It’s officially December, so you know what that means: it’s time to put up the Christmas tree. I vividly remember the chaos of my childhood — assembling the tree, pulling the decorations out of the attic, and trying to get the lights just right.
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It was always a mess, followed by an incomparable sense of Christmas spirit. But why not simplify the decorating madness and jump straight to the joy?
Knowing how to distribute the lights for an even glow, position the ornaments in a balanced way, and adjust the branches to perfection… all of these are important steps in decorating a Christmas tree. However, to improve your decorating skills even further, it’s essential to understand where you usually go wrong. That’s why I spoke with designers to uncover the biggest mistakes they see people making when decorating Christmas trees.
Christmas trees are the symbol of the festive season and bring a sparkling touch of magic to your home. Everyone wants a postcard-worthy holiday atmosphere, and avoiding these three common Christmas tree decorating mistakes will help you achieve just that. Here’s what to avoid.
1. Uneven lighting
The biggest challenge in Christmas decorating is placing the lights on the tree. In my experience, it always starts well, but then you forget to space the lights properly and suddenly notice that the top of the tree is glowing beautifully while the bottom looks quite bare.
“One of the biggest mistakes I see is uneven lighting, with people starting halfway up the tree or placing lights only on the surface and neglecting the lower and inner branches,” says Chloe Barrow, interior design expert at Laura James.
Uneven lighting can disrupt the tree’s natural flow and balance. When the lighting is uneven, the eye is immediately drawn to one area instead of the overall silhouette, which can make the tree look flat.
Instead of getting tangled up (literally), Chloe suggests the following trick for lighting your Christmas tree: “Start from the bottom and weave the lights through the inner branches to create a warm and even glow that sets the festive tone.” When the lights are placed further back, there’s less area to cover (thank goodness!), and you’ll have more room on the branches for your ornaments to shine.
2. Too many ornaments
When it comes to decorating, many of us fall into the trap of overloading the tree with all the decorations we own, thinking that more is always better. I get it — my family collects new Christmas baubles every year without ever letting go of the old ones. But as nostalgic as that may be, it can quickly become a major mistake when decorating your tree.
Chloe explains: “Too many ornaments can make the tree look chaotic and stressful rather than cozy and inviting.” This is especially true when ornaments are hung too close together or when the colors clash, as it can cause the branches to disappear visually, giving the tree a messy rather than intentional look. This, in turn, makes the living room feel less relaxing and comfortable.
When hanging your ornaments, Christmas bows, garlands, or foliage, “choose a harmonious color palette or leave enough space between ornaments so the branches can breathe,” Chloe advises. Need a bit more inspiration? Finding the ideal ornament-to-tree ratio is a great place to start.
3. Forgetting to add fullness
Fluffing and opening the branches of your tree is an essential step, no matter what type of Christmas tree you have — real or artificial. Not only does this make your tree look fuller, but (especially with real trees) it helps prevent ornaments from falling and breaking as the branches settle.
So before you start decorating, “take time to open each branch properly, starting from the trunk and working outward, so your tree has a lush and even appearance,” says Chloe. Once the structure is set, add ornaments, ribbons, and other finishing touches, ensuring your tree is balanced and visually harmonious.
Preparing the perfect Christmas tree should be a moment of celebration, not stress. To avoid any mishaps during the holidays, steer clear of these common Christmas tree decorating mistakes and enjoy the glow of a beautifully adorned tree.
Still need a last-minute tree? Habitat’s artificial Christmas trees have been the hit of the season.
Source: Livingetc. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
