Decorating your tree does not have to be complex. It is all about co-ordination. If you decide to go for a real tree, my advice would be to go for a freshly cut tree. There are Christmas tree farms all over the country and this is a positive, sustainable industry so you feel like you’re doing your bit!

 

The key to getting that professional look is to buy is a good quality set of lights. I really love the miniature white pea lights as they are understated and yet create a wonderful ambient glow. For an average eight foot tree you will need a set of 150 lights.

 

If you have lights any older than five years I recommend investing in a new set. Old Christmas tree lights can be very dangerous on a tree so it is definitely worth replacing for the small cost.

 

Start adding the lights at the top and work down spacing evenly at different depths, particularly at the thicker lower levels. If you are feeling very creative you make like to wrap individual branches with lights or even spray the tips of your Christmas tree to give it that beautiful frosted look. A good trick to check if your lights are symmetrical is to step a few feet back from the tree and squint your eyes which will allow you to just focus on the lights.

 

The next step is selecting your decorations. If you have a collection of decorations built up over the years, have a good look through them to see if there are any chipped or broken ones. You can always use these elsewhere in a flower arrangement or centre-piece or take a deep breath and get rid of them!

 

If you would like to use an assortment of shapes and colours but want a more cohesive look, buy around 15 baubles of the same colour and hang them evenly throughout the tree.

 

Keep to complimentary colours to tie the overall look together, no more than to 2-3 different colours. Red and white, silver and blue, or gold, red and white are some of my personal favourites. White, glass and silver is another beautiful combination for an elegant tree.

 

A good trick to getting that overall professional look on a budget is to make small bows out of gold, red or silver ribbon and stick them over each one of your decorations acquired over the years. Instant co-ordination!

 

Remember not to over decorate. . . . less is more particularly when your tree has a generous amount of lighting. I always recommend taking a picture of your Christmas tree to see if you are truly happy with the result.

 

Keep an eye out for next week’s blog post on how to decorate your very own Christmas wreath and garland.

 

Happy decorating!

Neville