I hope you’ll find this re-post of Christmas decorating tips from a professional Christmas designer helpful as you set about getting your home ready for Christmas in the coming days. This post is full of tips and how-to’s for decorating wreaths, garlands and trees.
I’m back today with some great Christmas decorating tips from one of Caryl’s designers. Sue has been a floral designer for 30 years. Here she generously shares tips on decorating your Christmas tree, creating a tree topper, creating a wreath and creating a garland.
Trees
Do you love a lush, full tree? Oh my goodness – I do! These tree decorating tips will help you create that look, but they can really be applied to any style of tree decor that you prefer.
#3. Don’t hang all of your ornaments on the outside of the tree or on the ends of the branches. Hang some of them toward the interior of the tree. Large orbs look great sort of pushed into the branches. This will give your tree depth and interest. This same “rule” applies to adding lights to your tree.
#4. Use floral wire, pipe cleaners or even the tree branches themselves (if you are decorating an artificial tree), to secure large items onto your tree.
#1. If you have a specific item, such as an angel, that you want to use as a tree topper, don’t place it on the very top of the tree where it is more difficult to admire. Instead, bring it down a little. Wire it to the tree if you need to and add decorative sticks or sprays around/behind it to help draw the eye.
#3. Here is Sue’s tree topper formula for using decorative sticks and sprigs:
~Start by coming down slightly from the very top of tree and place an odd number of thin, spikey sticks around the tree. Use a minimum of three.
~Next, select sticks that are still spikey in nature, but are a little more full. Place them in between and a little lower than the first sticks you added.
~Repeat this process, with the sticks/sprigs growing slightly more full with each successive layer.
~Your finished topper should take up roughly 1/5th of the overall height of the tree.
~You should use this formula even when including a larger item as part of your topper.
#1. Start your wreath with a bow. Before you add items to your wreath, decide where you want the bow to be when you hang your wreath – to the side, on the bottom or on the top. Now is also the time to weave ribbon coming from the bow and going around the rest of your wreath, if you so desire.
#3. Next, add whatever items to the wreath that you desire. The trick is to not make it appear too symmetrical in general. Always use an odd number of items.
#1. A garland is one place where symmetry is important, unless you are intentionally going for an asymmetrical look. Start by placing a bow at the center of the garland. Weave additional ribbon through the length of the garland on both sides of the bow.
#3. Add additional elements to the garland by measuring their placement an equal distance from the bow. Eyeballing is fine – you don’t have to pull out a measuring tape!
#4. Create interest by using elements of different dimensions. Layering is key.
If you aren’t into creating your own wreath or garland and don’t see a premade one that you adore, no worries! Sue will create one a custom one just for you – made specifically to your taste. Decorating your tree or house for Christmas not your bag? Caryl has you covered there too! She is a full service shop offering design, installation and take-down services.
Caryl doesn’t only have tree decor. She carries all kinds of cute accessories too!
Why Christmas trees, of course! The great thing about purchasing a tree from Caryl is that she services what she sells. No sending it back or trying to get a refund if there is a problem. I don’t know of any other retailer in my town that does that.
{By the way – I wasn’t compensated in any way for the feature of this great shop. It is just a favorite place of mine that I wanted to share with all of you!}
These tips are great, but want to know how the professional Christmas designers decorate their trees step-by-step? Click HERE to find out.
Hi there! Is it proper to use 2 different types of garland? ..in other words, one type of garland around the frame of your front door, and the other on your gate?
Great tips Suzy! We’re adding a second tree to our home this year, and these tips are great for making Christmas trees even more beautiful!
Hi there! Is it proper to use 2 different types of garland? ..in other words, one type of garland around the frame of your front door, and the other on your gate?
Hi Georgia. Sure! I think mixing multiple types of garlands is just fine.