| When making preparations for the festive season, | | | | your tree and looping it round, you may need a few |
| selecting and decorating the Christmas tree often | | | | practises to find which method you prefer, it may be |
| features high up on our list of priorities. Decorating | | | | necessary to secure your garland by using ribbons or |
| the Christmas tree is usually a family activity | | | | ties to prevent the garland slipping. You should |
| undertaken during the exciting build up to Christmas. | | | | roughly estimate 10 feet of garland per foot of tree, |
| If you encourage your family to follow some simple | | | | if there is any excess garland this can be used to |
| design guidelines instead of a frantic free for all you | | | | decorate wreaths and mantelpieces, it is fine to mix |
| should end up with a beautiful tree to be proud of. | | | | the types of garland that you use as long as you |
| If following traditional methods your Christmas tree | | | | ensure that they coordinate with each other. |
| decoration will comprise of lights, garland, trim and | | | | The next step is dressing the tree with ornaments; |
| ornaments which will be arranged in that order. The | | | | you do not need the most expensive Christmas tree |
| Christmas tree would then be adorned with a tree | | | | decorations to produce a fabulous Christmas tree as |
| skirt and traditionally topped with a topper such as an | | | | long as you know how to display them correctly. You |
| angel or star to complete the tree. | | | | will be pleased to hear that you really can't have too |
| Lights are probably the most important feature of | | | | many decorations hung on your Christmas tree, the |
| the Christmas tree and it is worth spending a while | | | | secret is achieving the correct spacing. Start by |
| choosing them as there are so many varieties | | | | hanging decorations on the inside branches, this will |
| available. Make sure you purchase enough lights for | | | | create interest and depth; use the worst of your |
| the size of tree you have to create a tree that is | | | | decorations for this and save your better decorations |
| decorated in a well balanced manner. For trees that | | | | for the outside branches. Aim to display around 10 |
| are 2-3 feet tall you will need 35 - 80 lights, for trees | | | | Christmas tree decorations per 2 feet of tree, hang |
| that are 4 feet high or taller use 100 lights per foot. | | | | similar decorations together to create maximum |
| When dressing your Christmas tree with lights thread | | | | effect. If you have a real assortment of decorations |
| them from the base of the tree to the very tip at | | | | using a beautiful ribbon to hang them can give them |
| the top. Exercise caution if stringing lights together as | | | | a more unified beautiful look. |
| you can easily overload fuses and damage circuits, | | | | Trim refers to bows, tinsel and anything else that |
| throw away any lights that are not functioning | | | | you wish to decorate your tree with; you may not |
| properly and always turn them off when you leave | | | | want any which is a better alternative than making |
| the house and when you go to bed. | | | | the common mistake of drowning the tree in trim |
| Once you have finished your lights it is time to think | | | | which just spoils all of you hard work. The Christmas |
| about garlands which can be made of either tinsel, | | | | tree skirt should be big enough to cover the stand |
| beads or various types and widths of ribbon. Many | | | | which is its purpose but not bigger than the average |
| people wishing to achieve a traditional look produce | | | | size of its branches. All that remains to finish your |
| their own garlands by threading popcorn, cranberries | | | | beautiful tree is to add some wrapped presents and |
| or by making paper chains. How you decide to drape | | | | topper. The most common toppers are stars and |
| your garland is a matter of personal preference if | | | | angel although you can choose anything you wish as |
| you display your garlands in loops this creates a | | | | long as its tasteful, a bow made from the same |
| dramatic effect, although bear in mind that large | | | | ribbon as used in the garland can create a very |
| loops would look ridiculous on a small tree. You can | | | | simple yet striking tree topper. |
| also display your garland by attaching it to the top of | | | | |