How To Decorate A Christmas Tree Like An Interior Designer
There are so many amazing things about Christmas that we all Cherish — family, food, gingerbread houses, music and movies. Quite honestly, just thinking about it gets us in all the feels.
And I know from experience, there are two very distinct types of people in this wonderful world whose approach for when to decorate for Christmas varies widely. I bet you know them too...
On one hand, you’ve got those who watch the clock on Halloween waiting for it to strike midnight before declaring to their insta + facebook followers — It’s OFFICIAL!! Time to decorate for Christmas!
And then there’s those who wait until the final piece of pumpkin pie has been devoured on Thanksgiving Day before embracing ol’ St. Nicholas.
So, whenever you decide to deck the halls + begin your Christmas countdown, we’ve pulled together some of our best tips on how to decorate a Christmas tree like a savvy pro.
Psst… it’s not too complicated, I promise!
And yes we’re going to deep dive into what’s the best way to decorate a christmas tree but first a lil’ history lesson for ya because we were dying to know. Why do we decorate Christmas trees at all? And who decided how to decorate a Christmas tree?
WHY DO WE DECORATE CHRISTMAS TREES?
Let's be honest, Christmas decorations like lights, garland, ornaments + yes, even tinsel (that makes a huge mess) are all commonplace in just about every home that celebrates Christmas.
But why? Where did it all begin?
Certainly, I won’t bore you with too much detail *wink* so take this as the briefest of history lessons.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the first display of a decorated Christmas tree was in 1510 in Riga, Latvia.
Then, between 1530 + 1600 in Germany, Christmas tree decorating became commonplace.
And while initially resistant to the idea, many of the American traditions of Christmas decorations began in the 1800s and found their roots from German decorating.
Humph… who’da thunk! In fact, one of the most fascinating things I uncovered during my research around why we decorate Christmas trees was “just as people decorate their homes today during the festive season with pine, spruce and fir trees, history shows long before Christmas tree decorating became a thing, people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows.”
And with that tidbit of knowledge, you may now officially close your history books + fast forward more than 500 years so we can dig into the really fun part that’s all about Christmas tree decorating tips...shall we?
BEST TIPS TO DECORATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
First, are some high-level overview tips for decorating your Christmas tree. And then, in the next section is a step-by-awesome-step guide to decorating your Christmas tree like an interior designer.
Alright, first up is balance.
BALANCE IS PARAMOUNT
Around the Monte household, we fully embrace the holidays + try to make it a magical season of experiences for everyone (especially Brooklyn). However, balance is key.
I’m not just talking about making sure your tree doesn’t topple over (which is also not a bad idea #wompwomp) but rather balancing how you place the decorations on your tree.
One of the most common mistakes people make is to only focus on the front + sides of the tree that will be visible to you + your guests. Unfortunately, sticking all your favorite decorations in just a few areas draws your eye to even the smallest of spaces where decorations are lacking.
What you want is to create a well-balanced tree that feels uniform with Christmas decorations. To ensure you don’t go through the hassle of decorating your tree only realize after the fact that it’s out of balance -- consider mixing the shapes, sizes + texture of your ornaments throughout the entire tree. With this in mind, arrange your decorations from the top of the tree + then work to the bottom.
But that’s not all.
When it comes to marrying balance + your Christmas tree, it’s important to consider what’s around your tree. Undoubtedly, the star of this show is the Christmas tree. However, balancing your tree with a woven basket will go a long way in helping you hide that ugly tree stand before carefully tucking those beautifully wrapped presents of yours gently beneath its boughs.
Then, depending on where your tree is at all that’s missing is a side chair + accent table placed alongside it. Why? Because these, my friend, are the little details that help create a sense of continuity by tying together the tree with your existing furniture (not to mention it’s an easy way for you to layer in texture!)
Finally, like when styling bookcases, shelving or tabletops, be certain to take a step back each time you add a few decorations. The best way to decorate a christmas tree is to admire your tree while you work (not just after you are all finished!) Look at it from all different angles as this will help you quickly pinpoint exactly what you need to add or take away.
THEME’S AREN’T FOR EVERYONE
A professional-looking Christmas tree doesn’t need to have a theme. Sure, nostalgic traditions + snowscapes are two incredibly popular design themes for this time of year because they set a clear tone but honestly, don’t fret if you don’t have one OR you don’t want one.
Decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be over the top. Simple, classic + greenery that you can use throughout the year will work just fine. In fact, that’s what we prefer. A collection of pieces you love + play well together is perfect.
But that’s not all.
What do you do with those special, ornamental, family heirloom types of Christmas decorations? Well, it’s easy for them to get lost amidst a large tree — so, if you channeled your inner Clark Griswold this year:
Which is every year for John…
We recommend having a smaller tree elsewhere in your home or tying them into your garland which will give them ample room to shine on their own.
CREATE CLUSTERS OF DECORATIONS + PUT EXTRA ORNAMENTS TO USE
One of our favorite things to do when considering how to decorate a Christmas tree each year is to think about how many different clusters we can create with the unique decorations we’ve collected over the years.
A great way to go about this is to consider using different sized Christmas balls + various baubles. Playing with not only color but the scale will add a lot of visual interest + because you’re repeating these clusters over + over again you’re creating Christmas continuity.
Oooh I think I just got tingles!
But the fun doesn't stop there. In fact, once you’re done decorating your tree if you have enough ornaments + Christmas balls instead of pushing them back into storage bins add them to the rest of your Christmas decor around your home.
Place your leftover ornament balls in a display bowl to jazz up your side table a bit, or you can use the extra tree pricks or floral stems that didn’t make their way into your Christmas tree in garland or as accents on a console table.
We love to style our entire home with many of the same decorations we use on our tree because again we are creating repetition + continuity as we move from room to room.
USE TREE BRANCHES, FLORAL STEMS + SUBTLE ACCENTS
A lot of what makes a designer Christmas tree stand out is the accents which make the tree feel — unexpected. Learning how to decorate your christmas tree like a pro is all about the subtle accents.
Layering in strands of beads, oversized ornaments, and decorative branches, floral stems, stuffed animals, stiff wire ribbon + almost anything else that makes your heart sing can really level-up the overall look of your tree.
There are so many ways to do this but we like to curate our collection of branches, stems, and accents as we’re unpacking our Christmas decorations. This way, we can lay them all out on the floor + see exactly which ones we truly inspired by instead of using what we find first while we’re unpacking.
You want to place twigs, berries, pinecones, floral stems + oversized balls or ornaments in any awkward gaps. Perhaps a branch below it is sagging or a void of a branch altogether. Filling in these spaces softens the imperfections + that my lovely is what we love about Christmas trees.
BE MINDFUL
This one we’ve learned through trial + well error... *wink*
Whether it’s Brooklyn’s ferocious curiosity about by a shiny ornament that has been calling his name for days or our four-legged fluffball (aka Bradie-Mae) whose happy tail wagging just can’t be contained — it’s so easy to get lost in the bliss of decorating your home + your Christmas tree that it’s easy to forget about keeping the breakables up high.
Certainly, we want plenty of decorations to kiss those lower branches of your tree as well, but perhaps putting lightweight ornaments that are shatterproof as to be mindful of the traffic flow + who may be running around your tree this year.
STEPS TO FOLLOW FOR DECORATING A DESIGNER CHRISTMAS TREE
Sort Your Christmas Decorations
As interior designers, we believe that organizing is the foundation to good design. Well, the same should be said about decorating your Christmas tree *wink*. First, start by sorting the Christmas tree decorations.
Putting the lights in one area, the garland, the ornaments, the balls, the decorations, etc in their own space.
This will help ensure that you know where everythings at but also that you can see it all as you're decorating.
As mentioned above, after you’ve sorted them… Well, now you can curate some groupings.
Begin With The Lights First
Most faux Christmas trees, especially those gorgeous ones from Balsam Hill, come pre-lit but for those who keep it real during the Christmas season be sure to add the lights first — I cannot imagine the headache of trying to do this after you’ve added your decorations.
With the plug being the starting point you’ll want to start from the trunk + wrap around the bottom of your tree, weaving the lights evenly throughout the branches of the entire tree until you reach the top.
I like to do this with the lights plugged in as it really makes it easier to identify where you don’t have any lights or an area of your tree that you’ve missed. Be sure to take a step back at the end of each step + look at your tree from multiple angles to determine what is needed.
Start At The Top
Yep, you read that correctly. The Christmas topper is a great place to begin because it typically sets the tone for what's below it + often is the largest grouping of the tree.
Now, if you don’t have a “traditional topper” that’s alright you want to start by considering what will be at the top. From stars, angels, larger ornaments to things that surround the top like floral, branches, sprigs etc.
Add Garland
Garland is a great way to fill in natural holes on a real tree or to make an artificial tree feel more lush + full. But garland also serves to add visual dimension and interest to your Christmas tree.
Depending on the type of garland, start about a ¼ of the way down your tree. If your tree will allow it, you can lay the garland right on top of the branches. Alternatively, you could use a dark wire to attach the garland to the tree.
As you weave the garland around the tree, consider your spacing from one row of garland to the next but also how large your tree is will determine how many times you should go around.
Introduce Large Christmas Balls + Decorations First
From Christmas balls to decorations, you want to introduce the large scale balls and ornaments first and then follow it up by the smaller decorations. What you don’t want to do is overwhelm a tree with too many large scale pieces which is why you add them first as it's easier to space + balance them out.
Not to mention, the smaller decorations and balls are also typically lighter which means being on the end of the branches is totally fine.
Add Any Finishing Touches
The land of Christmas decorations is vast and wide, adding any of your finishing touches is really the last step. This could be sprigs, pricks, or the smallest of Christmas decorations.
Is it just me or is all this talk about tips to decorate a Christmas tree + knowing why we decorate a Christmas tree in the first place have anyone else craving a big ol’ cup of hot cocoa?
When it comes to Christmas, we love strategies for tidying up, decorating your Mantel + purchasing simple clutter-free gifts but creating a home that feels cozy, welcoming + cheerful this holiday season all has to do with the people in it.
One of the most memorable things you can do as a family around Christmas time is decorate for the holidays. But create climax + build up the theatrics around the occasion. Get everyone involved + gather ideas. Better yet, have discussions about how to decorate your Christmas tree. Do you have a theme in mind or maybe even a trip planned which would allow you to stockpile a handful of new + interesting decorations?
With holiday tunes playing in the background, light a fire, or throw a Christmas movie on Netflix, make hot chocolate + be present — because the Christmas season is not about the presents.
If you couldn’t tell… we’re all about the holiday cheer over here at Elegant Simplicity. So don’t be shy boo, drop us a comment with your holiday traditions around decorating your tree + your home together.
And don’t forget, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.