30 Christmas Desserts for a Sweet Holiday These aren't your scraggly, Charlie Brown Christmas trees (although those hold a special place in our hearts too). Decorate your evergreen top-to-bottom using these festive holiday themes as inspiration. Santa Claus StyleSanta Claus StyleCelebrate the guest of honor by copying St. Nick's style. Stick to red and white ornaments, including candy canes, and top the tree with a fur-trimmed hat. See more at Good Housekeeping » Rustic WoodlandRustic WoodlandA cozy Christmas in the country requires (battery-operated) candles plus wooden ornaments. Round out the scene with a pair of old-fashioned snowshoes and bottle-brush trees in place of a skirt. See more at Country Living » 25 Outdoor Christmas DecorationsCane TopperCandie Cane Tree TopperCandie Cane Tree DecorTopper TopRed And White Christmas TreeDecorated White Christmas TreesWhite Xmas Tree DecorRed White Silver Christma TreeChristma Tree Decor ThemeForwardChristmas without a tree?

This red and white tree brings the excitement of the holiday season to everyone who sees it.This weekend, millions of Brits will be dusting off their baubles as the Christmas tree decorating season begins in earnest. But is there a right way or a wrong way to decorate a Christmas tree, and how can you make yours look fit for a Harrods window display? We've spoken to experts at John Lewis for some help. Here's our 10 step "treetorial" on how to decorate a Christmas tree like a pro. Christmas gift ideas: The ultimate guide to what to buy Step 1 - Pick a location Real or artificial, you need to think carefully about where to position your tree, especially if space is at a premium in your home. Ideally it will be near a plug socket, to avoid the need for unsightly extension leads, or perhaps near a window so all your neighbours can admire your handiwork. Re-arrange furniture if necessary and try not to block any thoroughfares. You don't want wagging tails and little fingers messing with your festive foliage.

If you've got a real tree, pick a location that's as cool as possible (away from radiators and fires ideally). This will prevent it from drying out ahead of the big day. /NsaFaLp179— Hever Castle (@HeverCastleLtd) November 29, 2016 Step 2 - Measure up Once you’ve found the perfect space, measure the width, depth and ceiling height and don’t forget to factor-in the height of your tree stand and your decorative topper too. Give your tree plenty of room so its branches hang freely and you can decorate all around. wall decor for fitness Tip: If you've got a real tree that's too tall, always trim it from the bottom so it maintains its triangular shape. decorating wedding venue ideas What is the best real Christmas tree, where can I buy them and how long do they last? christmas decoration ideas door

Step 3 - Fluffing Fluff those branches. Yes, that's official advice from Christmas experts at John Lewis who say artificial trees especially need serious "fluffing". (You'd probably need "fluffing" too if you'd been squashed in a cardboard box in the loft for 12 months.) John Lewis assistant buyer Christmas Scott Bartle advise: "Spend 45 minutes putting your tree together and fluffing the branches to give it that full and authentic look. It's all in the preparation. Ifrench home decor magazinef you've fluffed your tree and the lights are even, you can't go wrong." Swedding decoration packages london Step 4 - Let there be light online shopping home decor dubai

Make sure you spend a good half an hour or so getting your Christmas lights positioned just right. Start from the top and work your way down, weaving them around every major branch and leaving about six inches between the loops. How many do you need? Mr Bartle says you can never have too many. "We recommend at least 170 lights per metre of tree," he says. "That's the absolute minimum. Personally I'd put 1,000 lights on a 6ft tree. The more the better." If you need new lights, it might be worth investing in copper wire lights - they're much less likely to break, give a cleaner, crisper and brighter light - plus you'll barely notice the wire on the tree. Tip: Protect your sanity and make sure the lights are working before you put them on. Step 5 - Colour scheme Picking colours that go together and staying "on-theme" can be a minefield for the creatively inept. If in doubt, keep it simple. Reds, greens and golds fit traditional-style rooms. Use yellow and white lights as LED lights can give a blue tinge. Y

ou could go for a wintery look using lots of silver, blue and purple, or for a truly minimalist tree choose just white and silver decorations. John Lewis has a variety of different themes if you want a starting point, including Ruskin (“heritage patterns, natural motifs and rich colours”); Snowshill (“natural materials bring the outside in”); and Helsinki (“the quiet beauty of the forest”). Tip: Variety is key - don't go too matchy, matchy with your theme and decorations. Step 6 - Garland Either beads, ribbon or foil, garlands add texture to your tree. Again, start from the top and work your way round. You'll need two strands of garland for every vertical foot of tree. Tip: It's best to do this before the baubles and other decorations, so you don't knock them off. Step 7 - Baubles Now here's the fun bit. When hanging baubles, start from the inside of your tree and work out. Start with plain-coloured baubles as a base, (a cheaper, multi-pack is ideal) adding in more decorative, expensive baubles later.

Hang the biggest ornaments deeper into the tree to give it depth, and smaller ones on the ends of branches. Space them evenly and use a variety of shapes and sizes. If you find a bauble that you like, Mr Bartle suggests buying them in multiples of three because it will give your tree balance. Never throw out old decorations either, as they might fit your colour scheme in a few years - plus they serve as lovely memories. Having said that, don't adorn your tree with every decoration you can find - be selective. Tip: Move expensive, glass baubles to the top  - you know what will happen to them otherwise. Christmas tree decorations: Best baubles, ornaments and lights Step 8 - Tree skirt Don't embarrass your tree and leave it without a skirt. Unless you want everyone to see your extension lead and the ugly plastic tree holder, you'll definitely need one. Tree skirts also catch pine needles if you've got a real tree. "Who wants to see the workings of their artificial tree. I

t takes away the realness of it. Tree skirts hide wires and it makes it look much cleaner and tidier," Mr Bartle says. N Best Christmas tree skirts and where to buy them Step 9 - Topper Now for the crowning touch to your festive masterpiece - an eye-catching Christmas tree topper. Traditional topper options have their roots in religion - the star representing the Star of Bethlehem which guided the Three Kings to baby Jesus, while the angel symbolises the angels who announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. If you're not keen on either of these, there's lots of other options on the market to suit all tastes, including personalised toppers, snowflakes and birds. (Apparently peacocks and flamingos are on trend this year). Tip: Beware of toppers that are heavy - they will have to sit on the flimsiest part of your tree for several weeks so make sure your topper isn't in danger of toppling. Step 10 - Decorate remaining trees All the decorations are on and you're quite pleased with your efforts. N