How Lovely Are Your Branches? Tips For Decorating The Tree

tree design The center of attention and activity, the Christmas tree embodies the unique combination of nostalgia, good will and hope associated with the holidays. Many of the same ideas that apply to decorating your home are also important to keep in mind for a beautiful tree that expresses your style while fostering holiday spirit for everyone who sees it.

Let there be light  

C7-Multicolor-Opaque-Frosted-Incandescent-Bulbs-Lights-Christmas
Updated versions of C7 bulbs offer an option for a nostalgic twist.

Let your tree truly shine by getting this important detail right. The lights are the first thing that should go on your tree – then the garland and finally the ornaments. While there is some debate whether it’s better to start from the top or the bottom of the tree, the most important factor is to make sure you add enough lights to make the tree, and ultimately your ornaments, sparkle.

According to Better Homes & Gardens’ website, a general rule of thumb is 100 lights for every foot of tree. Keep in mind that if you want your tree to look like it came from the Rockefeller Center display, you’ll need to double the amount to 200 lights for every foot.

Thanks to energy-efficient LED lighting, the variety of colors, bulb shapes and sizes has expanded exponentially. Updated versions of the C7 bulbs are now readily available to provide a nostalgic twist as well as a variety of shapes and colors including icicles and globes. Smaller, white lights are a timeless choice; if you want to vary your theme each year just be sure to stick to either warm white or cool white.

When hanging the lights, it’s a good idea to step back and look at the tree from time to time. Squinting your eyes to make things a bit blurry can help too. This way you can make sure the lights are spaced evenly and that the tree is glowing all over. A pre-lit artificial tree can save you this decorating step. But it’s good to keep in mind that you can add additional lights on these types of trees to add to the sparkle or provide an additional burst of color.

Express Yourself

While the trees featured in holiday displays and in stores can look amazing, they often feel a bit impersonal. Your tree should be an expression of you and your family.

The sky is the limit when it comes to decorating the tree… or trees. Maybe you want a tree in every room each with a different theme or have a tree just for the kids to decorate exactly the way they want.

Once you decide on a theme, it’s time to get decorating. This doesn’t mean that all your ornaments much match. Your theme can be as simple as a unified color scheme that you carry throughout the house or a tree that features your favorite ornaments. Maybe you have a collection of angel ornaments you can display or perhaps you’re a big sports fan… carry it through your tree decorations. If you have too many favorites and don’t want another tree, consider varying your theme from year to year.

If you want to go a more traditional route, focus on simple ornaments, understated garlands and classic reds and greens. Color combinations like violet and bronze or ice blue and silver work well for a more contemporary aesthetic. For maximum impact, consider limiting your palette to white and silver decorations, shades of red or some another monochromatic combination. If a minimalist approach is not your style, you can also use a single color—silver or gold are good options – for base ornaments and garlands. These decorations can serve as a backdrop to help tie together a mix of colors and unique ornaments. 

From middling to magical

The first step to making sure the tree looks great is to be sure to have enough ornaments. Add a variety of shape, sizes and textures; although larger ornaments may seem daunting, they add interest and depth. Be sure to vary the placement of the ornaments when decorating. Place some closer to the trunk and some near the tips of branches to add further interest. to you and express your personality.

By having a brightly lit tree and incorporating ornaments of varying size, shape and texture, you’ll end up with a beautiful result that is unique to your holiday celebration.

Stacy Hollinger, IIDA, Partner, leads the RLPS Interiors team.  A graduate of the University of Delaware, Stacy has 28 years of commercial design experience. Stacy appreciates any opportunities to apply her interior design background to help our clients and friends create joyful holiday homes!