How To Decorate for Christmas in 7 Easy Steps-Trees, Mantels, and More!

With Christmas so soon, there are lights, wreaths, and ornaments surrounding us in our homes, stores, and streets. But if you're unsure how to decorate a room, a tree, or just haven't gotten around to it yet, there's no time to waste, read this for tips on how to decorate for the holidays! If you want any of the decor pictured, just click the picture or name and you can buy it on Amazon. You also might like a different color scheme than what I show below or get inspired to add something to the existing decor in your house. And with Amazon shipping, you'll have plenty of time before your family arrives next week!

Christmas Tree

Step 1: Choose a Theme

I'm sure you have all seen those gorgeous trees decorated in magazines, storefronts, and celebrity houses and thought you could never achieve that. Well with these steps, you'll have the tree you always dreamt of. You've just got to decide what colors you want to choose this year. And after 3-4 years, you'll have a master collection of ornaments and accesories to accomplish any look. You'll never need to buy decor anymore so you can just rotate the colors you want that year!

Step 2: Lights

The first part to decorating any tree is stringing the lights. Without lights, a tree wouldn't have that magical, glowing effect. It might seem self explanatory but it's important to make sure the lights are done well to create a balanced base to put all the other decorations on. The lights should be spread evenly, and tucked in the branches well. You don't want a section of tree with no lights or for the lights to be so loose that they're falling off the branches and you can see the wires.

Step 3: Stems

For the first time this year, my mom let me take full control of decorating the tree and I had a blast. She let me go out and buy new ornaments and decor for the tree. I had an inspiration picture in mind and a budget and I knew that little stems like these were something our tree had been missing in the past. If your theme is white and silver, pink and gold, blue and silver, or the classic red and green, you can choose different stems that give a different texture and variety than just ornaments. You can buy a lot of one kind or just a few of multiple kinds. They sell pine cone stems, cotton ball stems, snow covered greens, and more.

Step 4: Large Ornaments

I also found some large ornament balls to hang on our tree this year. They are my favorite part when I see any tree. They are so extravagent and give such a modern feel to any themed tree. If there is one tip to take away from any of these steps, it's to ensure that you have dimension and variety in your decorations. You don't want one sized or one shape or one color ornaments. When you're hanging these ornaments, or any decoration, you want to ensure that some go towards the top of the tree, some in the middle, and some on the bottom. You also want them to be seen from any angle, and the bigger the tree, the more large ornaments you can have.

Step 5: Small Ornaments

The same goes for these small ornaments as for the stems and large ornaments. Choose multiple colors and put them in all different places around the tree. There are so many variety packs of ball ornaments that you won't have to buy the same one twice! Be creative when choosing and hanging these. Keep in mind, a tree is harder to fill up than you think! So feel free to load up on every step when decorating. I promise you won't run out of room.

Step 6: Unique Ornaments

When placing these beautiful ornaments, just put them anywhere you have space. They are just a wonderful addition to the ball ornaments you have thus far. This teardrop shape is only one shape to choose from. There are snowflakes, icicles, stars, and so many others. If you have any childhood ornaments that match your color scheme, this is your chance to add those in as well!

Step 7: Ribbon

Now comes the fun part. During this step, everything comes together. You may want to get several rolls because the ribbon doesn't last as long as you might think. Cut the ribbon into strips about 2 feet long. With each strip, place them in any and all sections of the tree that you can fit horizontally. Make sure they're really tucked in and will stay put but you want them to look continuous up the tree. Looking at pictures will really help on this step. This really helps to make the tree as full as the pictures you see on Pinterest. Once you are satisfied, you're all set! Take your pictures for instagram and move on to your fireplace mantel.

Mantel

Step 1: Wreath

Whether it be a wreath or some other main wall art piece, it is important to have a focal piece above your fireplace and mantel decor. It brings the eye to the center and whatever your theme, it can inclue a little bit of every aspect in order to tie it all together. On the mantel below, it will be like a broken down version of the wreath above. This year, my mom did a little DIY on her own with ball ornaments in our red, green, and gold colors, and hot glued them together in the shape of a tree. It is a gorgeous option for those with a bit of creativity in their belt.

Step 2: Greenery

This step is very simple. Just find a piece of garland, thick or thin, and hang it over your mantel!

Step 3: Lights

Next, you just need one string of tree lights, preferably matching the ones from your tree. For example, if your tree lights are warm white don't use cool lights and vice versa. Then, you can weave them over and under your garland. To ensure that they're spread evenly, turn them on, just like you did with your tree!

Step 4: Candles

I love candles in any space so this is a great way to add your color scheme into your mantel decor. Whatever your theme, I recommend choosing one color for all your candles, otherwise it can be a bit distracting and not cohesive. If you choose to use taper candles, find candlestick holders that match. If you're following the theme of the pictures I've attached, this may be a good place to use gold or white. If you go with these pilar candles that can stand on their own, make sure to buy different heights! You can put 2 or 3 candles on each side of the mantel. And I always have trouble with this, but don't get too caught up in trying to be symmetrical.

Step 5: Stocking Holders

I have had stocking holders like these in my house for my entire life. They are so charming and come in sets or individually. These reindeer are just one option to choose from. My family has two reindeer for the 'kids', one sleigh, and one tree. When putting these on the mantel, you can put some in front of the lights and garland and some behind.

Step 6: Stockings

Again, this is pretty self explanatory! Just make sure that the stockings are all facing the same direction. You don't want one toe facing left and one facing right.

Step 7: Accessories

Pine cones are just one example of additional decor to add to a mantel. You can buy fake snow, loose ornaments, leaves, or stems. There is so much to choose from even just with pine cones. There are snow covered, gold, and natural. Just make sure the pine cones aren't all on one side of the mantel.

Outdoor

Step 1: Columns

Garland can be bought with lights already attached or without, either is fine for your columns outside, staircase, dining table, or mantel. Just wrap the garland from top to bottom around your column or railing in a spiral and plug in the lights! Even this by itself is a beautiful and simple look for your exterior. If you choose to use garland on your stair railing, you can decorate as if its a tree and attach ornaments, ribbon, and stems with wire.

Step 2: Wreaths

You can choose to hang a wreath in a plethora of places. The most common use is on your front door but you can also put them in all the windows. If your roof is pointed, you can exentuate this point by putting a wreath at that peak as well. My favorite kind of wreath is this classic greenery with this rich red bow but you can choose any wreath to fit your theme and style. Just make sure the size is proportionate to your door, windows, and house.

Step 3: Candles

These fake candles are perfect to put in every window of the front and sides of your house. Since they dont have a real flame they are safe to leave on when you're not home. They come with a remote so it's super easy to turn them on and off everyday! Once again, make sure that your choice of light is consistent in regards to warm or cool whites. I personally always love when I drive by a house that has candles in every window so this can be the only exterior decoration you do and you'll still achieve a classic, elegant visual.

Step 4: Porch

This basket is a perfect replacement for your fall or summer planters! You can leave it up all winter season since it isn't screaming Christmas. No need to scramble to take it down after the New Year. They also sell planters made up of ornaments if you want to carry that from your living room to your front porch.

Step 5: Window Boxes

If you have window boxes, a pre-decorated garland is perfect to place in there for the winter instead of having a bunch of plain dirt or dead plants. They can sit right on top and when it flurries, they will be even more gorgeous!

Step 6: Accessories

You could add a multitude of things to your porch, lawn, or walkway. Lanterns, a small sleigh, a reindeer, or skis tied with a bow. These types of decorations come in all finishes of metal to go with any house or theme. If you want more than lights and garland, any of these options could be a great way to go without getting tacky.

Step 7: Trees

If you have trees in your front yard, lights are the perfect way to brighten them up instead of just having leafless branches. This picture is what I hope my christmas decorations to look like when I own a house of my own. But whatver your style, I hope you found at least one of these tips helpful for this year or next!

If you are finished decorating for this year, the best time to buy stuff for next year is right after this season ends, so find those sales and stock up. Thanks for listening and I hope I made your day.

Gabriella