Things You'll Need:
- Christmas tree
- Lights
- Bulb decorations
- Other decorations
- Tinsel/beads
- Good imagination
- Cords
- Safety outlet
- Christmas tree stand
- A good location
- Wire
- Water (for real trees)
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Step 1
Choose the tree.
Choosing a tree can be fun and often times more difficult that most people think. Everyone wants the biggest, fullest tree. he most important thing in looking for a tree is to know the size of the area it is going to fill; floor to ceiling and circumference. Measure the distance before looking for that perfect tree. -
Step 2
Set the tree up.
For a real tree, the base should be level. Cut trees often are at an angle to allow for water to seep into the trunk. The stand should have a good strong base, round enough to hold the tree erect. Look for prongs on the bottom of the bowl that will hold the trunk in place. It's always a good idea to use a bit of wire or sturdy string to tie the tree to a hook in the ceiling to keep accidental topples from happening, especially if there are pets or children in the house. -
Step 3
Check the lights.
Before setting the lights on the tree, check them to make certain they are working. Replace any bulbs that are burnt out and make sure there aren't any worn places in the cord that might be a fire hazard. -
Step 4
Set the lights.
Begin from the top of the tree and work the lights around the tree in a spiral clockwise, securing each light to the tree with the prongs on the side. Plug the lights into a safety outlet that will then plug into a wall outlet. The wall outlet should be about 3 feet from the tree for safety. -
Step 5
Set the tinsel.
It's easier to put the tinsel on after the lights. Place it on the tree in the same direction as the lights, weaving and draping in and out of the limbs so the tinsel isn't tying up the tree. -
Step 6
The decorations.
Begin with the bigger bulb decorations first, starting at the top of the tree and weaving down, close to the trunk. Be careful not to hang any decorations close to the floor if there are small children or animals in the house. Cats and babies love to eat the decorations and that can cause dangerous stomach problems, as the bulbs are made from very fine glass. Place the smaller bulbs out further on the branches, trying not to put two of the same color together, unless the decorations are monocolor. After the bulbs are set, place any other decorations around the tree, making sure the special ones are visible near the outer ends of the branches. -
Step 7
Plug it in.
After all the decorations are set. Add the icicles for the final touch, a little or a lot, then prepare to plug the tree in. Make sure all the electrical parts of the cords are away from the base of the tree stand. Make sure the stand is filled with sand or gravel for leverage, and that the tree, if a real tree, always has plenty of water. Check the water twice every day. Too little water and the tree will dry out, causing a fire hazard. Also, if the heat in the house is a heater of some kind, make sure the tree isn't near the source. Never place a tree near a fireplace or anywhere a spark might ignite the tree. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
