Home interior experts have revealed the five rules to follow when decorating your Christmas tree. You can match the likes of John Lewis of Next and other retailers in perfecting enchanting evergreens with some top tips from the floral designers at Prestige Flowers.
Millie Rawsthorne, florist at Prestige Flowers, said: “The Christmas tree is a staple of the home’s festive decor, and some households make a whole day of donning baubles on their spruce, pine, fir or artificial tree.
“It is often the foundation for homeowners when decorating the rest of their house, ensuring their accessories match the aesthetic and colour scheme of their tree.
“We think it’s great when people decorate their trees how they want, trying different styles and using decorations their children have made over the years.
“But if anyone does want to take their tree to that next level, there are some simple steps that will help .”
Millie’s top tips for a tremendous tree.
Start with the right tree
Real and artificial trees come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Think about where you want the tree to be positioned and what would suit your home’s decor.
A bushy, ceiling-height, green tree doesn’t suit everyone’s personal styles, some people opt for white or black trees, or even more extravagant colours, and some people prefer shorter or thinner trees too.
Location, location, location
Where you put your festive foliage can be just as important as how you dress it. Make sure it’s got enough space so it has room to shine, and doesn’t make your room look cluttered.
You should also ensure you have a plug socket nearby so you don’t have wires for lighting trailing across a room.
Light it up
Your lights should be the first thing that goes on your tree, as it’s difficult to put these on after you’ve put baubles and other accessories on.
Start from the bottom of the tree, stringing the lights around the branches close to the tree trunk all the way up to the top, and then go back down if there is any excess.
Tinsel all the way
Sprays, gartlands and tinsel are a great way to add depth and detail to your tree and make it appear fuller but each can give a different look, garlands and sprays suit a more natural design tree whereas tinsel can add sparkle and colour.
Of course, tree decor can be individual and you might wish to mix and match styles.
Balance the baubles
Placing your baubles is mainly about symmetry and balance, you should ensure your baubles are spread equally across your tree, and the sizes.
Heavier ornaments should be at the bottom so there is minimal damage if they do drop off but make sure your heavier baubles are on strong branches to avoid your tree looking droopy.
Base and final touches
If your tree will have a few gifts underneath it come December 25th, then ensuring you have an attractive base to your tree can really tie your tree decor together.
You could design a wintery scene with penguin statues on an ice rink, or just go for something simple like a wicker basket.
You could also add bits of holly, pine cones and a few little Christmassy characters like reindeer, snowman, robins to bring your tree to life.
And of course, don’t forget to add something special to the crown.
