Christmas tree decorating. Is there a method to your madness?

[CrinchyGrinchy]

I'm currently decorating my tree. I'll admit I'm an anal perfectionist when it comes to tree decorating so I have a Balsam Hill faux tree so I can bend the branches into perfect positions for my baubles to hang.

A faux tree means fluffing it first. I absolutely hate this process, but the tree looks so much better afterwards.

Once I start decorating I go in with the 'filler baubles' (the plain mostly plastic coloured ones ie: silver, red, etc) on the inner parts of the branches leaving room for the nicer ones towards the outer ends of the branches. Once I've got all the filler baubles on then I go in with all my nicer glass ones, so they're on full show in prime position and look beautiful and noticeable.

It takes me an entire day to decorate my tree. I realise I'm totally anal over it, and every year I swear I'm going to buy a load of new plastic baubles and just let the kids do the tree. But when it comes Christmas time every year I can't bring myself to do it.

Anyway, just wondering if people have a 'process' they follow each year to decorate their tree. Just wondering if I could learn a few things. Perhaps I should be putting my filler baubles on after my nice ones? Or any other things I can do to make the process easier or tree look nicer.

Agree it is an absolute pain to ‘fluff’ the tree,
However, baubles on the inner parts of the branches? No, mine are lucky to get them just on the ends!

Plastic ones at the bottom due to baby/cats, glass ones at the top. It does not take me a day to decorate my tree and our lights are multicoloured rather than warm white.

It's a bit of a wild jumble. I'm probably not the person to ask🤣

I have a Balsam Hill tree too. But I can never fluff the bloody thing properly. I think I have but then it still looks rubbish. And I’m crap at putting the decorations on. The tree never looks as I want it. I think part of the issue may be I have no patience!

We have a fake tree - 'fluffing' only takes a few minutes to bend out all the branches. No filler baubles, only a few internal ornaments, usually ones I can balance on limb joints. Larger baubles at the bottom, though mostly plastic - glass ones about mid-height. Rest of the decs go on dependent on size & how much I like them. I have a few special ones that get pride of place near the top.
Lights are a mix of coloured & warm white. No tinsel, beads or lametta. Takes about half a day including the rest of the house/outside.

Put up the tree, fluff it, add the lights then open the baubles box and let the kids go nuts. Fragile ones go near the top because we have a toddler.

MY IDEAL TREE - I love a wild jumble of everything on the tree - home-made decorations that my kid made when she was a baby, cheap decorations I bought over the years plus the nice expensive ones. I love a messy tree and in the past used to always have coloured lights on it. I thought the Christmassy jumble made it look more warm and homely rather than a perfect corporate office tree.

HOWEVER THE REALITY is that my 12-year-old daughter hated my vulgar jumble tree and is really into minimalist aesthetics (total opposite to me). So she decorates the tree with a few carefully chosen (by her) unique glass, wooden and felt decorations to make it look stylish. And we have warm white lights on the tree. I still do my messy Christmas jumble decorations in the rest of the house though 😂

Fresh tree here so it is pre-fluffed.

Start with fairy lights
Then older tinsel deep among the branches to reflect the lights
Then garlands of newer tinsel
then best baulbles in prime position then B-listers in filler spaces.
It takes me about 3 hours. I love this job.

Yes. This is how I did it pre-DC.

Now it’s: real tree. Open box, find lights, CARNAGE ENSUES.

I have a real tree so no fluffing and have to take any imperfections as they come but for dressing it I have to start with small baubles round the top and the biggest baubles at the bottom. They can’t go anywhere else it doesn’t look right!

I bought some "picks" this year to try them out.... I quite like them

anyway my process is similar to yours really...

Fairy lights - wrapped round each branch (hardest bit!)
picks (only have a few of these with berries etc - to hide bigger gaps)
plain coloured baubles towards the inside of the tree
Fancy baubles done next - decorated by colour/size - bigger towards the bottom - smaller towards the top.
Decorations by colour /style/size dotted around the tree(I pack them the previous year by colour - I know!). Duplicates well apart from each other...

I always put my favourites where I can see them most so sit down or stand and adjust...

It takes me 3/4 hours in total from start to finish. But I love my tree so it is worth it!

I used to be quite a perfectionist with the tree, but now I hand the box of decorations over to the kids, pour a glass of wine and watch the mayhem unfold 😂

This is mine currently. I’m really not happy with it. I loved the idea of the rainbow colours but it’s not very Christmassy. Had the rainbow selection on a narrow tree in the hallway last year. Might need to re do it.

I've had to let go of my anal retention and just let the kids get on with it. They know if I move things around. After I've unclenched I do like it better this way

That's such a pretty tree 🌲

This is me putting up a tree to a tree! Lol! Except I'm always the one that insists on a tree that's too big!

To a tee, not a tree!!!

A pop up pre decorated tree is my solution but only once every three years when my son comes to stay. This year and next, it will stay tucked up in its box!

Lights first, even distribution of nicest baubles next, then fillers. DS gets in DHs shoulders to put the angel on top.
All baubles are red green gold, plus some traditional wooden/sewn ornaments in similar colours. Can't be theming a Christmas tree every year! We have some meaningful ones from trips, and a tiny heart photo frame with a picture of dearly departed cat. Takes about an hour

I agree with you about 'fluffing' the branches, but my hobby is bonsai so I can tweak wired branches into place at high speed. 😂

Adult dd and I do the tree together. We do the lights first, with them switched on so we can see if there are any gaps. Then tinsel (we like tinsel although I know a lot of people think it is old hat), then any strings of beads and whatnot.

Then the 'special' baubles, robins etc, so they are nicely placed where we want them to be. Then we cram on as many filler baubles and other ornaments as possible. Then I remember that I bought some chocolate ones, so we hang them on wherever there's room.

Finally the star at the top. Took us just over 3 hours this year I think.

@Yamadori you've just reminded me the chocolate ones are still in the cupboard!

😂

I have a real tree. Unfortunately after I put the lights on one set stopped working so had to take it off and buy a new set. Then It does take about a day to get the ornaments on. I don't have a method but I like the tree covered so a lot of stepping back and looking for gaps. Ornaments are a collection dating back to my childhood. Some are kitsch, some are beautiful and precious. Then I put fine silver lametta over it all - not drowning it but enough to tie it all together. I'll post a pic when I'm finished!

Cluster lights ( warm white) on first, then certain decorations have preordained positions on the tree, then largest baubles, then fillers including going deep into the tree.

Here's a bit of it! 😄🎄