Christmas trees are the epitome of the holiday season. Without a fabulously decorated tree, a home can feel almost joyless. When decorated to a high standard, a tree can complete your home during Christmas. Still, when there are gaps galore and lacklustre decorations hanging from your tree, your tree won’t have that same glorious appeal that most of us aim for throughout the holiday season. To get the most out of your Christmas tree, EZ Living Furniture has compiled the ultimate guide to Christmas trees, helping you make the best decisions when choosing your favourite and decorating it.

Gift wrapping in front of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Trees: Artificial Or Real?

There are arguments for both sides. Christmas trees, whether real or fake, can bring instant joy to whatever room they are placed in. Baubles, sprays, lights, bows, and all tree decorations can be hung from both trees, but some noteworthy differences must be acknowledged before making your decision. 

Artificial trees are a favoured choice, mainly because they can be used year after year. When the season is over, you can simply dismantle them and pack them away until next year. Artificial trees don’t require any maintenance and won’t need to be watered, making them a top choice for a stress-free and magical Christmas experience.  

Real trees have that glorious fresh scent of pine that instantly brings the feeling of Christmas into your home. While they do require more maintenance than an artificial tree, such as placing them into a bucket of water to keep them hydrated and cleaning up the fallen pine needles, there is just something about a traditional tree that people love. And while a new one is required every year, they’re biodegradable, and visiting a tree farm and choosing your favourite can often be a fun-filled experience, so most don’t mind this task too much.

Gold & Bronze baubles on tree from EZ Living Furniture.

Fluff Those Branches

The key to a fabulously decorated tree is starting with a good base, i.e. a full-bodied tree with no gaps. Of course, some trees, whether artificial or not, are naturally fuller than others, but just a few tips that would eliminate most unwanted gaps. 

  • *Pre-lit trees only*. Plug in your tree before you start any fluffing. If there are any issues with lights not working, it’s essential to know about them before the tree is fully decorated.  
  • Begin the fluffing in the room where you will be displaying your tree, but do it in a spot where it’s going to be easy to sweep or vacuum up any shed needles (real or fake). 
  • Gather any necessary equipment. We recommend a long-sleeved top for preventing scratches from any real or fake pine needles, a pair of gloves, a dustpan and brush for cleaning afterwards, and a step stool for reaching higher areas. 
  • Start at the bottom. Work your way up the tree from the base, fluffing the widest branches first. This will make it easier to see what you’re working with, the further you work up the tree, and save you from missing any as you go. 
  • Fan out the branches on each section fully. We suggest working on a single branch at a time, as most artificial trees have three main branches per stem. Repeat this until all pieces are looking fuller. 
  • If your artificial tree is tall and comes in two pieces (separated by top and bottom sections), fan out the branches before placing it on the central pole, as it is easier to work on it unattached. 
  • Don’t forget to fluff on the inside also. This is where your gloves will come in. Get your hands right in amongst the branches of the tree and move them gradually outwards. Again, you’ll need to work from the bottom branches upwards, so you don’t miss any. 
  • Bend the branches by adding a kink to the tip of every branch. To give your tree a more authentic appearance and to fill in any gaps, vary the direction of the kinks and have some bend upwards and others downward slightly. 
  • If you have a taller tree that is split into two sections, now is the time to attach that top section, using your step stool. 
  • Stand back and assess your tree from all angles. Does it look full? And from every direction? If there are gaps or uneven sections, give them an extra fluff up now.

Red velvet and gold encrusted baubles on decorated tree from EZ Living Furniture.

Decorate Your Tree - Start With Lights!

Looking to camouflage those flaws or simply add that finishing touch to your tree? This is where decorations come in. If your tree doesn’t come with lights attached, now’s the time to get yours out and start the process. More than likely, some untangling will need to be done before anything else. Once you have that sorted, you should begin to wrap your lights around your tree, making sure to start at the base and weaving in and out of branches. To ensure a uniform look, be sure to maintain consistent spacing between each layer of lights, using your hand-width as a general guide.

Gold, silver, and pearl-encrusted bauble hung on tree from EZ Living Furniture.

Follow Up With Baubles

Here’s the best part, or at least we like to think so. Now’s the time to start decorating your tree with the most fabulous baubles (from EZ Living Furniture, of course). At this point, you’ll likely have already chosen your Christmas theme and colour scheme. The colours you have chosen should be complementary and boast various finishes, with glitter on some and metallic on others. By following this tip, your tree design will really pop. To really enhance your design, it’s important to use various shapes too and not just the traditional round bauble shape. There are lots of tree decorations to choose from, such as stars, icicles, and snowflakes, to name but a few. To fill any remaining gaps, we suggest using sprays and clip-on decorations, as these tend to consume more space than a traditional bauble.

Star light up Christmas tree topper.

Finish With A Fabulous Tree Topper & Skirt

Now that all your baubles have been attached, it’s time to focus on your tree skirt and topper. While some might believe that these items are unnecessary, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s nothing like a skirt and topper to add that finishing touch to your tree’s design. If you’re after that rustic, woodland look, opt for a wicker skirt, or alternatively, a fabric, fur-finished skirt would fit perfectly with a winter wonderland theme. A tree topper can be a much more difficult decision, especially because there are lots to choose from. We suggest picking from one of the three most popular toppers, i.e. a traditional angel, a classic star, or a contemporary bow – all are great options and would blend well with a variety of tree decor. 

By following our expert tips above, you’ll have yourself a fabulously decorated tree and....a merry little Christmas. To shop EZ Living Furniture’s full Christmas collection, click here. 

Interesting Read: New Arrivals: Christmas Decorations That Will Shine In 2025

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