It’s Christmas time! You have probably bought your Christmas tree already or you’re waiting for it to be delivered to your door and installed as well. Getting your house into the festive Christmas mood is the fun part of the holiday.
Therefore, we offer you this detailed guide on the best practices for decorating your Christmas tree. It contains all of the information you might need, so make sure to take a look below. Happy reading!
Table of Contents
Decide on the best location for your Christmas tree
The first step is to pick the right spot for your tree. Determine the height and width of your Christmas tree so you know how much space you will actually need.
Make sure to maintain a distance between your ceiling and your tree of about a meter, if not more. You will use this leftover space for your Christmas tree topper and your tree stand.
Follow the correct order for decorating the tree
While you can play around with the placement of baubles and other pieces, the whole tree decoration process would be easier if you follow the right decoration order. We will explain each step below.
Also, if you want to avoid spending extra on Christmas ornaments and other pieces you are not going to use, it’s much better to determine how many items you will need in advance. You can check the tables we have provided, as well, and find out how many lights, garlands or ornaments your festive tree will require.
1. First put the lights on like a professional
When decorating a Christmas tree, the lights are the first thing that goes up. Putting them on first makes the job so much easier. Various designs are sold on the market so your options are endless.
When it comes to whether you should start adding the lights at the top or bottom, it is preferable to start from the bottom. When you start at the base, you establish a solid foundation. It also provides simple access to plug-in ports without uncomfortable stretches or having to reach over branches. You will certainly appreciate that if your Christmas tree happens to be extra tall.
How many lights do you need for your Christmas tree?
Christmas lights are gorgeous and make each tree stand out, but too much of something is not always necessary. Just as it goes with garlands, holiday lights might not be quite enough for your tree. Or it may turn out you have much more than you actually need. The table below will help you find out how many lights you need based on your Christmas tree’s size.
| Christmas tree height | Christmas lights needed (Natural spread) |
| 4 ft | 101 Christmas lights |
| 5 ft | 138 Christmas lights |
| 6 ft | 190 Christmas lights |
| 7 ft | 236 Christmas lights |
| 8 ft | 285 Christmas lights |
2. Add the garlands and ribbons
After that, you can move on to adding your Christmas garlands and there are no specific ways or rules you should follow to put them on your tree. How many garlands you will need to decorate your tree really depends on its size. Normally, two strands per vertical foot will be enough.
How to measure the length of the Christmas garland?
| Christmas tree height | Garland length |
| 4 ft | 20 ft (6 meters) |
| 5 ft | 25 ft (approx. 8 meters) |
| 6 ft | 30 ft (9 meters) |
| 7 ft | 35 ft (approx. 11 meters) |
| 8 ft | 40 ft (12 meters) |
Decorating Christmas trees with ribbon is not difficult at all and there are no rules on how it should be done either. You just need to cut strips of the ribbon and tuck it in your tree.
If you prefer to decorate your tree with ribbons vertically, start from the top of your tree. Let the ribbon follow the height of your tree all the way to its base. You can leave it like that or tuck the ribbon into your tree as well.
3. Arrange the Christmas baubles last
As soon as you are done with the lights, garlands and the festive ribbon, you can finally hang your Christmas ornaments on the branches. Arrange them all around the tree and finish the decoration by adding the Christmas tree topper on it.
How many ornaments should be on a Christmas tree?
Well, this one also depends on the tree’s size and height. Check out the table below to find out how many ornaments will be enough in accordance to your tree’s height.
| Christmas tree height | Approx. number of ornaments needed |
| 4 ft | 75 |
| 5 ft | 112 |
| 6 ft | 135 |
| 7 ft | 182 |
| 8 ft | 220 |
Putting ornaments on your Christmas tree is known as one of the traditions associated with Christmas. Nowadays, baubles, ornaments, angels and little Santas come in all shapes and colours and can be bought from anywhere in the world.
Back in the time, baubles were first manufactured from glass as they were meant for wealthy people. Soon after that, plastic Christmas ornaments were made as well so that everyone could afford them.
The first Christmas baubles in the world were produced in Germany. They were invented by Hans Greiner in Lauscha by the end of the 1840s. Baubles were first manufactured in the shape of glass nuts and fruits but got a more spherical shape later on.
Christmas decorating mistakes to avoid
Sometimes people tend to overdo it when it comes to festive decorations and some houses end up looking like Christmas decorating disasters. Below you will find several quick tips on how to avoid that:
- Keep the tree as far away from heat sources as possible. If you place a real Christmas tree near fire sources, it will dry out.
- Protect the Christmas tree from pets and the kids. Also, think about rearranging your furniture so that your pets can’t jump right on top of your tree and pull it down. A lot of damage can be done to your tree and ornaments, and your pet may get hurt.
- Buy Christmas lights on timers. Outdoor Christmas lights consume a lot of energy and they may also bother your neighbours. You can look for Christmas lights on timers instead. What you will need are two or four plug-in modules to install your exterior Christmas lights safely. Opt for LED lights as they don’t emit such a strong and disturbing light.
- Make sure you don’t overload extension cords and outlets.
- Don’t go overboard when decorating your property. Stick to your colour theme and add just 2 or 3 festive decor pieces per room to avoid a cluttered look.
- Measure the height of your ceiling before you buy your Christmas tree. If your tree is taller than your room’s height, it will never fit in your house.
- Keep a good distance between your fireplace and your stockings. They can catch on fire quite easily.
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Can you replant a Christmas tree?
Wondering if you can replant your Christmas tree? Absolutely! If your choice was a potted Christmas tree, don’t get rid of it as soon as the holidays are over.
Pick a spot in your garden, avoid wires and your house foundations, and then dig a hole. It should be around 12 inches wider than your Christmas tree’s root spread. All that is left to do is fill the hole with mulch and remove it somewhere in January or February. After this is done, you can finally fill the hole with soil.
Here are a few other ways on how to dispose of your Christmas tree.
Christmas decorations bring joy and create a cosy mood, preparing us for the upcoming holidays. But sometimes it can get too overwhelming and we don’t always approve the final results. However, festive decorations can be dangerous, too. Therefore it is important to keep our Christmas decor balanced and safely installed.
Did you find this article helpful and worth sharing? Or do you have any other interesting ideas on how to improve your front garden look? Then, please, tell us about them in the comment box below!
Thank you so much for this useful article. It was a fun read. Much props to the writer. It has everything we need to know.
Wow, this is an extensive Christmas tree decoration guide. Love your emphasis on an eco-friendly Christmas. As well as recycled wrapping materials, you could also use more recycled materials for your tree. Love the hot chocolate idea too.
Great tips and wonderful article! I wish I had read it before putting my decorations. I will definitely use your tips next year.
Thanks for sharing this. My kids will love to try it.