How to decorate a Christmas tree

Tree decorating is something the entire family can enjoy together. But where should you start?

December 23, 2017

Newcastle Advertiser 2 minutes read

Christmas decorating is in full swing!

While South Africans may not have the opportunity to decorate fresh, natural Christmas trees like the USA prides itself on, we have many wonderful options locally.

By December 1, most families would have dusted off the Christmas tree box and wiped down the ornaments.

Tree decorating is something the entire family can enjoy together. But where should you start?

Step one: Pick a good location for your tree. Whether artificial or real, ideally your tree needs to be close to light socket to plug in the lights. Re-arrange furniture if necessary, so it doesn’t snag clothes or attract the attention of household pets.

Step two: Hang the Christmas tree lights. Lights usually come with either green or white wires, so choose one which matches your tree so the wire will be well hidden. Start at the base of the trunk and work your way up, wrapping the lights around every major branch, moving from the trunk to the tip, and back.

Step three: Choose a colour scheme. Choose colours that go well together and stick to a simple theme. Traditionally, red, gold and green go well with the theme of the holiday. For a winter look, pick white, silver and blue.

Step four: Add the Christmas tree garland. Beads, ribbon or foil garland add texture to your tree. Start at the top and work your way around the tree. You may need more than two strands to cover the tree properly.

Step five: Baubles! This is the best part of decorating your tree. When hanging baubles, start from the inside of the tree and work out. Hang the larger baubles closer to the centre of the tree to give it more depth. Spread them evenly and use a variety of shapes and sizes.

Step six: Topper. The crowning touch to your festive tree masterpiece is an eye-catching topper. Traditional toppers have roots in tradition, like the star representing the Star of Bethlehem which guided the Three Kings to Baby Jesus. If you are not traditional, however, there are plenty of other options to choose from. Snowflakes, angels and birds are popular. You need to beware of toppers that are very heavy, because otherwise your tree may be in danger of toppling.

This festive season, break out the hot chocolate and festive cocktails and mocktails, and get the whole family involved with decorating the tree!