you found your perfect, beautiful tree, faux or real (the smell is my favorite part of a real tree) and it can’t wait for all of its ornaments and trimmings. i’ve gone with a faux tree this year.

fluff – once you get your tree out of the box, you want to take your time and fluff the tree. when fluffing, start from inner branches and work your way outward.

lights – add a lot of lights. on top of the classic incandescent lights, i like to use LED lights for a magical look that really make the tree sparkle. although these cost a little more up-front, they are energy efficient and long-lasting. before stringing your lights, check that they’re in working order. the lights are definitely the most tricky part of a tree. i haven’t found the perfect method for stringing lights yet, i just weave in and out of the branches.

theme – before you start decorating your tree, you’ll want to decide on a theme or concept. are you going for the classic red, green and gold look, or a winter wonderland theme? i decided on neutral colors of gold, silver, and white.

tree skirt – to complete your theme, cover the base of your tree. this is perfect to hide the wires of your tree lights. there’s tree collars and baskets, or you can even put your tree in an outdoor pot. i like to stuff underneath the skirt with a blanket for dimension. 

ornaments – you can go minimalist or maximalist, both are so nice. what makes a tree stand out is different shapes and sizes, and textures.

before placing your ornaments, figure out the ‘front’ of your tree. focus where your eye is and make it look amazing. i put most of the good ornaments in the middle of the tree. 

start with the biggest and largest ornaments. this creates instant depth to the tree. a trick you can use when you’re hanging your heavy ornaments is take two or three of your branches and put them together and twist it, so you get more hanging weight.

now, you have your first layer of bigger ornaments, then between them and in close proximity put your secondary layer of big ornaments. pay attention to how the ornament hangs as well. hang lightweight ornaments on the branches of the tree. i use wire to hang all the ornaments.

decorating a tree is always a process. step back often and look at your tree. when you look through your phone, you can see more.

tree picks – after ornaments, move on to more abstract shapes like branches. these can be florals, berries, or leaves. i’ve added some baby breath flowers.

ribbons and garland – these are an easy way to add more texture and fullness. embroidered ribbons or satin bows add a luxe touch.  if you’re using ribbons, wired ones are easier to shape and style. 

tree topper – the last little piece is your tree topper. it’s the belief in the tippy top that’s enough to make you feel the magic of Christmas.