Holiday Decorating Tips, Tricks, and Tools

Is it just me, or are more people getting festive earlier this holiday season? As a self-admitted crazy Christmas lady, here are some tips and tricks as you begin to deck your halls.

Tools and Materials

These items are must-haves for creating and installing.

• Glue gun – for adding pieces to garland, securing and hiding battery packs and wires, helping seal in bow-making, etc. And use it freely! It peels right off when you’re done.
• Floral wire and wire cutters – to make ornament clusters for trees or garland accents, bow making and securing
• Clear fishing line – creating ornament garland, for ceiling/fan/chandelier decorations
• Long zip ties – use to secure garland to banisters and rails, or to anchor large picks to artificial trees
• Command Hooks – hang all your things without damaging the walls. A note of personal experience: there are two versions of this brand. The version with the red and black sticker seals is the only one that really holds. The blue sticker seals tend to fall right off.
• Hairspray – spray all heavily glittered picks, ornaments and decor with a little hairspray. It will keep glitter in place!

Tips for Trees

If you use an artificial tree, the most important (and most tedious) task is fluffing the tree. Go all the way back on each branch and spread and slightly lift each piece, fanning them to the left and right. If you’re doing this right, it should take you close to an hour, if not longer.

If you go for a real tree, get one from a nursery that will flock it for you. (We get ours from Pike’s each year.) Flocked trees, which create that snowy effect, do not require any watering and don’t drop their needles. The flock seals the tree’s moisture, which also makes it last much longer. I’ve heard rumors that flocked trees can be reused for years!

If your tree looks thin or has gaps or holes, shove some buffalo snow (the white cotton fluff sold at craft stores) back into the tree to give it a snowy, fuller look. You can also place jumbo ball ornaments into gaps.

One way to make a pretty ornament statement is to make a few stands of ball garland. Gather several boxes of balls in complimentary colors, and string them onto fishing line or floral wire. Then secure the ends onto the tree.

DIY ornament ball garland positioned to diagonally wrap in shades of blue (above). Below, ball garland positioned to cascade down the tree.

Floral Picks

The biggest aha moment I have had and shared with friends is adding picks to your tree. Picks are what take a tree from simple to stunners. Buy picks in complimentary colors. Single colors tend to work best, and if you’re unsure, silver always works. Get a mix of at least three to four different style picks, in collections of at least 8 – 10 for smaller picks, and 4 – 5 of larger ones.

6 different styles of picks used here

You can also use large picks as tree toppers. They add height and look more whimsical than capping the top with a star. Use floral wire to wrap and secure the large picks in place.

Clusters of large picks, secured by wire, as a tree topper.

Don’t Neglect Ceiling Fixtures

Chandeliers and ceiling fans are great ways to add some holiday charm. Use clear fishing line to hang snowflakes, garland, or ornament clusters.

This wreath was sawed in half and then affixed around the fan.

Snowflakes and clusters of white ornaments hang from foyer chandelier.

Kitchen Decorations

You don’t have to shove a tree into your kitchen to decorate for the holidays. Try festive countertop set-ups, cabinet “jewelry” and pantry toppers.

Long floral picks, wired together at the stems and hung from a Command Hook