When it comes to holiday decorating, we usually focus our attention on adorning the Christmas tree with ornaments, lights, and accents. Often, we tend to overlook other preparations needed to make our trees, wreaths, and garlands look their best.
For the past few weeks, we’ve shared with you some of our top Christmas decorating themes and tips. Now, it’s time to delve deeper into the small yet significant details that will help make your holiday décor as bright and beautiful as the season itself.
Fluffing Tree Branches
I just love the look of a tree with lush foliage. Whether your tree is full-figured, slim, or narrow-shaped, properly shaped branches play a big part in making your tree a centerpiece fit for the holidays.
Here’s the method I use for fluffing tree branches. I start by moving each tip either to the side or straight up to create a staggered effect that helps hide the trunk. I look out for any smaller branches that shoot out from the main branch, and then I separate those as well. Keep separating and spreading each tip so that you get layers of foliage, such as what you would see on a real pine. For a better look at the fluffing process, check out this video:
Repairing Décor
It’s not uncommon to run into small issues with décor, such as embellishments falling or breaking off. If this happens to you, don’t worry. There are easy solutions that will have your wreath, topiary, or garland looking good as new.
For damaged floral picks and small accents, such as fruit or berries, repairing them with a glue gun is the best option. Apply some hot glue to the floral pick or stem of the fruit, and carefully attach to a branch or to the foliage frame. Let the glue air-dry completely before hanging and displaying your décor.
I like using wire to repair decorations that don’t have stems or sticks. Here, you can see me looping some wire through a twig ball. I would then twist the wire around a branch to secure the item to the foliage frame.
Storing Your Tree
Trees are typically the star of most Christmas displays, and for good reason. They are beautiful and versatile, and with the proper care and storage, can last season after season. If you’ve purchased a premium storage bag from Balsam Hill, all you need to do is lay the sections in the bag, zip it up, and store it. Otherwise, you can simply use the box or storage bag that came with the tree.
Make sure to compress the tree sections slightly with your hands, or tie them gently with ribbon or rope. This will help the sections fit more easily into the storage container. Lay the sections with the branches at opposite ends, so that they nestle together. If you have a tree that originally came in two boxes, check to make sure that you don’t store bottom sections together, as they won’t fit. Another tip is to store even numbered sections together in one box, with odd numbered sections in the other.
Finally, zip up the bags or tape close the boxes. Don’t be afraid to press on the box to make sure the seams fit tightly – Balsam Hill trees are durable, and won’t break under a little pressure. Store the tree in a cool, dry place.
With these decorating and storage tips, you will maximize the beauty of your décor and extend their lifespan at the same time. For more storage options and elegant holiday items, make sure to visit Balsam Hill.
