This Is How Interior Designers Are Decorating Their Christmas Trees This Year
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1 day ago
Dig out those baubles and untangle the fairy lights – it’s tree time
Interior design trends come and go, but Christmas tree decorating is the true chance to express your creativity – whether you love a retro vibe, a maximalist display or a chic neutral colour palette. If, however, you’re not certain about how to get stuck in this year, we’ve enlisted the help of the experts. Here are the best Christmas tree decoration ideas from interior designers themselves.
All The Best Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas From Interiors Experts
From picking the perfect pine to hanging your lights and arranging your baubles, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to the art of Christmas tree decoration. Feeling overwhelmed? Let’s break it down, using some handy tips from interiors aficionados themselves.
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The Tree
First, and most importantly: what’s the best type of tree for your space? While a real tree is considered the environmentally-friendly option, an artificial tree might be a safer bet if you’ve got pets or young children to consider (or you’re just short on space). You can even opt for a pre-lit version if you’re looking for something particularly convenient.
If you do go for a real tree, consider its size and style. ’For a more traditional look, the Allison Pine invites a warm, cosy and timeless feel,’ says Elizabeth Marshall, Christmas buyer at Hillier Garden Centres. A more minimalistic approach, however, would be to ‘choose a tree with sparse branches, like a Charlie Brown-style or Scandinavian tree,’ advises Charlotte Hammond, interior designer at HollandGreen.
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The Lights
After the perfect tree has been secured (or taken down from the attic), it’s time to tackle the lights – once you’ve successfully navigated one of the worst parts of the festive season, which is untangling them. (Top tip: make sure they still work before you unleash them on your tree.)
So, where to start? ‘One tip that’s often overlooked is layering,’ notes Ben Thomson, manager at Promain. ‘Start by weaving lights deep into your tree branches for an even glow. A well-lit tree has the cosy warmth of a crackling fire, so don’t hold back: aim for about 100 lights per foot of tree height. Energy-efficient LED options give a warm glow without spiking your electricity bill.’
‘Work from the bottom up, tucking lights in close to your tree trunk to create depth,’ adds Rebecca Stanton, stylist at Dobbies. Your home will be looking twinkly and festive in no time…
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The Colour Scheme
With the lights done and dusted, it’s almost time for the main event – the baubles – but it’s best to plan out your colour scheme first. Of course, a mismatched approach is always a winner; the nostalgic Christmas aesthetic dictates that any tree looks its best when scattered with as many decorations as possible (bonus points for anything sentimental and particularly kitschy).
If you are committing to a colour scheme, however, consider sticking to two complementary colours (like blue and silver, or gold and red) for a particularly cohesive tree. For an even more uniform look, try ‘using a single dominant colour throughout your decorations, varying the shades and intensity for depth,’ says Charlotte.
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When it comes to the colours themselves, ‘traditional festive colours are making a strong comeback,’ says Nicola Wilson, design manager at Denby. ‘Red, green, and gold accents will guarantee that classic Christmas feel.’ Metallics are particularly on-trend: ‘This year, we’re predicting lots of golds and deep, rich colours,’ confirms Elizabeth. ‘Gold is complemented perfectly by dark and rich hues like pomegranate, teal, plum and greens, all combined to create a timeless palette.’
For something more pared-back, ‘opt for an earthy tone scheme incorporating rusts, ochre, greens, soft dark blues, and cream,’ says Charlotte. ‘This sophisticated and warm palette works beautifully with the green backdrop of your tree. If you go for this scheme, ensure your lights are a soft, warm white to enhance the ambience – avoid flashing ones.’
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The Baubles
With so much prepping and planning behind you, it’s finally time to get stuck into the decoration. ‘For easy decorating, think about placing your ornaments strategically, starting with the largest ones to fill out your tree,’ advises Rebecca. ‘Position large baubles deep within the tree to create dimension and spread them out evenly, using more at the wider base of your tree. Then, hang smaller ornaments on the outer branches for added depth.’
The key here is to mix and match different shapes, sizes and textures. For a particularly earthy look, go for natural elements like ‘pinecones, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and eucalyptus sprigs,’ suggests Nicola.
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Another big trend this year? Ribbons. There’s nothing more charming than a twinkling tree adorned with hand-tied bows – velvet is particularly festive. Plus, who doesn’t love DIY Christmas decorations? You can even pick up some paint-your-own-bauble kits (perfect for a pre-Christmas crafting party) or air-dry clay. ‘Use cookie cutters to create festive shapes and experiment with paints and imprints to decorate,’ says Nicola.
Among all the glitter and sparkle, finish your tree off with small, unique details. ‘Organic elements from your garden, ribbons from special gift boxes, and family photos in small frames add a lovely personal touch,’ Charlotte explains. The same goes for your tree topper: stick with a star ornament if you want a traditional look, but for a more distinctive look, add another bow or a small, handmade wreath.
