Every year it’s the same struggle: where to put the tree, how to decorate it, and tons of other Christmas tree related stresses. While every home and Christmas tree is different, there are some basic Christmas tree decorating rules that you can follow to make you a professional. Here are a few of them!

Lights

If you don’t already have a pre-lit tree, then planning where and how to hang the lights is going to be you first priority since they’re the first thing to go on. Choose if you want colored or plain lights and whether you want them wrapped around or neatly tucked into the tree.

Organize & Plan

Once you have the lights all figured out, take a few minutes to plan out and figure what kind of ornaments you want to use this year and where, generally, you want each of them. A little bit of time before can save you tons of time during and after. Decide whether you want a certain color or theme on your tree this year.

Garland

Not all trees need a garland, so just make sure you’ve decided whether you want one or not BEFORE you start putting all the ornaments on. The garland should be layered between the lights and the ornaments, so it won’t be fun taking off all the ornaments if you decide you DO want a garland, after all.

Hang Ornaments

Once you have the lights and garland on the tree and you’ve planned out which ornaments you want to use, you can finally start to hang them up! Leave equal amounts of space between each ornament and, when necessary, step back and take a look at the tree from a far view.

Accents

Some people like to hang accents on their trees. These differ from ornaments because they’re not exclusively Christmas related. For example, you can have natural accent ornaments like frosted pinecones or small clay birds. Accents make the tree look more full and complete.

Tinsel

Tinsel is another optional Christmas tree decoration, but if you’ve gotten to this point and you feel like your tree still looks flat and empty, then tinsel is a great addition. Tinsel takes trees that look a little thin and bare and helps fill in the lacking and blank spots. Plus, it adds a great snow and glitter effect!

Topper

Every Christmas tree needs a tree topper, no questions asked. The traditional tree topper is a star, but you don’t always need to use that. Be creative and find (or make) an awesome topper that really embodies the spirit of Christmas!

Tree Skirt

Once you’ve stepped back and are satisfied with how your tree looks, it’s time to add the final touch: a tree skirt! This can really bring your whole tree together and also blend the tree with the rest of the room. There are endless designs and colors for a tree skirt, so simply choose one you love and get (or make) it.

Look at this beautiful tree I found on Positively Splendid.  There are lots of tree decorating tips there if you want to decorate your Christmas Tree like a pro!