Are you as excited about Christmas as I am? This is my absolute favorite time of the year! Everything about the holiday season excites me, from the beautifully decorated tables, to the soothing music that plays, to the colorful options of wrapping paper- and even those long store lines on Black Friday! I know, crazy, right?! The hustle and bustle of the season cannot be compared to any other. Each year, I take pride in decorating my home for Christmas. Today, I am going to show you how to decorate a Christmas tree like a pro!
My friends, it is in the safety of our friendship that I disclose I am a recovering deco mesh addict. Admitting it is the first step, right?! In all seriousness, I used deco mesh like it was about to go out of style! I still love it, do not get me wrong, and I still use it, but I am learning to decorate without huge gobs of the stuff on every table and tree in sight. Here is a picture of my tree from last year:
Holy deco mesh, right?!!
This year I am opting for a more neutral look for my tree. Notice I did not say natural- that would go against everything I am, I swear! I am taking the plunge and creating a tree that has a winter wonderland type feel- lots of gold, white, and silver and lots of things sparkly! So let’s get started!
Disclaimer: For your convenience, I have included some affiliate links. This simply means if you click on one of the links and buy something, I may receive a small commission, but do not worry… you will not pay a dime more.
Step One to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Full disclosure here: My tree is old and it is not flocked. I purchased this artificial tree from Lowe’s on Black Friday in 2006. It is pre-lit but the lights no longer work. For the last 2-3 years I have been saying I want a new tree, but the truth is I love this old tree! I can twist the branches, move the branches- I have even been known to hot glue ribbon and stubborn tree toppers to this bad boy! And because the tree is old, I have zero guilt about doing these things in the name of holiday décor. This year, I decided to flock my Christmas tree. Step one is to flock your tree. To see my full tutorial on flocking a Christmas tree, click here.
Step Two to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Step two is to string your lights. If you have pre-lit tree- and your lights work- you can move to step three! For the rest of us, we need to get our lights on the tree. I strung 3 sets of 100 clear lights on my tree. Next year, I plan to string at least 500 clear lights on the tree, as 300 is good but not great. I want a super bright tree!
Here is a picture of my tree with lights:
Step Three to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
The third step is to stuff the tree with cotton batting. I used Buffalo Snow and it is awesome! Placing the cotton batting around the tree, stuffing it between the branches, serves two purposes: 1. it fills in the blank spots on my super old tree :-), and 2. it adds to the wintery feel! I placed small pieces of the cotton batting all around the tree with no real pattern for placement.
I bought this huge bag at Joann’s for $5.99. It will last for the next five years!
Here is the tree with lights and cotton batting:
Step Four to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Step four actually has two steps to it. First, string any garland you wish to have on your tree. I used gold beading on my tree this year. The second part of this step is to add your ribbon. I personally like to hang my ribbon the length of my tree, and I space my ribbon about a foot and a half apart.
To hang your ribbon, start at the top of your tree. I twist the end of two branches to hold the ribbon in place. (There I go with the twisting of my branches!) Let the ribbon fall, and about eight inches down, I twist it between two branches again. For my tree this year, I used three different types of ribbon and alternated their placement on the tree.
Reflection time: Do you find yourself in a frantic frenzy during the holiday season? Do you rush constantly to get things done, and then feel disappointment that you did not have time to actually enjoy the season? Well, let’s get your holiday organized, and I promise you will feel like a ROCK STAR this season!
Click here for your FREE Christmas Planner Printables!
Step Five to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Step five is my FAVORITE- you get to hang your ornaments! I prefer to hang my largest ornaments first, and gradually hanging the smallest ones last. I am not too picky- I place the ornaments where I think they will look best and I do not fuss too much about where they are placed on the tree. Helpful tip here- if your tree is older, like mine, be sure to fill in any bald spots by hanging ornaments in a way that does not draw attention to the area!
I made these cute little wooden Merry Christmas signs! To see the tutorial on this super easy project, click here!
Step Six to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
The sixth and final step to decorate a Christmas tree like a pro is to place your topper on the tree. This can be anything you like, from a traditional star to a big bow to lots of picks coming out the top! I used some glittery picks and made two bows to surround them. I get asked often to do a tutorial on my bows, and I promise one day I will! The problem is I do not have a consistent way of making my bows- it comes down to a lot of trial and error, really. Sometimes the loops are too big and other times too small, so I just adjust them to my liking and move on!
Recap of the Six Steps to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Alright, you have your supplies ready to tackle your gorgeous tree this year! Here are the six steps to make your tree a knockout:
- Flock your tree (kind of optional)
- String your lights
- Stuff the tree with cotton batting
- String your garland and hang your ribbon
- Place your ornaments on the tree
- Secure your tree topper
The most important tip, my friends, is to make your tree something special and beautiful to you! Let your tree reflect you and your family- is there anything more gorgeous than that?!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Are you looking for other holiday inspiration? I would love if you would check out these other posts:
Flock a Christmas Tree- Super Easy Tutorial!
Create a Hot Cocoa Bar for the Holidays
How to Make a Holiday Sign with a Cricut
What holiday projects are you working on? Be sure to share in the comments!
Enjoy your holiday season! See you soon!
