beautiful choice, https://amzn.to/47mpFe6.
9. Final step when you decorate your Christmas tree; a tree skirt
When you decorate your Christmas tree, choosing the perfect tree skirt to complete the look is the final step. Fabric Utopia has some good tips right here. Pick a skirt that matches the theme/color of your tree; make sure it will cover the tree stand completely. Christmas tree skirts are available at a variety of stores or online. Here’s a beautiful red velvet tree skirt from Amazon. Or if you prefer, a cozy red cable-knit tree skirt.
10. Storage after the season
Make sure you have plenty of plastic storage totes, and make sure to label them. If you stay organized and label each box, it will save setup time the next year.
Roll up any ribbon and store all in the same box. Bows made of wired ribbon can be place in the same box. Try not to smash the bows but know that you will be able to fluff them out next year if they do get a little mashed. Any decorative picks and be placed together in a storage tote. Plastic baubles can be stacked in a tote together. But if you have any glass, then store them more carefully. Store light strands wrapped around pieces of cardboard so they won’t get tangled. I also like to add a dryer sheet to my storage totes to keep everything smelling fresh.
For more great Christmas storage tips, check out what Bob Vila recommends here.
I hope you have found this post helpful and that it will inspire you to decorate your Christmas tree like a PRO! I tried to include everything regarding tree decorating that I could think of. If I missed anything, let me know.
Happy Decorating!
Pamela
Thrift Store Sign Makeover