Christmas is here, and with the cheer of the holidays comes the stress of getting the house Christmas-ready. Reputable resources, from CBS News to Woman’s Day magazine, state there are many factors that contribute to the stress of the holidays, from the gifting to the baking to the partying. And for many, decorating the Christmas tree is intimidating. We often want our tree to look as beautiful as the artificial Christmas trees we see in stores and public spaces, and become frustrated when our attempts don’t meet expectations.
Many of those well-lit beauties are decorated by professionals, and professionals have a certain method that creates that effect. From properly stringing the lights to checking for holes, below is a practical guide for creating a Christmas tree that is worthy of the North Pole.
Christmas lights
Christmas lights often induce stress. Rows of lights sometimes don’t work, or they get unplugged. In worst-case scenarios, the lights ignite. A few tips for this aspect of decorating:
* Choose lights that are rated as safe for indoor use by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). This company tests items for safety and FDA compliance. Most Christmas lights are rated by UL, and their boxes will indicate with a “UL”.
* LED lights are energy efficient options over traditional lights. They last 10,000 hours or more and are lower maintenance than traditional lights. The chemical makeup of an LED light gives it a brighter, cooler light, which also means that LEDs are cool to the touch — they won’t dry out Christmas trees. They can cost more than double the price of traditional mini lights, but their longevity and energy efficiency ensures that consumers spend less in the long run.
* Hang Christmas lights in the simplest way:
1. Plug in all your Christmas light strands to make sure all bulbs are working. Replace all the burnt out bulbs (after unplugging the strand). Once all the bulbs are lit, unplug them and begin weaving them on the tree.
2. Many people underestimate how many lights they need to light up a Christmas tree, but a good rule of thumb is to have 100 lights for every foot of tree. This ensures that the entire tree is illuminated, and there is space for the ornaments.
3. For easy movement, use a small stepladder to reach the highest part of the Christmas tree. It is also a good idea to have someone on the other side of the tree to reach for the other side. Loosely weave your Christmas lights around the tree alternately under and over the branches, to make the tree appear to be lit from within. Follow this procedure for the top, middle, and bottom of the Christmas tree, so that all branches are covered by lights. Make sure that enough of the strand is left to reach the outlet or extension cord.
4. Lastly, step back and check that the lights are in the Christmas tree the way you want them to be. Change things if needed. If lighting a Christmas tree seems like too much work, artificial Christmas trees come pre-lit, so all you have to do is plug it in.
Christmas ornaments
It only takes five steps to hang ornaments on a Christmas tree. The basic tips in flawlessly hanging Christmas ornaments are:
1. Make sure you have enough ornaments for your tree, and have replacement hooks. Check each ornament to ensure its hanging apparatus is in place. Replace those that you feel will not be able to last the season to prevent ornaments falling from the tree.
2. Garlands are the first thing hung on the Christmas tree. Use 9 feet of garland per foot of Christmas tree. Wrap the garland around branches from the bottom up, over and under to make sure it’s evenly spaced and looking natural. Secure with wire to make sure it won’t move on your tree.
3. Big ornaments should be hung after garlands. As these are high-impact decorations, place them strategically around the tree (remember the back) where they will look the best. Step back from the tree before hanging the small ornaments and make sure the large ornaments are spaced according to your preference.
4. After making sure your large ornaments are hung properly, hang the small ornaments. Evenly space them as well, and if using more than one type, alternate, so as not to clump ornament styles. Step back from the tree and let your focus blur; wherever there is a blank space, there is no ornament. Adjust accordingly.
5. Check that the lights and the ornaments complement each other, and adjust where necessary.
6. Last is the tinsel. This eye-catching Christmas tree decor should be evenly spaced as well.
Decorating themes
Decorating themes limit the colors and ornaments needed for the Christmas tree, eliminating much of the guesswork when it comes to matching the design. Pick some up at a Christmas tree sale, which often occurs before and after Christmas, for good prices. Here are a few decorating themes for your Christmas trees.
1. Traditional red and gold: This is the most timeless Christmas theme to use. Use red and gold Christmas balls, complemented by spiral and/or drop ornaments of the same hues.
2. White artificial Christmas trees are beautifully accented by blue and silver ornaments. Use silver icicles complemented by blue ball ornaments. Glass ornaments also work well with this type of tree, as they add an ethereal quality to the design statement.
3. Rustic/country: This theme uses more basic ornaments, both in color and texture. Substitute raffia for garland for a natural look, with acorns as accents. Red ribbon and plenty of lights top off this look, offering a down-to-earth, cheery option for decorating your tree.
Reduce the stress of holiday decorating with these tips for your tree while keeping the family safe and having a good time. Whether you need help figuring out the most efficient way to decorate your tree or help in choosing a theme that offers quick and easy decoration, these guidelines ensure that your tree looks as festive as Christmas morning.