How to decorate the Christmas tree: step by step

There's something special about bringing out the Christmas decorations year after year and finding the order that makes the tree look beautiful from top to bottom. This guide shows you step by step how to go about it, from the first lights to the final finishing touches, so you can decorate at your own pace and in your own style.

All items in the shop are hand-picked by Dinna, so you can find baubles and ornaments that suit your home, whether you're going for classic or more playful decorations.

The short answer: here's the order

The easy rule of thumb is to work from the largest to the smallest: fairy lights, large baubles, smaller decorations and finally the topper. This gives you a calm foundation to build on, and you avoid having to move heavy baubles around once the fairy lights are already in place.

• The fairy lights first, so the light spreads throughout the whole tree, not just on the outside.
• Large and heavy baubles closer to the trunk.
• Smaller baubles and ornaments on the outside, where the branches are thinner.
• The topper last, once you can see the whole shape of the tree.

Before you start: a stable tree, fairy lights and colours

Before you hang the first bauble, it's worth spending a little time on preparation. Check that the tree is standing stable and straight, so you don't need to adjust it again once the decorations are in place.

Check the fairy lights while they're laid out flat, so you spot any parts that don't work before they're in the tree. Also choose a colour palette, so you know whether you're going for a classic feel or something more colourful before you start hanging baubles. Feel free to browse through Christmas decorations while you plan.

Step 1: the fairy lights

Start at the bottom of the tree and work your way up. Wind the fairy lights in towards the trunk and back out between the branches, so the light doesn't just sit on the outside but also creates depth inside the tree when it's lit.

Take your time with this step, as fairy lights that are evenly distributed make the rest of the decorating easier, because you can see where the light falls when you later hang up baubles and ornaments.

Step 2: the baubles

Hang the large and heavy baubles close to the trunk, where the branches are strongest. Continue outwards with smaller baubles, where the branches are thinner and can more easily carry the decorations.

Feel free to mix matte and glossy surfaces, so the light plays differently depending on where you stand in the room. You'll find a wide selection of Christmas baubles to build further on your palette.

Step 3: personal details

Once the main lines are in place, it's time for the details that make the tree your own. This is where you can hang ornaments and figures that say something about you or the people you're celebrating Christmas with.

Cody Foster and Kersten make glass ornaments with fun motifs, which you'll find under Christmas baubles and Christmas decorations. A Pink B-Barbie ornament from Cody Foster can add a touch of humour, while a Frida Kahlo ornament from Cody Foster suits you if you want something artistic in the tree. If you'd rather have something with a wink for the grown-ups, a Botox ornament from Kersten or a Boxed wine ornament from Cody Foster could be hiding somewhere in the branches.

Final step: the topper and the base

Add the topper last, once you can see the whole shape of the tree and know where it'll look best. It's also easier to adjust when the rest of the decorations are already in place.

Finish at the base: hide it with a basket or a blanket, so the overall impression feels calm and thought-through from top to bottom.

Tips for a well thought out tree

Repeat a couple of colours in several places on the tree, so your eye has something to follow wherever you look. Leave air between the decorations, so each bauble and ornament gets room to be seen.

Hang ornaments at different depths, some right out at the tips of the branches and others further in, so the tree gets a sense of depth, not just width.

Summary

Decorate the Christmas tree in the order that makes sense to the eye: fairy lights first, then the big and heavy baubles close to the trunk, then smaller decorations and personal details, and finally the topper. Repeat colours, leave some air, and hang the decorations at different depths, so the whole thing feels thought-through from top to bottom.

Read also

• Christmas decorations with personality: how to build a unique Christmas collection
• Christmas decorations for the home: create the perfect festive atmosphere
• How long can a Christmas tree last indoors?
• Christmas table setting: how to lay the Christmas table