Setting up the Christmas Tree II

The tree is up and watered, now you are going to have to decorate it. You are not really sure where to begin.

My decorating pattern is this:

First - Christmas Lights, when placing the lights I start by wrapping the stalk of the tree from the bottom to the top. Once that is done, I will place the lights around the outer branches. I try doing this part in the evening when I can turn off the lights in the room and really look to see what the lights look like on the tree and I can fill in any "dark" spots.

Second - If you are going to use garland, I put this on next. It is a lot easier to reposition the garland if you are not worried about knocking ornaments off.

Third - Time for ornaments! I will usually place fragile ornaments toward the top and sturdier ornaments toward the bottom or the back of the tree.

If you have kids, make sure to use age appropriate ornaments at the level that the kids can reach. You don't want the kids to accidentally break a heirloom ornament, so keep it in mind when decorating.

Have some one standing back and watching you decorate, they can point out "empty" spots.

Fourth - Almost done! If you want to add a bit of sparkle now is the time to add tinsel. Please remember if you use tinsel on a fake tree, it will take forever to remove it all. If you use tinsel on a real tree, you may not be able to recycle it until all of the tinsel is removed.

Here are some guidelines for about how many lights and decorations that you may need for your tree.

Tree Height – 4 foot / Lights – about 120 / Garland – about 48 feet / Ornaments – about 40

Tree Height – 6 foot / Lights – about 240 / Garland – about 72 feet / Ornaments – about 60

Tree Height – 7 foot [ Lights – about 360 / Garland – about 84 feet / Ornaments – about 75

Tree Height – 8 foot / Lights – about 480 / Garland – about 96 feet / Ornaments – about 100