How to Decorate a Christmas Tree with Ribbon

Jennifer Lutz: Hi. I’m Jennifer with Balsam Hill. If you’re like me, you love to browse through holiday catalogs and Instagram feeds, and you wonder how designers create these beautifully curated trees.

Well, today I’m here to show you that it’s simpler than you think. One of my favorite ways to take trees to the next level is with ribbon. Ribbon is so beautiful because it adds color and texture and it adds an elegant finishing touch.

Today I’m decorating three different types of trees, a seven and a half foot flock tree, a nine-foot slender tree, and a seven-foot spruce. Before you start decorating, take time to fluff your tree.

Start at the back of the tree and move towards the front, bending branches up and outward. Separate each tip to create an even full look.

I’ll show you how to wrap, cascade, and style with three different types and widths of ribbon.

A really classic way is a simple wrap and tuck. I begin at the top of the tree and horizontally wrap the ribbon down the length of the tree.

For this flocked tree I paired a four-inch velvet ribbon with a two and a half-inch sparkly sheer ribbon as an overlay, it creates depth and a bit of shimmer. I also layered in snowy eucalyptus and soft pink ornaments to create the feel of a magical winter wonderland.

For tree decorating I like to work with wired ribbon, when properly stored it holds its shape beautifully and lasts year after year. To wrap ribbon around the tree, I start at the top and work in a slightly diagonal direction, looping the ribbon around the tree in a downward spiral, tucking it deep into the branches. You can secure the ribbon with floral wire, pipe cleaners, or the wired inner branch.

Another dramatic application that adds beauty and depth is the ribbon cascade. Like a cascading waterfall, you begin at the top of the tree and create ribbon folds down the length of the tree.

For this tree, I combined four-inch jewel trimmed platinum ribbon, with sparkly oversized ornaments and bedazzled tree picks. If you like the wow factor, four-inch wired ribbon is a great choice, this is especially lovely on a larger tree, think seven feet or taller.

To create a cascade I begin at the top of the tree, wired ribbon into the center pole, and created large billows from the top to the bottom, tucking the end of each loop into the center of the tree.

When you get to the bottom of each ribbon strand, you can trim the ends into a v-shape or you can roll the ends of the ribbon to create a little flourish at the end. This is the beauty of wired ribbon, it holds its shape.

Tying ribbons to ornaments is a simple and elegant way to add texture and uniformity throughout your tree. To create a traditional Christmas look, I mixed two and three-foot pieces of velvet and sateen ribbon, silver and gold mercury glass ornaments, and battery-operated tree candles for a classic appeal.

For this last application, I tied two pieces of varying length non-wired ribbon around each ornament. Cutting ribbon into strips allows for greater flexibility with direction and pattern, it also allows you to use less ribbon, so if you only have little bits of leftover ribbon you can mix and match without waste.

Now it’s time to step back and look at your work, making sure that your ribbon is well-spaced and fluffed. Finally, enjoy your creativity. For more tips and tricks, visit the Balsam Hill Blog. Happy holidays from Balsam Hill.