10 tips and ideas for the perfect Christmas tree

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year.

And no, not just because we eat turron as if the world were coming to an end, but because it reminds me of my childhood, when I lived these dates with all the excitement that only a child can have. And this is thanks to my mother, who every year took it upon herself to make these dates very special, and to make the house shine with that unique Christmas spirit. And this is something that, over the years, I have tried to maintain.

With Christmas Eve just around the corner, I cannot avoid dedicating this article to the main protagonist of any Christmas decoration: the Christmas tree! If you haven't set it up yet (or want to perfect it), here are ten tips to make your tree the star of Instagram, the living room and even the whole neighbourhood this year.

A TREE DECORATED WITH SOUL, FILLS CHRISTMAS WITH MAGIC

6. Ornaments that tell stories

Cute little ornaments are great, but save the special ones for the front of the tree. Yes, the ones that remind you of a trip or that someone gave you. It's those little details that make your decorations unique and personal.

7. Now, the small balls

Fill in the gaps with the smaller balls. It's like the finishing touch to a good design: they are not there to steal the limelight, but to make everything look perfect and uniform.

8. Garlands: yes or no

If you love tinsel or garlands, place them at the end, surrounding the tree from top to bottom. If you prefer a simpler tree, you can skip this step.

9. Hide the base of the tree

Let's face it, the base of the tree is always ugly. But there's a solution: you can camouflage it with a wicker basket, a pretty blanket or, if you're creative, wrap empty gift boxes around it!

10. The star (or whatever you like)

The wreath on the tree can be a star, a giant bow, a doll or even a figurine made by your children. The important thing is that it's the perfect finishing touch to your Christmas masterpiece.

10 key tips

DECORATING YOUR TREE IS MORE THAN JUST DECORATING IT, IT'S FILLING YOUR HOME WITH MAGIC, MEMORIES AND JOY

1. Where to put it?

Find a place where you can enjoy it as much as possible and where everyone can see it, because, let's face it, that tree has been locked up in a box for almost 11 months. Let it shine! In the hallway? The living room? The kids' room? Any visible spot is fine, but make sure it doesn't get in the way when we bring out the polvorones!

2. The right size

The size of the tree will depend on the space where you place it.

If you have a mini flat, don't try to put up a pine tree that looks like it comes straight out of the Plaza Mayor! If it's small, put it up on a raised surface to give it prominence, and that's it!

And don't forget that when you decorate it, it will look bulkier, so make sure it's not too tight.

3. Find your style

Deciding on your style is key. As a designer, I would always recommend that the tree matches the décor of the room (don't worry, I'll give you some ideas later). This doesn't mean you have to buy everything new, you can reuse and adapt!

4. Lights, camera, action

Lights are an essential part of the tree. If you don't want to wrestle with tangled wires (who doesn't?), buy a tree with integrated lights. But if you're a brave person, I suggest starting at the top, starting on the inside of the branches and then working your way outwards, and making sure all the branches are illuminated. A trick? Turn on the lights as you put them up, so you make sure they are evenly spread out.

5. Big balls first

Start by decorating with the biggest baubles. The key is to distribute them in a zigzag pattern, so that they are well distributed, so that the tree has visual balance.

10 styles to decorate your Christmas tree

There is no one right way to decorate the Christmas tree... but there is one that suits each of us best! So here are some ideas.

Well, and if you like several... you know, choose the one that goes more with the decorative style of your home.

1

Total White

A tree with green leaves, but only with white decorations. Or, for a more festive touch, you can opt for an all-silver tree.

2

Traditional

In red and green. As they are complementary colours, they are effective in attracting attention, and at the same time they represent the joy of this season.

Another version of this style would be to decorate the tree in different shades of red, together with various textures, to add nuances and richness to the decoration of the tree.

3

Sustainable

The idea is to decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments made of natural materials such as wood, paper or hessian.

Re-use old ornaments too! For those who love DIY and the planet, you can renovate old-fashioned baubles with papier-mâché, paint or fabric to give them a new lease of life!

4

Polar

In white, blue, grey and silver ornaments, for an icy and elegant touch.

With ornaments such as snowflakes, icy needles, with iridescent or crystal surfaces... You will get a tree inspired by the North Pole.

5

Invernal

Make it look snowy! Even if you live in the Caribbean.

6

Sophisticated

7

Rustic

Crystal, velvet, gold, glitter, animal fur prints, embroidery... ‘Luxury Tree’ level glamour.

Elements of felt, crochet or hessian, together with balls covered with bark, leaves, pine cones or berries.

8

Glam

Gold, glitter, glitter and metallic ornaments. If Lady Gaga has a tree, this is it!

And for a trendy result, combine it with contrasting textures, such as faux fur and velvet, in white.

If you like this style but find it too strong, tone down the shine by combining the gold with shades of rose gold, copper, bronze...

9

Minimalist

Perfect for fans of ‘less is more’.

Ornaments in geometric and even two-dimensional shapes. And light, neutral colours, with silver or steel as accents.

You can even go so far as to dispense with the traditional tree itself, replacing it with a conceptual model.

10

Kitch

Total freedom in the choice of decorations; colourful and eclectic.

An example could be a tree with decorations of typical Christmas sweets.

Now that you have all the keys, the only thing left to do is the most important thing: enjoy decorating! With your family, with friends or on your own with your Christmas playlist and a glass of wine in your hand (or two, because decorating gets tiring!).

And of course, I'd love to know how your tree turned out! Happy Christmas decorating! 🎄

And I'll take this opportunity to say goodbye to you for this 2024...

I wish you a Christmas full of magic, laughter and unforgettable moments, and a New Year full of exciting projects and lots of inspiration. See you in 2025 with more creativity and passion for design ✨

Happy Holidays ✨

*All images hereafter are taken from Pinterest.