How To Decorate A Christmas Tree Like A Pro- Hidden Garden Edition

Ahh, the Holidays™. Transfiguring from “Autumnal Harvest” to “Jolly Christmas,” in under 24 hours (publically, that is).  And in the heart of that decor is our ever-loved yuletide evergreen tree. 

Want to learn how to professionally decorate your tree? Expert (and CEO) Amy Marella makes the learning curve 100% easier this year with her favorite tips and tricks from the Hidden Garden.

1. Create a Theme

In order to create a professionally decorated tree, you need to first and foremost choose a theme. A theme, whatever it may be, ties the entire tree together. Here are a few ideas to base it off of:

• Color scheme
• Personal ornament collection
• Travel/ favorite hobbies.

Find inspiration from our hotel photos throughout this blog or (as always) check out our Pinterest for more ideas!

 (Hotel Bel-Air)

2. Start by Shaping

While this step takes almost no time at all, it helps establish a strong and lush looking tree. While your theme might require a more “wild” look, shaping your tree will also help sturdy out the thinner branches (especially at the bottom).

For those who have “forever trees,” (aka fake trees), you have more flexibility when it comes to maneuvering your branches...so take advantage of that!

3. Style with Ribbon

Finally, we can start decorating!

You can decorate a Christmas tree like a professional by using ribbons as decoration. We recommend using wired ones because they’re easier to style and shape.

We also tend to start with our ribbons, as some of our hotels like thick bows throughout their trees.

(Hotel Beverly Hills) 

4. Lights (Camera), Action!

We’re going to save you the frustration now: check that your lights work first! 

You’re welcome. 

Now that we’ve covered that, here are our top two light tricks:

• Dependant on the tree, start your lights at the bottom of the tree and circle your way upwards

OR

• Start at the bottom and work your way up and down, weaving in and out of the branches.

We like option #1 for thinner and taller trees while we save #2 for when we have a tree with more depth- so we don't lose our lights within the tree.

Also, depending on the theme for your tree (or just personal preference), you are able to choose from warmer, cooler, or colored lights! We like to match our warmer lights with gold and red themes; cooler lights with our “wintery” looks (we skip colored lights but you live your best life).

(Hotel Waldorf) 

5. Ornaments

Ornaments, no matter how perfectly curated, can look messy if you don’t approach it the right way. Here are a few suggestions to help them look their best:

• Decorate in sections

To decorate like a professional, take your Christmas tree in sections: top, middle, and bottom. Then, style them one at a time starting from the top and work your way down. 

• Cluster ornaments

Add flair to your display with ornament clusters (just like we talk about in our floral tutorial videos). For example, group ornaments of the same design together for a classic look. Otherwise, use different styles to add texture and depth. Amy also suggests combining different sizes for a bolder statement.

• Strategically place ornaments

At the end of the day, there are no actual rules to hanging ornaments. However, we tend to begin with larger ornaments and tuck them deeper within the foliage to add depth. When you try this method, you're able to achieve a beautiful, layered look. On the other hand, hanging smaller ornaments on the tips of the branches achieves a draping effect (it all comes back down to your theme).

6. Mind the Gap...

As a floral shop, our favorite way to fill in any gaps in our christmas trees is to fill it with seasonal flowers! Pick berries, flowers, or pinecones to bring a more natural feel to your tree (bonus points if it’s from your own yard). Reach out to the shop if you need any suggestions for florals to add in!

(Hotel Waldorf) 

BONUS: have smaller trees? Group them together (double or trio) to create a beautiful corner of light!

7. Tree Topper

Top off your design with a tree topper to compliment your theme. Custom toppers (ie bows, ribbons, etc) add fun personality to your tree but familial toppers are always our favorite to see!

8. Tree Skirt

To finalize this yuletide caroling, set the perfect backdrop for presents (and an easy clean-up method) with a tree skirt. These come in many materials, so choose one that...does what?? Yes, suits your theme! You've got it- we're so proud of you!

Take these top techniques to help you create a professional Christmas tree, worthy of a compliment from St. Nicholas himself! Cheers and happy holidays to our entire floral community!

(Hotel Bel-Air) 

BONUS TIPS!

Thought we'd leave you hanging? NO WAY! 

The 5 most common ways to keep your tree fresh for longer.

1. Trim the trunk before you put it in fresh water (all that sap inside is going to try and rescue the cut at the bottom which will prohibit the water from being soaked up). Please be cautious with your saws, friends. 

2. Put the tree in water as soon as possible (just like in our Bloom Academy, we learn that everything needs a fresh cut to be able to get as much water as possible).

3. Fresh water daily (you knew this one, of course).

4. Be cautious of heat sources (aka don't place your tree next to a heater).

5. Turn off the lights when leaving the room (similar to #4, we need to remember with all the extra electricity to be safe with how close our trees are to our ceiling lights). 

Always Keep Blooming,

Amy