My Mum is the QUEEN of Christmas decorating…. fight with me all you want.
She has great talent for getting the most out of her space and pumping the festivities into every corner of the house.
In particular, she takes great pride in her Christmas tree each year, even going as far as buying a secondary tree for the kids to decorate to keep them far far away from HER tree.
It’s gotten to the point where our family friends twitch with nerves at the thought of showing her their own trees, which to me is both sad and rather amusing.
She has quite a traditional style when it comes to decorating, but she likes to switch up certain elements each year to keep things fresh.
This year saw the removal of the classic tree topper to be replaced with a collection of tree picks to create a modern ‘rustic’ feel.
Mum says that a Christmas tree can never house too many birds which must be true, as ours is currently holding upwards of 60.
Creating dimension is key to a ‘successful’ tree.
As I mentioned in my own Christmas tree post, adding lights to both the inner and outer branches helps to plump up the tree and make it look larger, but it also adds a professional and expensive looking touch.
And it doesn’t stop at lights. Adding larger decorations on the inner branches and smaller ones on the outer branches builds upon the dimension and can be rather aesthetically pleasing.
But perhaps the most important part is something that her friends are probably screaming at the screen right now.
Fluff. The. Tree.
Simply whacking it up will not cut it. You must separate each and every branch. If your tree isn’t fluffed enough, she WILL call you out on it. You’ve been warned.
Mum doesn’t just stop at traditional ornaments.
In case you hadn’t realised, fake tree branches are constructed with wire and are in fact, bendy. They will hold just about anything if you’re patient, so get creative and add anything you please.
If your tree’s colour scheme doesn’t particularly match your house, don’t shudder and give up.
The solution is placing the tree in the correct spot and styling the surrounding areas in similar colours. It’s really that simple.
Ribbons and beads can also make the world of difference if the tree is looking a little bare or clashy. Simply find a ribbon in your colour and weave it in between your larger ornaments to tie everything together.
But perhaps the most important part is to remember that there are no rules. Decorating is all about being unique and showcasing your personal style, so have fun with it- that’s what Christmas is all about.
Show us your trees
We showed you ours, so it’s your turn to show us yours. Share your trees with #FLUFFTHETREE and tag me (@claire_ince on Instagram) as I’d LOVE to see.
Until tomorrow ;).
