HOW TO: STYLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

During the next few weekends, hundreds of people throughout the UK will begin the process of decorating their homes for Christmas. We take you through some effortless steps to decorate your tree for the festive season.

Location

No matter the shape or size of the tree you need to consider where placing it within the home. Make sure you have the measurements for your tree, its height and width, to find a space for the greatest impact. For a real tree, make sure the location is away from central heating for minimal pine needle droppage. Keep in mind to find a location close to a power supply, as no matter the tree types you will need a plug socket for tree lights.

Lighting

Spread your lights evenly throughout the tree to illuminate the space symmetrically. Preparation is crucial to ensure consistency. Spend some time preparing your tree, particularly if it is artificial, fluffing those all-important branches, priming them for decoration. Taking the time to do this now will make sure your tree has an authentic look.

Start by weaving the lights from the top, working your way down gradually, weaving around the main branches. Leave a space of around fifteen centimetres between every loop around. As a general rule we would advise around 1000 lights for a six-foot tree, although the more lights the greater the glisten!

Colour Scheme

After adding the lights, it is time for the fun part of – decorating! Initially deciding on a colour scheme will help you effectively style your tree. We take you through some on-trend options which break away from the traditional red, gold and green look.

Winter blush

Pink is the new neutral. Take inspiration from the catwalk with a range of blush pinks, white and silver.

Skandi chic

Following on from the latest trend of Skandi and Nordic Interior Design. Nordic design is about incorporating natural greenery, foliage and berries. Incorporating flashes of white and silver on flocked Christmas trees.

Rich jewels

For a glamorous look style opulent jewel tones such as midnight blues, emerald greens and amethyst alongside metallic detailing.

Choosing colours that go well together and keeping to a theme can be a key part of your tree-building skill. If in doubt, stick to a simple scheme.

Trimmings

Don’t let your tree go naked, get it covered with its skirt and top. Unless you want everyone to see your artificial base and wiring then make sure you include a tree skirt covering the base. For real trees, material tree skirts can be useful to collect those pesky pine needles.

The crowning glory of your tree is its topper. Traditionally you would find a star here, however there are a wealth of options now available on the market. Just remember heavier tree toppers can `bend or break the top. Make sure the topper suits your chosen styling scheme. for an eye-catching effect.