How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition in many households. “Approximately 21.6 million real trees and 12.9 million artificial trees will be purchased by U.S. households this Christmas,” according to Nielsen Research. The elements that go into decorating a Christmas tree—lights, garland, tinsel, and ornaments—are familiar to nearly everyone. But when it comes to creating a holiday tree that expresses your style, personality, heritage, and surroundings, the options are virtually limitless.

The best Christmas trees are filled with layer upon layer of memories, traditions, and ornaments—both handcrafted and store-bought. Not sure how you want to decorate your tree this year? We have plenty of Christmas tree theme ideas, along with handmade ornament ideas that let you put a personal touch on your holiday decor. Once you’ve found your inspiration, follow our three easy steps for decorating a Christmas tree like a pro.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro

Getting a dazzling holiday tree doesn’t have to be hard work. All it takes is an understanding of how the elements work together and a few easy-to-follow tips from our tree-decorating pros. We’ll show you how to decorate a Christmas tree professionally. Remember: It’s more important for the family to decorate together than to strive for perfect placement. But these three steps will ensure that your tree is both beloved and beautiful.

Step 1: Hang Christmas Tree Lights

The first step in how to decorate a Christmas tree is adding the lights. Tree lights typically come on green or white wire strands, though you can also find black variations now, which are perfect if you happen to have a black Christmas tree. Choose the strand color that matches your tree so the wire will be hidden. Illuminating your Christmas tree from the inside out will give it the most dynamic look. Start at the base of the trunk and work your way up, wrapping lights around every major branch, moving from the trunk to the tip and back. Fluff the branches as you work your way around the tree.

Experiment with different lighting schemes until you find one you like; it’s OK to mix and match lights. For example, a background of white or clear lights can be highlighted with strands of colored lights that wrap the outer areas of the tree.

See our complete guide to putting lights on your Christmas tree for even more info on how to design your perfect tree lighting scheme. Here are four popular types of Christmas lights to choose from when decorating your tree.

Traditional Incandescent Lights

These Christmas tree lights, which come in a variety of sizes and colors, are the most popular type of tree lights. They can also be used outdoors. They warm up the branches of a real tree, which will release the scent of pine into the room.

LED Lights

These Christmas tree lights are newer than the traditional incandescent lights and don’t produce heat. They’re typically more expensive, but they are flameproof, fireproof, and completely safe to decorate a Christmas tree with.

Compact and Cluster Lights

Compact lights and cluster lights are similar to LED or traditional strands of lights but with many more bulbs. Instead of only having one light every few inches, compact and cluster light strands boast several bulbs much closer together, creating a fuller, brighter effect.

Globe Lights

These Christmas tree lights are round and come in many sizes. They look like balls of color on the tree, and while they have a softer glow than mini lights, the light they produce covers a larger area on the tree.

Bubble Lights

These retro lights stand straight up on the limbs of your Christmas tree. When the liquid tube on top of the light warms up, bubbles float up and down inside the tube, resembling lava lamps.

Step 2: Add Christmas Tree Garland

There are no firm rules for decorating a Christmas tree when it comes to draping garland, but to avoid branches bulging between tightly cinched garland strands, start at the top of the tree and work your way down. Slowly increase the amount of garland between each wave as you move down the branches. Plan to use about two strands of garland for every vertical foot of tree.

There are tons of different kinds of Christmas tree garlands. Thin, beaded garlands look best hung from branch to branch; thicker paper, ribbon, or foil garlands look best wrapped loosely around the entire tree. Or match your flocked Christmas tree with a pretty flocked garland. If you’re still in need of a garland, you can also consider making your own this holiday season.

Beaded Garlands

Beaded garlands are available in a kaleidoscope of different colors, finishes, and sizes. They’re a great way to add a bit of texture to your tree, and they layer well with additional or existing garlands to create a fuller, more dramatic look.

Tinsel Garlands

Ah, tinsel. One of our favorite decorating elements of Christmas past that we hope never goes away. Tinsel is one of the most playful, nostalgic garland options for its shiny finish and association with the iconic tinsel trees of the midcentury design movement. It’s incredibly inexpensive, comes in tons of colors, and easily catches the eye with its reflective qualities.

Ribbons

Decorating a Christmas tree with ribbon is a popular alternative to a garland. Loosely wrap wide, patterned ribbon around the entire tree in horizontal bands. To add interest, try making big bows from a similar ribbon and using them to decorate the tree branches. Once you know how to decorate a tree with ribbon, try and amp it up by using ribbon vertically on the tree, creating cascading streams of ribbon from the top of your tree to the base, tucking the ends under your tree topper, and securing around the trunk at the base.

String Garlands

Garlands are available in hundreds of materials, designs, and color schemes. Just like they sound, string garlands are simply a string of a themed, ornamental baubles, stars, cookies, or other decorative elements. Each one can offer a different feel or theme to your tree. A felt or yarn pom pom garland can add a touch of whimsy and playful color, while a faux popcorn garland (for example) offers that touch of nostalgia. Faux candy garlands can create a fantasy Candy Land-inspired vibe. Whatever theme you’re after, you can probably find a string garland for it. Crafts stores are a great source for decorative garlands. Layer on as many as you want and watch the Christmas magic come alive.

Step 3: Hang Christmas Tree Ornaments

The final step in decorating your tree is to hang your Christmas ornaments. Here’s what to consider as you’re adding Christmas tree decorations.

• To showcase your favorite ornaments, place them in prime positions on the tree first.
• Next, hang your larger ornaments, spacing them evenly around the tree. Ornaments in one color but several sizes and textures will create continuity from top to bottom. Hang the larger ones on the bottom, the smaller at the top.
• Fill in around those ornaments with medium- and small-size ornaments. Be sure to hang some ornaments closer to the trunk to create depth and interest. They reflect the light to make your tree sparkle from the inside. Make the tree yours by adding specialty items, such as handmade ornaments, clip-on ornaments, or icicles.
• Finish the look with a simple tree topper and a festive tree skirt.

Stand back and study your tree from various angles—we recommend squinting your eyes—to determine if there are empty areas to fill.