The best part of Christmas decorating – the TREE!!! Do you ever feel overwhelmed when decorating yours? A gorgeous Christmas tree may look intimidating, but with a few simple tricks and tips, you can trim your Christmas tree like a pro! Today, I’m sharing how I decorate my trees for Christmas. First, there is not right or wrong way to trim a tree! Some start with ribbon, some end with ribbon. These tips are just what works for me. Hopefully they work for you too!

Tips for Trimming your Christmas Tree like a Star

• After setting up your tree, fluff your branches {if your tree is faux}! A well fluffed tree will look fuller and more luxurious.
• Next grab some tree picks. I like to use at least 3 different kinds, 5-8 of each. Stick them into the tree spaced well. Have some pointing up to the ceiling, some straight out and some down. Since this tree is green, I like to add picks in varied shades of green for interest. Always add some picks that have a little sparkle to them. This helps create more sparkle!
  
• Now add your large ornaments. I like to start at the bottom and work my way to the top. I tie my heavy ornaments to the branches with ribbon so they don’t tumble off.  Tuck them into the tree a little father back. You will hang smaller ones in from of some of them. This helps make the tree look fuller. I look for natural holes in the tree to know where to place them.
• Use a mix of inexpensive ornaments and some more special ones. This will help you stretch your budget.
• Stop placing the large ornaments about 1/4 of the way from the top. You are basically following the gradual shrinking angle of the tree.
  
• Whether you use poinsettias, magnolias, roses, etc, flowers fill in a tree and soften the look. This tree I only used white poinsettias. Our family room tree {see it here}, has 3 different kinds of flowers.
• Space flowers around the tree. Use around 12 or more.
• Push some into the tree and keep some pulled out farther.
• Grab your smaller ornaments and start hanging those babies all over!
• Don’t be afraid to hang them in front of the larger ornaments for a layer look.
  
• Ribbon hanging can be the most daunting task of Christmas decorating. I have learned a few tricks that have helped me take the “ugh” out of hanging ribbon!!!
• You can create tufts of ribbon by looping a few strands together with wire. They will look like bows. Tuck them into the tree.
  
• My F A V O R I T E way to add ribbon is to cut  18 inch strips of wired ribbon.
• Wrap the ribbon around your wrist.
• Then pull the ribbon apart like a slinky. It will look like a small corkscrew.
• Place the ribbon on the tree. Pinch the ribbon and push it into the tree so it doesn’t look like a macaroni noodle laying on the tree!!!
• You can pull ornaments and flowers in front of the ribbon if needed.
• My favorite place to find ribbon is Sam’s Club, and local Boutiques. If I find an awesome online ribbon source, you guys will be the first ones to know!!!

For this tree I used 5 yards of ribbon for the mini corkscrews and 5 yards for the tufts. Our family room tree only used 5 yards!!! This little trick saves so much time and money!
Next year I will share tips on how I decorate my flocked tree. There are a few different tricks I use for that!

I hope these tips and tricks help you all trim a tree like a star! Merry Christmas my dear friends!