I currently have two Christmas in my house: one based on Cartoon Christmas TV specials, and one primarily red and white tree with painted plaster ornaments which took me over ten years to complete. Sure, okay, maybe I’m a bit over-the-top in my effort and dedication to my Christmas decorations, but who better to offer you a few tips on how to make your tree stand out and look it’s best. So here are a few secrets and pointers I’m going to divulge for you.
First off, if you’re using an artificial tree, always spend some time reshaping a tree that’s been in a box for eleven months. Garland and ornaments can’t cover up a lumpy or mis-shapen tree. A little care before you begin decorating will pay off in the end.
When you’re setting up the tree (real or artificial) take a twist-tie, pipe-cleaner or thin metal wire and secure the receptacle-end of an extension cord (preferably a colour to match the tree) about two-thirds of the way up the trunk of the tree. That way, you can plug the lights or any topper or electrical requirements into the the extension cord, hide the plugs and wires in the body of the tree, covered by branches, and leave only one wire coming from the bottom to the nearest outlet. It looks a lot neater and cleaner.
If you have an artificial tree where there are a few gaps in branches, take an old wreath or garland of some type, cut it into pieces and stuff the pieces into any areas where the tree doesn’t look full. You really shouldn’t be able to see through the tree to the wall behind it. A few strategically placed chunks of wreath will help with that and make a cheaper tree look fuller and more expensive. And if you want to add a bit more detail and colour, “picks” or ornamental bundles of Christmas tidbits can also be used to fill in the gaps in the tree and give it a lot more interest and colour.
How many lights? I like 300-400 lights for a 7 foot tree. Personally I’m an all-white kind of guy, but whatever works for you, but all white goes a lot better if you’re trying to show off the colour of the ornaments or decorations. Multi-colour is a lot more popular, but doesn’t have the same classic or classy feel.
If you’re starting from scratch and designing your tree from the ground up, try picking a couple of colours and tying all the ornaments together that way. And while we’re on the topic, primary colours occur in plastics, not nature. Want to stand out from the tree at the local mall? Use colours which aren’t something you’d find in a kid’s box of crayons. The exception to this is of course red. Red can be used for pretty much anything at Christmas.
And if you have all your ornaments are looking to unify them or make the tree more cohesive, try buying a ball of yarn, and instead of hooks to hang your ornaments, try tying loops of yarn to give a colourful and consistent splash of colour to your tree. If the yarn’s the same colour for all of your ornaments, the ornaments can be every shade of the rainbow, and they’ll still look like they all belong together.
When setting up your tree, take your time. It’s not a rush. Nobody says you have to put your tree up in an hour or even an afternoon. I’m a fan of taking breaks and looking at your creation with fresh eyes. What looks “good enough” at the moment might look better if you take step back and make some modifications after a fresh look. Don’t forget to step back and look at it from different angles. Having all your ornaments at eye level, might look good close up, but not from across the room. And don’t make it work. If you’re not enjoying it, take a break as well. It should be fun, and if it’s not, you’re not doing it right. You’re meant to be celebrating, not labouring.
I’m a big fan of stringing popcorn to be used as garland. It’s cheap, easy and gives any tree a homemade, natural quality. Always string new popcorn each year though because it dries out and looks pretty shriveled by the end of the season. Cranberries can be added for colour as well, but the tend to shrivel a lot faster than the popcorn.
I like to unify the entire creation after it’s done by putting some final touches on the tree, like artificial snow (not the spray can kind, but you can get shredded styrofoam or white plastic from your local craft store). It makes the tree look consistent and can cover up any gaps or imperfections on your tree. I also buy cheap plastic flowers or holiday arrangements and cut those into small pieces and add those on the occasional branch to keep making the tree fuller and more colourful. Don’t be afraid to step outside the traditional tree, garland, ornament routine.
And if you can’t afford (or don’t have) a nice tree skirt for the base of the tree, just wrap some fabric around the base. Nobody’s looking there anyway. And if you’re lucky, presents will cover up that whole area for you.
Well, that’s it – My hurried, jot-noted Christmas tree tips. Take ’em or leave ’em. They work for me, but don’t be afraid to try whatever works for you. Happy decorating!
