Decorating the Christmas tree isn’t just a seasonal obligation, it’s the first taste of holiday cheer.
For most households, putting up the tree is a special time where you turn on music, get the family together, and assemble the perfect tree decorations to create a festive atmosphere. But if you’re like us, you want your tree to look just PERFECT to set the stage for a merry and bright holiday season.
One of the best ways to elevate your Christmas decor is to make your Christmas tree look fuller, more vibrant, and 100% magazine ready. But, how do you do that? What’s the Martha Stewart secret? How do you curate the perfect holiday home focal point? That’s what we’re going to get into today.
Here’s what you need to do:
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree to Look Full and Festive
Tip 1: Choose the right kind of tree.
First of all, the tree you pick makes a big difference. If you get any old cheap artificial tree or you don’t pay enough attention at the tree farm, you may come home with a Christmas tree with thin branches, big gaps, and sparse greenery. These trees are hard to make full.
So, if you’re buying artificial trees, make sure you get one that’s high-quality and includes features like hinged branches to make filling out the tree easy. The 7.5 ft artificial tree from National Tree Company is a great option and so is this 10 ft artificial tree from Liberty Lifestyle if you want something a little bigger.
If you’re all about Christmas tradition and buy your trees from a farm (or even cut it down yourself), be choosy about the type of tree. A Douglas Fir or Fraser Fir have naturally dense branches. Make sure to take a good look at the tree before you purchase it to look at things like branch length, needle density, and other aesthetic features. Don’t settle!
Tip 2: Fluff the branches before you start.
Before you even start to decorate a Christmas tree, you need to fluff the branches. Whether it’s artificial or real, take time to get the branches situated before you go in with the decorations. This’ll go a long way to get that full look you’re looking for.
Tip 3: Make sure you don’t wrap the lights too tight.
Now it’s time for lights. One big mistake people make when stringing lights is wrapping them too tight. Often this is because there aren’t actually enough lights for the chosen tree. You should have plenty of lights to first wrap them a bit tight around the tree and then go back through, loosely stringing the lights around the branches. This will give the light some depth and fullness. Depending on your vibe you’ll choose warm light, cool light or rainbow lights.
Tip 4: Layer garland and ribbon of different widths and textures.
Gone are the days of just one garland, ribbon, or tinsel option. (Does anyone still use tinsel?) Get garland and ribbon of various widths, textures, and colors that you can wrap around your tree or hang from the top of your tree to add plenty of dimension.
Tip 5: Start with large ornaments and fill in with smaller ones.
Don’t choose ornaments that are all the same size. Get ornaments of all sizes and styles, then start by hanging the largest ornaments first to create balance. Then, fill in all the extra space with your smaller ornaments.
Tip 6: Add decorative picks and sprays.
To make that tree rich and full, don’t stop with ornaments. Add decorative picks and sprays that’ll add more depth to each branch and give your tree more shape. Just make sure all of your decorations go together, matching the same color scheme and theme.
Tip 7: Don’t forget the tree topper and tree skirt.
At this point, your tree should be looking pretty full, but it may look unbalanced. To give it good proportions, add a tree topper and tree skirt. Ensure the size aesthetically matches the rest of your tree and provides the balance you’re looking for.
How To Choose Christmas Tree Decorations
Step 1: Decide on your theme and colors.
Before you even start, decide what your Christmas vibe is. Are you going for a winter wonderland with white and pastel hues? Are you going for a traditional red and gold antique vibe? Maybe you like minimalist modern decorations? Choose before you start and be sure to look around at the room you plan to put your tree in, and make sure your theme and colors are going to pair well with that.
Step 2: Set your budget.
Christmas decorations come in ALL price ranges. However, there’s so much out there you can find whatever vibe you’re going for in your price point. Set your budget before you start, so you’re not tempted to go overboard.
If you’re on a budget, here’s our affordable holiday decorating tips.
Step 3: Think about other family members (furry ones included).
Just like Christmas decorations come in lots of themes and price ranges, they also come in a variety of materials. Think about the other people and furry friends in your house, and ensure your decorations are safe.
Shatterproof ornaments can be a lifesaver and ornament anchors can be super helpful to get the look you’re going for without the mess and safety issues.
Step 4: Remember variety is key for balance.
When choosing Christmas decorations, don’t just buy multiple packs of the same thing. If you want the tree to look full, balanced, and aesthetic, you want variety of texture, color, and size. So, get creative and don’t be afraid to pick up a lot of different items. Last year Lauryn integrated pampas into her holiday decor and it looked incredible.
Step 5: Consider supporting small businesses in the spirit of the season.
There are Christmas decorations everywhere. In the spirit of the season, consider where you’d like to buy your ornaments from. This is a great time of year to support small businesses and solo creators. Not only is this often a sustainable way of getting Christmas decor, but this makes your decor way more unique and high-quality.
Be sure to spend some of your time (and money) in your local shops this season. A lot of small town home stores, gift shops and cafes stock up with lots of local decorations, ornaments and fun gift ideas. If online is what works for you, be sure to check out our favorite small businesses who deliver.
Step 6: Embrace DIY and sentimental decorations too.
Can we all agree there is something SO nostalgic about the Christmas trees of our childhood? All the homemade ornaments, the multi-colored lights, and the tinsel garland? It gives us all the warm fuzzy feelings.
To embrace nostalgia and sentimentality, add homemade decorations to your tree along with the rest. It’ll add more variety and depth, while also including a layer of personalization that’s totally in line with the spirit of the season. Don’t think your DIY decor can’t fit on your aesthetic tree, it totally can.
If you have kids and don’t want to deal with too big of a mess, consider these wooden ornaments that they can decorate with paint, pompoms and glitter glue. (They also make cute gifts for their little friends, grandparents and teachers).
Make your Christmas tree look big and beautiful with these decorating tips.
The tree is the focal point of the holiday season. Whether you’re enjoying the atmosphere while watching holiday movies or you’re taking in the moment while your kids open presents, your tree is always at the center of the moment. Make it look perfect, festive, Instagram-worthy with these tips.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
x, The Skinny Confidential team
+ How to make Christmas morning magical for your kids.
++ Learn how to throw a holiday cocktail party here.
HOLIDAY DECOR:
