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Step 1
When looking for a tree, find one that is full and healthy. Ideally, the tree is fresh and the needles soft. While the first Christmas trees were tiny enough to sit on a kitchen table, modern Christmas trees are an average of 5 feet high. Victorian-style Christmas trees must be able to hold many ornaments, some of them small. Make sure the tree you choose has plenty of branches to support the decorations. Full trees with long branches fit this style better than slender trees with shorter branches.
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Step 2
Hide the Christmas tree stand with a skirt consisting of green or white linens you have around the house, such as a bed sheet, or a commercially made variety found at the store. If you want to be authentic, put your Christmas tree in a large planter. Cover the planter with white paper.
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Step 3
Hang the lights. The first Christmas trees either had no lights or families would use candles. Now we have many ways to light up a Christmas tree. For this style, choose strands with small, white lights that do not blink. Lights serve to accent and brighten the tree, especially at night.
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Step 4
Centuries ago, children made paper garlands and hung them from the top of the tree. You can create the same feel by using garlands made from cranberries, dried orange peels, popcorn, nuts and dried apple slices. Other elegant and fitting choices are strands of beads and lace.
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Step 5
Choose decorations. Victorian children had fun creating decorations from cookies, paper and nuts. Following this tradition, you can make gingerbread ornaments, spice pomanders, red and white bows, tussies, doilies and tiny wreaths. Angels, large or small, are also perfect. Choose some that hang and others that clip on the ends of the branches. Always hang large ornaments at the bottom of the tree, medium-sized ones in the middle and the smallest ornaments near the top.
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Step 6
Finish with an angel. The Victorian-style Christmas tree would not be complete without a whimsical angel on the top. As the focal point decoration, your angel should have a long, flowing robe, perfectly formed wings and a brilliant halo. Ideally she will be playing a harp or other musical instrument.
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Step 7
Create a scene around the base. Victorians placed grass, pine cones and fruit around the base of their trees. Tuck the presents around and in between these festive touches.
