Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree From Coral Nafie,Your Guide to
Interior Decorating.
What To Do FirstYou've chosen your perfect Christmas tree, but now what?
Our tips on the next pages will give you ideas for setting up your tree,
lighting it, keeping it fresh, and decorating it to be beautiful.
Keep Your Tree Fresh and Green
Cut the stump of the tree with a fresh cut and set it in water immediately. A
fresh-cut tree will absorb several quarts of water right from the start. So
it's important to check and refill the water level several times a day for the
first week. You can cut down on frequency later. Be sure to place you Christmas
tree in a stand that has a large water reservoir and keep it filled.
Christmas Tree Preservative
You can prolong the life of your Christmas tree by mixing up a concoction of 1
quart water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon liquid bleach. You can
also read information on caring for Christmas trees.
Putting Lights and Decorations on the Tree
When decorating your Christmas tree, put lights on first, then garlands, then
the ornaments.
Work From the Inside Out
Start arranging Christmas tree lights on the branches near the base of the
tree. Weave strings of lights along the branches "inside," then move to the
outer edges of the branches.
Placement of Ornaments
Don't hang all your ornament on the tips of the branches. Place ornaments and
other decorations 'inside' your tree to add depth and interest.
Basic Ornaments for Fill
Start by arranging the "filler ornaments" evenly spaced around the tree. This
would include basic solid color balls that are easily found at discount stores
in a wide range of colors to coordinate and enhance your decorating scheme.
You'll need about 20 "filler ornaments" for every 2 feet of Christmas tree.
Special Themed, Collectible Ornaments
Mix one-of-a-kind special ornaments between the basic ornaments. Plan to use at
least 10 special themed ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. As your collection
grows, put the special ornaments closer together.
Read About Tree Themes and Special Touches. Read How to Make Your Own
Ornaments. ~ Coral Nafie Get Tips on making Budget Ornaments. MORE
HOLIDAY IDEAS: Christmas Index | Centerpieces | Choose a Tree | Christmas
Design | DIY Projects | Gifts | Guests | Top Picks | Storage | Tables | Themes
| Tips | Tree Decor
Unify the Decorations on Your TreeCreate a truly unique tree by adding
special decorating touches. Learn about adding garlands, nosegays, bows, and
unique deocrations.
Choose a Christmas Tree Theme
Spark your creativity with a color or style theme. For instance, a silver theme
can use silver ribbons, silver ornaments, and garlands of silver beads. Choose
the decorations according to the theme. An elegant theme would use velvet,
satin, sparkles, and beads. A country theme would make use of raffia, cookie
cutter ornaments, popcorn and cranberry garlands, and wooden toys. If you
have space in your home, it's fun to put a tree in small rooms, too. Choose a
small tree for the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, and choose a theme to
coordinate with the room's decor. A tree in the kithen would look great with
kitchen utensils tied on the branches with raffia or red ribbon bows. Add
clumps of dried herbs for a wonderful scent in the room.
Too Much is a Good Thing
You can never really have too many decorations on the tree. If they're evenly
spaced and carefully selected, the more the better.
Add Natural Materials
Use colorful ribbons to tie together clusters of dried flowers or small twigs.
Place them between branches where some fill is needed. Use wire to attach the
custers to the branches.
Use Silk Flowers for Color
Trim blossoms off stems of silk flowers and lay them on the branches of your
Christmas tree for a formal look. Choose blossoms in shades of the colors of
your theme or choose all white for a showy effect. Place the flowers evenly
around the tree on the inside and outside of branches.
Add Sparkle With Metallic Spray
Preserved leaves, pinecones, and seed pods can be embellished with metallic
spray paint or a sprinkling of glitter. Add just a touch for a subtle look or
cover completely for a more formal effect.
Old-Fashioned Candles
A Christmas tree looks quaint and old-fashioned with clip-on candles attached
to the tips of branches. You should not ever light the candles, as they'd
present a serious fire hazard. Choose candles in gold, white, or red.
Miniature Wreaths and Baskets
Craft stores have all sorts of wreaths, seed pods, and baskets. Add colorful
ribbons, greenery, or berries with a glue gun. Attach a bow or loop for
hanging.
Ribbon Streamers
Instead of a garland, attach holiday colored ribbons or long strands of raffia
to the top branches of the tree. Wind them down and around the branches to the
bottom of the tree.
A Crowning Glory for Your Tree
Every traditional Christmas tree is topped by a star or angel. If you have a
family heirloom, use if even if it doesn't "match" your tree decorating theme.
Traditions are an important part of Christmas and what more suitable place
would there be for an heirloom than the tip of your Christmas tree? If you
don't have any thing special, buy or make one and wire it to the top of the
tree.
Learn how to Make Your Own Christmas Ornaments. ~ Coral Nafie MORE
HOLIDAY IDEAS: Christmas Index | Centerpieces | Choose a Tree | Christmas
Design | DIY Projects | Gifts | Guests | Top Picks | Storage | Tables | Themes
| Tips | Tree Decor
Be Creative With What You HaveEven ordinary glass balls can be dressed up
with ribbons, bows, or glitter. Visit your local craft stores to find
inspiration and materials embellish plain ornaments to make them one-of-a-kind.
Uniform Loops for Hanging
In order to give your tree decorations a uniform look for your tree, replace
the dangling strings and old wire hooks with ribbon, raffia, or cord loops.
Spend several hours with materials and a hot glue gun, and your ornaments will
really look consistent and uique.
Ribbons and Bows
A simple colored Christmas tree ornament will look dressed up with a pretty bow
of satin, velvet, grosgrain or sheer ribbon. Or tie a bow of raffia on the top
of decorations. Use a touch of hot glue to secure the bow to the ornament.
Use What You Already Have
You don't have to use traditional ornaments on the tree. Look around the house
for doll house furniture, tiny teddy bears, clothes for dolls, seed pods with
ribbon loops. Using wire, cord, or ribbon, attach the items to the branches of
your Christmas tree. Tie everything together with a garland that unifies your
theme.
Encrusted With Jewels
Collect beads or crystals from vintage jewelry or craft store and decorate a
plain tree ornament.
Get the Children Involved
Plan a project day for your children. Purchase wooden cutouts, ribbon, glue,
glitter, cording, colored paper, and rubber stamps at a craft store. Let your
children create their own decorations and hang the pieces with other ornaments.
Or decorate a whole small tree and place it in the child's room. Be sure to put
the date on the ornaments you'll want to keep from year to year.
Make Your Own Garland
Use floral vines, satin or velvet ribbon, popcorn and cranberries, or
decorative cording to create an effective but simple garland. Collect small
pine cones or seed pods and string them together. Get more ideas for garlands.
See some ideas for Do-It-Yourself Ornaments for Budget Christmas Tree
Decorating. ~ Coral Nafie
http://interiordec.about.com/od/cmastreetips/a/cmastreedecotip_p.htm
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