How to decorate your Christmas Tree - Tips & Tricks!

When it comes to Christmas decorating the Christmas tree has to be the main event! No pressure then to get this dazzling display right.  Have you always struggled to light up your tree perfectly with the fairy lights easily or do the lights just get tangled up and messy looking?  Well, let us help you out with some simple tips and tricks to make this task a little easier this year. 

Think we all start off with the intention of carefully decorating the Christmas Tree only to end up haphazardly throwing the decorations on as patience is lost with tangled lights. 

So let's try and create that Christmas Movie look tree with ease! 

1. Invest in the right lights (and the right amount of them too)

You've come to the right place! I know it's tempting to go to your local DIY store or the likes of the big sheds to get a bulk box of lights because they are cheap and look like you get more for your money. Or you go for quality and then decide you'll go for less because it's cheaper. Both options are a mistake. The cheap version you'll be regretting next year when you deal with the tangled, thin wires or they go dim or they stop working. The less is more approach and you'll be forever looking at your tree regretting your decision. 

For the ultimate luxe look, it is all amount getting quality and quantity right.

Rule of thumb: 20m of lights per 6ft of tree and we find most people will have a tree between 6 & 8m hight. If 8m then go for 30m. One can never have too many lights! 

While this may sound like a lot of light, it turns out that this method allows for the bounteous luxury look that you find in Christmas movies and holiday displays.

Want a cosy look? Always opt for Warm White LEDs. Yes it is tempting to go for cool white during Christmas but it is a stark, uninviting colour. You want your family and friends to gravitate towards the tree, feel warmth as they enter the room and be dazzled by your gorgeous display of light! 

  • Essential Clear Cable Fairy Lights - click here

2. Start at the bottom of the tree and work upwards 

Starting at the bottom of the tree allows you to hide the wires more easily and prevent a trailing line of wires up the rear of your tree. 

Start your lights right up against the trunk (or stand if you have an artificial tree) and work outwards towards the tips of the branches. This Christmas tree lighting technique helps the lights to shine outwards and add depth, making it look as if your tree is glowing, rather than having noticeable wires.

3. Work in a zig-zag, rather than around the tree 

Never decorate the back of a Christmas tree if it is in the corner of a room. Instead of working round the tree with the lights and wasting precious feet of lighting on areas that are never seen, work back and forth in a zigzag pattern with a focus on the parts that are visible. While keeping the lights close to the centre of the tree, work them right to left and back again as you move up the tree. 

Once you have done this up the length of the tree trunk, start to move outwards along the branches, zigzagging your way back down the tree while starting to add the next sets of lights as needed. 

4. Do you start at the top or bottom when putting lights on a Christmas Tree?

When putting lights onto a Christmas tree it is best to start at the bottom of the tree close to the trunk or stand and work outwards and upwards until you reach the top of your tree. 

5. What is the order of decorating a Christmas tree? 

Decorating a Christmas tree in this order is recommended: 

  • Placing the tree and fluffing up the branches (particularly on an artificial tree)
  • Placing the lights on the tree.
  • Add the rest of your decorations and statement baubles. 

6. What colour cable for my Christmas Tree Fairy Lights? 

Green Christmas Trees always opt for the Black Cable. It will subtly weave itself through the Christmas Tree foliage. 

Shop our wide range of fairy lights here. 

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