How to Decorate an Artificial Tree

Decorating an artificial tree

Artificial trees contribute striking focal points to the interior design of rooms. Use artificial trees to incorporate a natural element and tie in other design elements. Choose some of the colors, fabrics and themes from the rooms to decorate your tree. Trees come in a variety of sizes and shapes. You can use a classic pine tree or go with an unusual tree type like a palm. By using artificial trees, you can enjoy the natural element it contributes without the maintenance.

Things You'll Need

• Ornaments
• Ribbons
• Lights
• Fabric swatches
• Fake birds
• Fake flowers
• Scraps of upholstery
• Tree skirt
• Pot

Instructions

Gathering Decorations

1. Decide if you want to use a specific theme to decorate your tree. You can use fake birds and flowers for a naturalistic theme or ornaments for a holiday. Trees do not have to be relegated to Christmas. Decorate an artificial tree for any holiday.

2. Choose an area of the room to place your artificial tree that will not detract from the rest of the room. You can purchase a small tree to use as a centerpiece or a larger tree for placing on the side of a room.

3. Make a list of the colors in the room to take with you for buying ornaments, ribbons and lights. Cut upholstery fabrics in a hard-to-see spot, so you can pick the exact color decoration for the tree. If you can't find a matching color, you can use a metallic color like gold or silver.

4. Use lights to brighten up the tree and contribute additional lighting to the room. Trees that stand 4 to 5 feet can accommodate 200 to 500 lights. Six-foot trees can be decorated with 500 to 700 lights, and 7-foot trees need 600 to 800. If your tree is any taller than 7 feet, then use up to 1,200 lights.

Decorating the Tree

1. Hang your lights on the tree starting at the base of the tree and working your way up. Weave the lights from the outside branches to the inside branches to the top of the tree.

2. Place ornaments on the artificial tree. Pick ornaments that are not too heavy for branches. Avoid overwhelming the look of the tree by using every available branch space for ornaments.

3. Tie any ribbons or fabric you want to use on the tree. If you have scraps of upholstery, then turn them into bows to tie the room and tree together.

4. Lay a tree skirt around the base of the tree to hide its stand. You can also place the artificial tree in a pot that is large enough to accommodate its weight.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a weekly cleaning routine to dust ornaments and tree branches. Dusty trees can ruin the ambiance of a room.

• Avoid leaving the lights on in an unattended tree.

• Make sure that any live flowers you use are not poisonous to household pets. Mistletoe and poinsettia are both toxic to animals.

References

• Lawn Ornaments and Fountains.com: Tips for Decorating an Artificial Christmas Tree
• Holiday Christmas Tree: A Guide on How to Hang Lights on a Tree