How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

So now that we've chopped a Christmas tree, we wanted to learn how to decorate it property.  I did some research and I'm share my findings here.

By the way, a friend read my FaceBook comment about doing research on how to decorate Christmas trees and had a giggle about it.  Her mum though made a most perceptive remark - that while my friend had years to build up her collection of ornaments, we are starting from scratch and that can be a challenge.  What do you start with when you don't have a collection of Christmas momentos from past years?  I love my friend for being big enough to share her mum's thoughts with me because I hadn't thought about why I wanted to research. It was just the thing I would do when I didn't know what to do - look around and see how others have done it!!

Step 1: Tree Skirt

This is to cover the tree stand at the base of the tree.  It's basically a circular piece of cloth and you would sit your presents on it.  It also collects needles that have shed from the tree.  This skirt comes in all price range for various budgets.  Importantly, think about what color or theme your tree's going to be and pick accordingly.  Or find something neutral that'll lasts for years.

Step 2: Decide on the Color or Theme

Deciding on a color scheme or theme would help give your tree some focus.  BUT I think trees covered with bits and pieces of memorabilia from past years are soooo meaningful and warm!  A colleague says he insists on hanging this angel with fangs and claws that his daughter made in pre-school because it makes him laugh - and she's already 10 and embarrassed about this ornament.  We decided we'd go traditional and do a red, white and silver theme.  Anyway, red and white reminds us of home :o)

Martha Stewart(C): Look!  A bonsai Christmas tree! 

Step 3: Lights

Having a color scheme or theme in mind will help you decide what type of lights to buy for your tree.  There are clear or multi-color or single color lights.  Lights typically come in either white or green cable coatings.  Pick the color that could be easily camouflaged in your tree.  Start at the base of the tree trunk then twirl around each branch and moving back to the trunk in an out-in-out-in circle up the tree.  The guideline is about 100 lights per foot tall.  Just be careful not to get too carried away like I did and needed more than recommended.

Step 4: Add Christmas Tree Garlands

I skipped this step.  Forgot about garlands actually.  But the idea is to start at the top and increasing the space between waves as you move down the tree.  Garlands can be strings of beads or mesh ribbons or wired ribbons and I've seen gorgeous ones made with ribbons and bows.

Step 5: Hang Ornaments

This is a time-consuming exercise.  We had to keep stepping back to make sure we've balanced the colors so we don't get patches of a single color/type of ornaments.  And to start creating our memories, we got an ornament customized at Bronner's Christmas Store in Frankenmuth.

Step 6: Put on the Tree Topper

We've always thought this would be a star but in researching and looking at other trees, I think an angel or a huge bow looks great as well.  Or a dove as in this example from Martha Stewart:

So ours is almost done.  I'm not sure we'll add more this year.  We're quite happy with how it looks and anyway, we probably might not have guests over this year.  We're looking forward to dinner at a friend's house - same friend above who took us Christmas tree chopping and who has been so important as one of the friendly faces in a new land - and opening presents late that night.