How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree

The winter seasons are fast approaching, and you're beginning to wonder how soon is too soon to put your Christmas decs up. While many like to use the 1st December as a benchmark for beginning the festivities, some people decorate their house for Christmas in November, and some even earlier. The truth is, whenever your tree goes up, it should be an exciting event, something to bring a little festive joy to your space and help you begin the Christmas countdown. For some, however, the selection, assembly and decoration of the tree is a stressful affair, adding unnecessary pressure to get it looking insta-worthy. Our helpful guide to tree decorations of all varieties is ready and waiting to help ensure your tree is decorated to perfection, and should take the stress out of what should really be an enchanting occasion.

The history of the Christmas tree has many possible roots, ranging from the use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome to the more European traditions of trees decorated with lit candles. Though they largely began with higher status households such as the royals showcasing their intricately decorated trees, by the 1890s, tree ornaments and decorations were beginning to become more popular in the US and UK. In the early 20th century, many people in the US were known to partake in the decoration of trees, mainly with homemade ornaments, while the European tradition was based much more around using edible treats such as apples, nuts, and cookies to decorate. With the advent of electricity, Christmas lights were born, and many people would delight in lighting their trees, with the intention of allowing their decorations to glow for days on end.

Like any Christmas décor, Christmas trees are a matter of personal taste. There are so many sizes, styles, and types to choose from, whether you go for a real tree or an artificial one. If you're a fan of the nostalgia, tradition, or the smell of a real tree, you'll be pleased to know that come November, real trees are fairly easy to find. Alternatively, many people opt for artificial trees for ease, and if you're someone who can't bear the mess of needles dropping and the constant cleanup, then an artificial tree may be more your style. You also won't need to worry about the branches drooping way before Christmas Day, and can pull out your tree year-on-year, saving you money and time.

Step three - baubles and ornaments

This is where you can really have some fun, depending on what baubles you have chosen. For larger, heavier ornaments, hang these lower, on the fuller, bushier part of the tree. These branches can take a lot more weight and the baubles are less likely to look out of place as there are many more branches on offer. Follow with the more medium-sized, and finally fill in the gaps and dress the smaller, higher branches with your smaller baubles. If you've chosen a colour theme, consider adding all of the same colour, tone, or texture first, then go in with the next ones, as this will allow you to evenly space them and get a good range of tones and textures across the whole of the tree. If your style is a little more random, just go wild with this part, as every bauble may well be totally different to the next! For more sentimental decorations like our Personalised Photo Glass Dome Bauble, you'll want to ensure they're pride of place with a good vantage point from around the whole tree. It can be easier to add these ones first, and add the simpler ornaments around them.

Step four - the topper

Largely down to personal preference rather than having much to do with the colour scheme of the baubles themselves, a tree topper is an essential finishing touch to a Christmas tree. Many like to pop a star at the top, to reflect the shining star mentioned in the telling of Christmas in the bible. If you choose an angel like our Golden Angel Christmas Tree Topper, it's likely you want to bring peace, protection, and care to your home for Christmas, and the best way to symbolise this is with your sweet, smiling angel sat atop your tree. Many like to get little ones involved with this part, as it's the easiest decoration to add to the tree and creates a magical memory they'll likely not forget. Whatever topper you choose, make sure it's something you'll love to look at every day, and also ensure your top, upright branch isn't too big or frail for the chosen topper. For real trees, you can always carve a bit off the top to ensure your topper fits perfectly.

Everybody deserves a Christmas tree in their home, even if limited for space. While you could be a little more cautious on your choice of decorations on a smaller tree, you don't need to fully hold back. It's always helpful to consider lights and ornaments that suit the size of the tree. You can be sure that anything lightweight like felt, plywood, or thin glass baubles won't weigh down your branches, and as long as they're small enough, they're unlikely to overwhelm the tree. Smaller bulb lights such as our 30 Battery Powered LED Silver Wire String Lights are a better option, too, as the malleable wire can easily grip onto the branches and base of your small tree to ensure they stay in place and still allow your tree to twinkle.

Metallics

Homes are set to sparkle more than ever this Christmas, with trends such as metallics taking centre stage. Think disco balls, textured metals and a lot of gold and silver for a chic and fun tree that will stand out in your living room

Whimsical woodland

With more of a focus on calming earth tones and cosy textures, the woodland theme is typically favoured for the autumnal months. This year, however, many are transferring this whimsical vibe to their Christmas decs, by filling their tree with toadstools, hedgehogs and other mystical midnight creatures. Explore our beautiful range of handmade Wooden Hanging Decorations with a woodland theme, combining natural elements with lightweight textures for a fun change from regular baubles

Retro classics

For those with a penchant for the past, retro tree ornaments with a quirky vintage feel are still as popular as ever, providing colour and fun in abundance. Whether you're a foodie, animal lover, or a fan of anything novelty, you'll find a unique decoration to take the limelight on your tree

Timeless textures

If modern classics are more your thing, you'll be pleased to know that the ribbon trend from last year is still as strong as ever. Silk, linen, and velvet ribbons, such as our Velvet Bow Decorations are still set to be huge parts of Christmas decorations and tablescapes, and provide an easy way to bring a timeless, pretty element to each branch of your tree. Why not customise your Christmas tree with a unique feature like our Personalised Velvet Bow Hanging Decoration, for added sentiment that will get your guests talking?