Ask The Expert: Home Decorating
The Art of Christmas
CREATING A
DESIGNER TREE by Allison Fifer, POSH Home Staging & Redesign photo courtesy of Allison Fifer
C
reating a Designer Christmas Tree is fun and easy, right?! Well, actually it can be with the right planning. There is truly an art to creating a fabulous Christmas presentation in one’s home, however, there is also a “science,” shall we say, which provides a formula for excellence. Perfection is not necessary, nor the goal. While everyone has their own sense of style when it comes to decorating, one can simply follow the below formula to easily step into creating your very own Designer Christmas Tree. Assemble, Shape, and Fluff After finding that special location for your tree and skirting its base, an essential yet often overlooked or rushed through step centers around shaping one’s tree after unpacking and assembly. Each branch is a vital part of your Christmas presentation, providing fullness as well as niches for ornaments in which to hang. Each branch should be straightened, positioned, and fluffed individually. This step is a bit time consuming and tedious but provides a huge payoff once decorating begins. Playing a favorite Christmas collection of songs or fun holiday movies to enjoy while meticulously attending to each branch creates a fun tradition for you and
your loved ones in kicking off this allimportant first step. Check the Bling Now that you have your tree assembled, fluffed, and full, this is a good time to check the lights on your tree. I like to refer to this as the bling! Be sure your tree is lighting up every branch on every row. If the lights are not coming on, ensure all plugs are connected and that fuses are good. Still no bling? Check to confirm each light bulb is securely in place or search for that broken bulb. Top that Tree Some family traditions use the topper as the finale to the tree decorating experience. However, I like to start by creating an expression of art at the top of the tree to set the tone for how the tree’s
decorations will flow down. Many toppers take on a more traditional approach with a heavenly angel, a big bow, a twinkling star, or any type of metallic finial. Others have added a special touch of creativity with oversized stuffed animals, dolls, or toy soldiers. Be sure to use filler around your centerpiece to fill in space, accentuate a special color or attribute, and have it blend with the rest of your tree. Create Focal Points & Ribbon Just like in your home, a Christmas tree needs focal points so that one’s eye may rest on something beautiful and peaceful. By creating focal points, you guide the eye through your tree while allowing your guests to experience its beauty as you do. To create a focal point, identify a few niches in the tree to accentuate with a chosen grouping including your theme color; i.e., flowers, ribbons, picks, oversized ornaments. Be sure to add various sizes, textures, and shapes for increased interest and dimension. Draping and looping a few strands of ribbon from the topper through a focal point to the bottom row of branches creates a nice flowing touch. Final Touches of Ornaments No tree is complete without the family’s traditional, heirloom, and special handpicked ornaments. Placement of solid color ornaments closer to the trunk of the tree will assist in filling in any sparse areas while also creating a feeling of balance both with color and shapes throughout. The more ornamental pieces are then placed among the tips of the tree’s branches to ensure sparkle, interest, and visibility. And just like that, you have created your very own Designer Tree!
940.765.2684 | POSHHOMESTAGING.COM | ALLISON@POSHHOMESTAGING.COM
34 | LANTANA LIVING | NOVEMBER 2020
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