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Trimming the Tree

	Here are some great tips for decorating your Christmas tree this holiday season. Download PDF View our "Trimming the Tree" video where co-owner Deborah Sirman shows you designer tips on how to make a dazzling, fresh Christmas Tree while still using your favorite collectibles. Lights Stumped when it comes to lighting your tree? Creating a beautiful glow of lights on a tree isn't difficult, but it requires patience. First and foremost - never skimp on lights - for every vertical foot of tree, use a strand of 100 lights. Be sure lights are "end to end", so additional strands can be added as necessary. Don't be afraid to mix and match. Always check that all your strands light up before you start! Wrap lights around every main branch, moving from the trunk to the tip and back. Squint your eyes to blur your vision - this is a great designer trick that helps you see what the lights will look like when it's dark.
Pair twinkle lights or coloured lights with ornaments that have reflective surfaces. There are lots of great light covers now - floral, beaded balls. These look fantastic when placed over mini lights. Safety Tips - Never plug more than two extension cords together; buy them in the lengths you need. Make sure the wattages of the bulbs you use are the same; this prevents power surges. There is no need to remove lights year to year; if your tree comes apart in two or three sections, ensure you join the lights where the sections come apart. This way, you can keep the lights on the tree, but separate the sections for storage. If your tree does not come apart, then cover the tree with a tree cover (available for fresh trees).
	Garland Garland is put on after the lights. There are no firm rules when applying garland, as long as you don't create a "sausage effect" with branches bulging between tightly cinched garlands. Start at the top, stringing less garland, and work your way down, increasing the amount of garland. Garland doesn't have to be applied horizontally - try using a "maypole effect"; start at the top with 4-5 long strands, and let them fall down the tree - this works great with ribbon, or beaded garland.
Another method of applying garland/ribbon is going vertically up & down. On artificial trees, utilize the branches to secure the ribbon or garland. Slightly offset each "billow" from left to right to soften the look. When using ribbon, wired works best. Try not to pull too tight, allow the ribbon to "balloon" between branches. Use branches on artificial trees to secure your ribbon. On real trees, ribbon can be secured with thin floral wire. On average a 7.5 ft. artificial tree will use 20 yds. of ribbon. A 9 ft. would need 30 approx. yds. We suggest NOT cutting the ribbon, instead tuck it into the tree to maintain a consistent look. After Christmas re-roll ribbon on to rolls. Many ribbons can be ironed on low setting with a thin cotton tea towel. This will ensure a fresh look for the next Christmas season. Unique garland choices include: All kinds of ribbons Light fabrics such as mesh, burlap, organza, sinamay Feather boas Arrange floral picks, foliage or branches - place one after the other (wire if needed) in a spiral design around the tree. Mittens, scarves, candy strung together for a kid's tree.
	Florals Permanent florals such as poinsettias & hydrangeas etc should be placed on your tree after the garland. Be sure to use enough of the same type/colour to achieve impact & consistency. There are no firm guidelines, but between 12-18 of the same floral on a 7.5 ft. tree will make maximum impact.
	Ornaments Always place the largest focal pieces/ornaments on first i.e. large balls & teddy bears. Space them evenly apart. A rule of thumb is to always place ornaments in order of size from largest to smallest. Create depth by placing some ornaments closer to the trunk. To showcase your special ornaments, place the important ones on first. Then fill in around them with the remaining ornaments to balance. Finish with specialty shapes, such as birds, clip-ons, butterflies, etc.
	Picks Picks are used to add dimension and texture to the tree. The choices are endless - from coloured berries to artificial greens with cones. Picks should be put on last, since they are often used to fill in gaps. As with florals, the same pick should be used in quantities of min. 12; larger trees may need up to 36. Picks will help "tie in" the whole theme of your tree.