I believe anyway you do your own tree is just perfect, as long as you like it that's all that matters. The description of your tree last year sounds beautiful, can you share a pic? All sorts of magazines have decorating tips and they're all out on the shelves now. Do you have a book/mag store you can browse at? You'd definitely find a ton of stuff online. Do a search for Christmas tree decorating and I'm sure you'll be amazed at all the sites that come up.

Sal

Hi mailynn, I can relate. I just don't seem to have the creative tree decorating gene! LOL

Your items all sound beautiful, so much nicer than what I have.

Judith posted pics last year of her gorgeous tree. Maybe take a look at those and see if you get any ideas.

Luvs

I put my lights on first then the garlands then the ornaments. The smaller ornaments toward the top and graduate downward. Maybe that will help

I completely understand .... you see a vision of how your tree is supposed to look in your head, but when you start the trimming process, it can be overwhelming.

Get a system going, sounds weird but it works. Minnie's idea sounded good. Start with the lights first, then the garland, then put the ornaments on one section at a time. Making it more even. Also, put the bigger ornaments on the outside of the limb and the smaller ones on the inner branches.

Maybe someone can help me on how to put beads on the tree...that is one part that frustrates me. :-)

Hi

Thanks for the tips. I do have a system for lights first, etc but I never know how or where to place the items to make them look like I have a system. For example, if I have angels. Do I need enough of them to go from the top to the bottom. Do I need large ones for the bottom and small for the top or do I need enough to use the large ones on the tips and the small ones on the inside?

Beads, that's another problem. How to hang them. When I see the beautiful trees in the stores or in hotel lobbies, the beads all have the same drape. I have an artificial tree, so the branches are symmetrical, but the beads are still a mess. Do I try to drap on alternate branch layers.

I get so frustrated with the tree that every year I almost hate when it's time to put it up. Not exactly the right sentiments for Christmas. I keep telling myself that whatever I do, the tree will be fine. But it's not fine and almost everyday, I'm rearranging and adjusting the ornaments. I have even gone shopping during the Christmas thinking that I needed more, but I don't need more stuff. I need some creativity and finesse in the whole tree trimming process.

Really not a Scrooge
Mai Lynn

Here's a nice primer book that you may want to buy, it's full of inspiration and how-to's.

Jim

A sampling:

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas Style

In 2005 I had two trees one with all beaded ornaments I made
I see the tree is bending over a little in this photo

Here is a link that might be useful:

here is a little closer view.

Here is a link that might be useful:

One thing I have noticed on most of the trees that I like and thought looked beautiful is that there wasn't a wide variety of ornaments. There were two or three types and that was it. Either they were all large or all small. I found it hard at first to pare back on the ornaments because there are so many I liked but I found that I can still buy them and just use them in other areas like say a wreath, garland, table decor in a bowl or vase, or napkin ring holder. Once I did that I really liked the tree much more and still got to have all the ornaments around me that I liked. Just not all in one place (on the tree).

There are so many different appealing ornaments and we want them all but it may be the cause of you not liking the finished look. I find that when you use lots of different types of ornaments it takes some organizing to make it look attractive and not just cluttered or busy. After you decorate the tree stand back and look at it then rearrange some ornaments until it looks sleek to you. I would have to do this at least two times with my old tree before it looked good to me.

Try looking at decorated trees and think about what you like most about them. Which styles do you lean towards more. Whether it be large ornaments, small ornaments, many different types ofornaments or just one or two types of ornaments. Then find a number of trees that have that particular theme going on and then apply what youv'ed learned from those to your tree.

Colin Cowie has joined HSN and recently had a fabulous show. I wish I had money I would have purchased everything he had. Anyway here are his tips from the HSN website. They had some beautifully decorated trees in that show. I'll see if I can get some decent pics from the television ( I taped the show lol) and post them later.

Colins Holiday Decorating Tips

DonÂt just trim the tree or decorate the house, think out of the box, find a great shade of reds that you love, think silver and white, shades of amber and gold, or green citrine. Get inspired from fashion magazines, department store sales, flea markets, and even vintage movies. ThatÂs what I do. I take the elements I like, create my own look and come up with a theme.

1. Start with color, shape and feel

The colors, shapes and feel of my decorations are part of the big picture with a design concept that stretches from the decorations around the house to the gift wrap used, and even your holiday party if IÂm having one.

This year IÂm not sure whether to go with a silver theme of silver ornaments, silver garlands, silver and white lights, and have all my gifts wrapped in silver paper. Or being more traditional and using red on the tree, on my table and even as the theme I carry all the way to gifts. I may mix silver with gold, or just go gold and glamorous. IÂm considering purple and citrine, from the tree skirt to the gifts underneath, all the way to the top and beyond.

2. Get organized before beginning

One thing I do know, I need to get organized and do a little at a time, and you should too. Start by trim the tree two to three weeks before Christmas and always enlist the help of friends. A few tasty cocktails will do the trick. At the end of the day, or night, itÂs really a lot of fun.

3. Choose the right tree

Since the tree is the centerpiece of our holiday décor, itÂs important you find a handsome tree. Make sure it is fresh by pulling out some pine needles. If they are easy to pull out, the tree isnÂt fresh. When you break the needles in half they should be lively, green, and very fragrant. The tree is basically the canvas for all of your decorations.

4. Ensure you have enough lights

Christmas lights are an integral part of every tree. When it comes to lights, the general rule of thumb is100 lights per foot of tree. Yellowy-gold amber lights are my favorite. I also love a tree with all white lights and have seen beautiful trees that are all red and other all green. ItÂs personal choice and the look of your tree should fit within the décor of your home.

For a twist, apply glue and dip the bulbs in gold or silver, or red or green glitter for that matter for a beautiful, sparkly light. ItÂs that simple. Also be sure to stick to ornaments that compliment one another in shape and color and in different sizes. Use foliage to add texture and dimension.

5. Trim the tree step-by-step

When trimming, start with the lights and work your way from the bottom up/top down, from the inside out, weaving strings of lights along the branches "inside," then move to the outer edges of the branches. Next place any garland you may be using followed by your biggest ornaments (7 or more per foot), filling in with smaller ones (about 10 per foot).

Work from the outside in, using one type or size ornament at a time and make sure theyÂre evenly distributed over the area of the tree that will be seen. Placing ornaments and other decorations inside your tree as well as on the branch edges adds a sense of needed depth. And be sure to use a beautiful tree skirt to finish off your look.

Finishing touches

For a little added glamour I sometimes add fresh flowers to the tree. The flowers are placed in test tubes from the flower market and hold enough water for at least a day. Carnations, roses, and lilies look gorgeous on a tree and really bring it to life. IÂve also used ribbon tied in bows one year and for another I decorated my tree with bunches of black grapes (plastic) that I mixed with purple ornaments.

And donÂt forget to make sure the tree has enough water. It should be in a stand with large water reservoir thatÂs kept filled.

I second Jim's suggestion to get a copy of Christmas Style. It's got very specific information I've never seen anywhere else-light placement techniques, different styles of garlands, tree skirt arranging tips, and GORGEOUS photos. I found a copy at TJ Maxx last year for 7.00.
One tip I've seen that is helpful, I think, is to place all your ornaments of 1 type at the same time. With your tree, you would gather all your burgundy ornaments and place them, then go on to your gold accents, etc. I use this with flower arranging, too, and think it helps establish your theme. This probably sounds odd, but sometimes if take a photo while I'm decorating, I can see things- bare spots, too much color in one area, etc. that I don't see when looking at the tree head-on.
Don't worry if your tree is 'right'; just make it suit you. My local paper had a picture of a Christmas tree that broke all the 'rules', but I thought it was beautiful. They used only really large ball ornaments in 3 colors on the whole tree, even at the top in the small branches.There were no other decorations besides lights, and it still looked fabulous.
Good luck with your tree this year!

These pics aren't that great since it came from the tv but I think you can get the idea. On these trees I noticed all the ornaments were relatively the same size and the same type and mostly color BUT the textures were different. Some flat some shiny etc. On the average I would say the silver and citrine and gold tree had no more than three or four different types of ornaments but of the same size and order just in different textures. The red tree had the most variety in ornaments but again he kept the size of each relatively the same. There weren't big ones, small ones, medium sized one. Even the garland on all the trees was relative in size with the ornament. They were full not thin or overly sized.

These trees may not be your taste but I hope it helps a little with putting your decorations together into a look that you will love. The overall idea he uses I think is good for organization as far as size, type and overall feel of the tree with the texture of the ornaments used.

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Here is a red without sooo many ornaments.

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