How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree

If you’ve ever gazed admiringly at a department store Christmas tree and wondered ‘Why doesn’t mine look that good?’, here’s everything you need to know to decorate yours like a pro.

There’s nothing quite like watching your Christmas tree twinkling on a winter’s evening. The fairy lights are on, the handpicked baubles are glistening, and a shiny star is taking pride of place at the top.

But despite your efforts, it doesn’t look quite as good as you pictured in your head. We get it… it can feel like a fine art sometimes. Fear not! With our step-by-step guide, you’ll have your Pinterest tree of dreams in no time.

Still need a Christmas tree? Check out our Christmas tree buying guide before we get started!

Step 1: Hide Your Stand

Before you even think about decorating, always start with a skirt at the base of your tree. This will hide the ugly metal or plastic stand and will make your tree look a lot more sophisticated.

You can’t go wrong with a classic wicker skirt, and if you’re really wanting to commit to the overall aesthetic, place wrapped presents (or empty boxes!) underneath the tree.

Step 2: Get Fluffing

We know it’s boring, but before you even reach for the baubles, you need to prepare your tree. That means fluffing, fluffing and more fluffing! Artificial branches straight out of the box will leave gaps that automatically cheapen the whole look.

Fluff each branch individually, angling some upwards, outwards and downwards to create a more natural silhouette.

If you're using a real tree, rotate it until the fullest and lushest branches are facing the front.

Step 3: Weave Your Lights

One of the biggest differences between an ordinary Christmas tree and a professionally styled one is the depth of Christmas tree lighting.

Instead of wrapping the lights around the outside of the branches, weave them from the trunk towards the tips and back again as you move around the tree. This gives it a warmer, fuller appearance and helps illuminate baubles hanging closer to the trunk.

Step 4: Choose A Cohesive Colour Scheme

The colours you use need to complement each other, otherwise it can look unintentional and messy (and not in a cute maximalist way).

Stick to either warm (red, gold, cream etc.) or cool (blue, silver etc.) toned Christmas tree decorations and tree lighting and make sure you distribute the coloured baubles evenly throughout the tree. Mixing the two is a big no-no.

If you want to stick to just one colour like gold, use different tones like pale champagne, brushed gold and deeper bronze to add visual interest. This layered approach prevents trees from looking flat and boring.

Our Deco Luxe Christmas range is perfect if you love the subtle opulence of soft metallics.

Step 5: Hang Baubles Using The Triangle Method

It can be tempting to hang baubles wherever there's space on the tree, but this can often lead to crowded areas and noticeable gaps.

A useful styling technique is to imagine a series of invisible triangles on the tree. Position three similar decorations at each point of the triangle, then repeat the pattern to create geometric harmony and prevent heavy clustering in one spot.

Step 6: Layer Decorations At Different Depths

Hanging every decoration from the tips of the branches is one of the easiest ways to make a tree look flat.

To create depth, hang larger or more eye-catching baubles closer to the trunk where they catch the light and can help fill any gaps. Then hang smaller decorations towards the tips to give the outer silhouette definition.

Step 7: Mix Up Your Shapes, Sizes And Textures

Decorating your tree with identical baubles can look repetitive, so make sure you’re mixing traditional spheres with other shapes like elongated drops, stars and bells.

Go in with large decorations first, then fill in the gaps with a variety of medium and small ones. Texture is important too. Glass, ceramic, velvet, wood and metallic finishes interact with light differently, giving the tree more dimension.

Step 8: Don’t Forget The Tree Topper

Like the cherry on top of a cake, your Christmas tree won’t feel complete without a shiny topper – whether that’s a star, angel or bow.

By following each of these steps, you can create a cohesive, professional-looking Christmas tree you won’t be able to take your eyes off. Feeling inspired? Check out our gorgeous range of Christmas tree decorations and show us your festive styling on Instagram or Facebook!