5 Tips On How To Decorate A Christmas Tree Like A Pro

Sponsored Content: This post has been sponsored by Very. As usual, all styling, opinions and ideas are my own.

If your Christmas tree always looks slightly dishevelled and never depicts the beautifully adorned, symmetrical trees that you see gracing department store windows, you might want to follow my 5 simple, key tips on how to decorate a tree like a professional for a perfectly proportioned, evenly twinkly tree that will look good the entire festive season.

Choose a well-distributed, bushy tree and take time fanning out all the branches.

If you are buying a real tree or investing in an artificial tree, pay attention to its size, scale and proportion. Choose a full tree that is not too sparse in any one area: some real trees have just a few branches on top and are too bottom-heavy, so always ask to see the tree unwrapped from the net before you purchase it. For artificial trees, the trick is not to choose one that looks too sleek and perfect: don’t pick an artificial tree that comes as a perfect triangle as it will look too rigid and fake in a home environment. You want the tree to be as realistic as possible, so the best artificial trees tend to be versions of fresh Nordic pines and firs which have looser, more organic shaping. For the tree that I am styling here in my home, I chose a 7ft Helsinki Pre-Lit Christmas Tree from Very as the irregular branches are more representative of a natural Christmas tree.

When putting up an artificial or a real tree it is a good idea to wear gloves (cotton is best but garden gloves also work) and long sleeves so that you can take your time spreading out each branch without agitating your skin.

For artificial trees, start at the base and gently fold out each section and fan each individual tip. Consistently stand back and evaluate the tree from every angle to make sure that there are no gaps and don’t be afraid to twist and fold your branches into the perfect position so that your tree looks full and balanced.

Take care with your lights

Lopsided lighting is a key mistake that a lot of people make when dressing their trees. Turn your tree lights on before you apply them to the tree to make sure that the lighting is balanced. If you don’t turn the lights on until your tree is complete you will have to remove all your decorations and start again. To start, take your tree lights out of the box and unravel them, making sure that there are no tangled knots. Plug them into the mains around the back of the tree and then gently thread the lights underneath the branches in a circular, spiral motion from the bottom to the top. Try to cover up as much of the wire as possible. If, when you reach the top of the tree you still have lights left over, gently wrap them down the tree again in the same rhythmic spiral.

To get a perfectly balanced tree, invest in a pre-lit tree where the lights are already in place. I always prefer lights in a warm-white colourway for a stylish, classic and cosy feel.

Cover the base

The base of artificial trees always gives away that the tree is faux, while the base of real trees are chunky and ugly. This is why it is important to invest in a tree skirt to cover the unsightly part of any tree type. Tree skirts can be made from fabric, metal, or natural materials such as woven rattan or jute, so there is plenty to choose from.

Choose a theme or a colourway.

For a cohesive and stylish tree, choose a colourway or a theme for it to be dressed in. For a sophisticated-looking tree, stick to the rule of three: do not feature more than three different types of bauble or tree decoration; or, have one key colour for the tree with two complementary shades that back it up. Place your largest baubles towards the centre and the base of the tree and hang the smaller, lighter baubles towards the top and the end of the tree tips so your branches do not droop. Try to apply your baubles in a large Z shape and spread out each bauble design and colourway so that the same baubles do not sit directly next to one another.

For my tree, I’ve used Very’s 15-piece decorating bundles in blue and pink with baubles in two sizes, as well as a set of 8 gold Filigree Metal Christmas Tree Ornaments to complement the gold tree skirt. Before I add any baubles to my tree I placed the paper star tree topper on first - if I added it on last there may be a risk of damaging my already-dressed tree as I clamber to add it to the top!

Decorate around your tree

To highlight your fabulous tree, it’s important to create the perfect festive backdrop to accentuate and emphasise it. Scatter beautifully wrapped gifts around the tree base (if you are putting up your tree early or are not sending physical gifts, decorating empty boxes is a simple trick that I do to adorn it!). Here I have used an antique-looking sleigh to keep presents stored neatly ahead of the big day and some recyclable wrapping paper by Cox & Cox, available via Very.

Focus on any wall space around your tree: here I have added this twinkly Snowflake Light Christmas Decoration which can be used inside and out, as well as these festive paper stars which are easy to hang with removable hooks.