Ideas for Decorating a Christmas Tree Without Getting Gaudy

As we approached the holiday season, our thoughts are centered around what foods we’ll bake, gifts to make and buy and our home decor. As kids, we used to love decorating the Christmas tree with lights, tinsel, and standard ornaments. It looked the same every year, and we never thought to amp it up with other decorations. Today, they are so many different ways to spruce up our Christmas tree without looking gaudy. Here are a few steps to creating a tree that reflects the holiday spirit.

Choosing a tree is up to one’s tastes. Some prefer a real tree, while others are conscious of the environmental impact and opt for an artificial tree. Artificial trees offer less hassle, less mess, less cost, and they can be reused yearly. They come in a variety of colors and sizes that will fit your budget and room size.

Pick a color scheme. Sticking to one to three colors will make the tree look cohesive and complete. Some color suggestions are deciding on cool or warm colors. Cool colors have blue undertones (green, purple, blue and silver) and warm colors (red, orange and gold) have red undertones. Here are a few suggestions.

• Classic red, green and white. You can accent your green tree with red ornaments, garland, ribbons and candy canes. To add some commanding presence, use metallic gold or silver tinsel.
• Wintry colors, like blue, silver, white, purple, and pink are perfect for a frosty effect. Decorate with clear, white or blue lights and ornaments for a dramatic look.
• Metallic colors, such as gold, silver, and bronze offer an elegant look. They can be mixed and matched well with each other and can be accented with clear lights.
• Greens & Browns offer a more natural Mother Nature look. Earth tones are warm, cozy and very relaxing. You could accent with soft white lights and hang gold ornaments and scented pine cones on the tree.
• Parchment & White are elegant and neutral colors that will blend with any decor. Gold accents and clear lights add pop to this look.

Pick a theme. To make your tree look united, choose a specific theme and add colors and props that are harmonious. Some people will choose standard themes like snowflakes, angels, snowmen, candy canes, or nutcrackers. Today, though, anything goes. Some new themes are Star Wars, the Grinch, Disney, Elves, Harry Potter, Gingerbread men, and the list can go on and on.

The Christmas tree is the focal point of the room and decorating it with family creates unforgettable memories. I’m big on moose decor, so when my family sees something with a moose on it, they get it for our tree. Our tree is a little eclectic; we like to combine the old with the new, like hanging family photos in festive frames, heirloom decorations, and new ornaments. We hang our hearts on the tree and that’s what decorating a Christmas tree is all about.