The Perfect Tree

in 5 easy steps

   Whether your tree is 3' or 12', real, artificial, tinsel or snow covered, the guidelines are the same. Here a few tips I learned from years of retail display, important details & top secret information....shhhh 

1. Hang your lights first

   It's important that you use minimum 100 lights per foot 7' tree= 700 lights,
thats bare minmum, bare. bare,bare minimum. I have a 7.5' tree with 1200 lights & I thinks it's perfect, hubby thinks I'm crazy, hydro department loves me!
   Start applying your lights from the top working your way around & down, when your done you want your plug at the bottom of the tree. While stringing lights, work your way from the inside to the outside of the tree, lights deep in the tree give dimension & trwinkle. White lights make for a more traditional tree, coloured is a little more festive, I'm a coloured lights gal myself, but I do love white lights too, every year I'm torn & every year I end up going with coloured.

2. Garland-ribbon-tinsel

   It can be a popcorn garland, beautiful ribbon or paper rings, whatever you use, this is the next step. Again, start at the top, work your way around & down weaving slightly inside the tree, garlands, ribbons etc., shouldn't sit just on the tree tips.

3. Ornaments - step 1

a) Before we start the ornaments, don't forget to hang some on the inside of your tree, again decorating the inside adds depth, sparkle, twinkle & richness.
 b) Hang the largest ornaments first, balancing them throughout the entire tree.
c) Next, hang your favourite/special ornaments in places of prominence so that they remain highly visible.

4. Ornaments - step 2

   Now fill in your tree with all the smaller decorations covering the entire tree, it is important to fill off the gaps, don't forget the inside, top & bottom.
The biggest mistake most people make is over decorating the middle of the tree, the sweet spot that everyone can reach, have a step stool handy to make reaching the top a breeze & either have a little one (who is eager to help decorate) do the bottom or rest your tush & do the bottom yourself.

5. Grand Finale

   The final touch, the piece de resistance (best feature). the perfect finish... the tree topper.
  Whether you use a star, an angel, bow or finial, your perfect tree needs the perfect topper and this always goes on at the end but PLEASE make sure it sits straight, nothing worse than a crooked star or a bending angel.

Important Tips

If you must use this type of tinsel please be very careful, this is dangerous around small chldren, dogs & cats. If using, use sparingly, not as pictured above, LOL

Green hooks are better than silver, they blend in better with the tree;

If you use silver hooks, why not consider bending them, adding beads, great craft for the kids.

If you have small children, happy dogs with big tails or carzy cats, you might want to consider plastic decorations at the bottom of the tree.

Don't forget to crank up the Christmas tunes, my personal favourite is this hunky, loveable, funny Canadian guy and Oh, can he sing! Michael Buble (I love him).

Best investment ever ! 
No more crawling under a tree, reaching through or putting your life in danger (exaggerating again) while trying to turn on the lights every night.

On/Off switch for Christmas lights both run around $10 each, I have the metal tree (below) it's actually a tri light as well so I can make my lights bight, med or dim, I love it!

Happy Decorating !

How many days 'til Chrismas?
Check right up to the second here, it's a Christmas Clock.