Blog  > Celebrate & Entertain  >  How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Follow these steps for trimming the tree like a design pro.

A pre-lit artificial Christmas tree can be easy to assemble and quick to decorate.

Your Christmas tree is without a doubt a focal point of your Christmas festivities, so it is essential to set the tone of your decorations around it and truly make it something you love. Whether you are in the market for a picture-perfect tree, following a unique color scheme, or designing something with a personal touch, there are dependable steps you can follow to create the perfect tree and seasonal atmosphere.

Why do we decorate Christmas trees?

Before you set up the decorations this season, have you ever thought about why you are doing so? Putting up a decorated Christmas tree kind of seems like a must-do decoration around the holidays, but this wasn’t always the case. Evergreen trees were first brought into homes as a symbol of life during long and cold winter days, providing a reminder of spring to come. These trees weren’t considered a Christmas decoration until the 1500s though, when decorated trees began to appear in nativity plays. Liking the look of this, people adapted this idea to their homes and started decorating trees of their own. Initially, candles were used to light up trees, which are thought to look like stars, and this later evolved into putting up Christmas lights and ornaments.

Real or Faux

Although a real Christmas tree may seem more authentic, there are many reasons to like artificial Christmas trees! These trees allow you much more control over your decor, last for years, and don’t make a mess. And there’s no reason you can’t get the best of both worlds. A simple hack for utilizing an artificial tree is to invest in a pine-scented air freshener or candles to implement the traditional Christmas tree scent into your space.

Regardless of what kind of tree you select, shaping is the first, and arguably the most important step. With a real tree, you can trim the branches to be the perfect fit for your space. With a faux tree, you can move the branches to create a full and life-like appearance. There are also self-shaping tree options that cut back on set-up time and hassle.

Setting the Tone for Decor

There is no one right way to utilize Christmas tree decorations, but there are some tactics you can take to ensure you’ll create something you’ll love. As your tree is likely the center of your decor, be sure to implement the theme of your tree within the rest of your decorations. Some of our favorite timeless, yet trendy decorating trends are listed here:

  • Following a color scheme: there is nothing wrong with sticking to the basics! Decorate with seasonal reds, greens, and metallics to create a classic look, or center your design scheme on your favorite color palettes (they don’t have to be Christmas oriented!) to design something personalized to you.
  • Rustic decor can create a cozy and homey feel in your space and can be incorporated by balancing reds and golds with neutral tones and plaids.
  • Traditional themes are timeless and emphasize red and wooden decorations and can be spiced up with candy canes and gingerbread men incorporated into the decor.
  • Contemporary style with a minimalist approach.
  • Fun for kids, with ornaments featuring cartoon or character themes, as well as toys and treats.
  • Glamour style with a crystal, glass and mirror theme.
  • For the garden lover, consider an all-out floral or garden theme with stems, holiday bunches, ivy, grape vines and garlands.
These classic style red and white ornaments will make a beautiful addition to a traditional style tree.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Typically, the most exciting part of tree setup comes when it’s time to decorate! After the tree selection and trimming are done, you can move on to decorating with lights, ornaments and more! This is the part where you get the most freedom, but we still have some advice to help you out along the way:

  • If you have a pre-lit tree, make sure all the bulbs are lit, and replace any that may have burnt out. Add lights where there may be dark areas.
  • When stringing lights, add some towards the inside of your tree to add dimension and cohesion.
  • Ribbons, garland, beads or popcorn string should be layered in and hung before ornaments. Simply wrap them around and/or through the tree, from top to bottom. Create tucks into the tree to hold the garland and create focal points.
  • When it comes to hanging ornaments, start with putting your favorites in the best spots, followed by heavy ornaments. Layer ornaments inside the branches and work out to fill the tree evenly from major points of view.
  • Hang ornaments in groups of three for impact in a designer-approved look.
  • Lighter ornaments can be used as fillers throughout the tree to balance out heavier spots.

Beyond Lights and Ornaments

There are so many fun ways to decorate your tree, and we’d encourage you to branch out and try something new! For instance, a fun way to create a new look in your space is to choose a flocked tree, or flock it yourself. You can buy an artificial flocked Christmas tree, or try a DIY method. Flocking would go especially well with a traditional, metallic, or white-themed tree!

Arguably the most important part of any tree is the topper. You can find fun and unique tree toppers that will pop, or look for something classic such as a star or angel. Bows also make a beautiful addition to the top of your tree, and they are an affordable and easy DIY option, with the purchase of some new ribbon and the help of a few video guides. Get more Tree Topper ideas.

Don’t forget a tree skirt or collar either! This is another unique method to incorporate colors into your decorations and add a cleaner look to the bottom of your tree. You can find tree skirts in nearly any color or pattern, so don’t be afraid to try something a little out of your comfort zone—whatever gets you into the Christmas spirit!

Creating Cohesion

Christmas decor does not stop after your tree is up! Utilize the same theme throughout the rest of your decorations to create an immersive space that is sure to fill you with Christmas cheer. If you are looking for Christmas decorations to add beyond a tree, try adding ribbons, wreaths, stockings, lights, and more to enhance the colors you utilize and the theme you’ve selected. Happy decorating and Merry Christmas!

stay connected

next

How to Choose an Artificial Christmas Tree

2025

2024