How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Make Christmas time extra magical with a tree that captures the spirit of the season. Stir up some hot chocolate and play a cosy film as you decorate to create extra-special memories with the whole family.

Not sure where to start? Choosing a theme before you begin decorating is the easiest way to create a professional-looking Christmas tree. Go bright and colourful for a maximalist look or keep it pared back with cosy neutrals and rustic touches.

Top tip: get all your decorations out and organised before started to make the process more streamlined (especially if little ones are lending a hand). Untangle lights, line up the baubles and tidy up the tree branches before you start.

Embrace the joy of the season with a bright and colourful tree that makes an impression. Start by wrapping your tree in warm fairy lights, then add personality with baubles in vibrant colour palette – we’re loving pastel pink, green, yellow and blue with metallic touches – and plenty of tinsel.

Add colour and texture with satin striped baubles or these retro-inspired baubles finished with beading, sequins and tinsel. Turn up the glamour with a pack of metallic bows and have fun with kitsch decorations like these funky dinosaurs or tasselled dogs. This string of confetti garland lights makes a playful addition, then top it all off with a tinsel star tree topper.

In a palette of calming, earthy neutrals, cosy Christmas is a rustic and pared-back theme, perfect if you like minimalistic decor. Want to get the look on your Christmas tree? Choose tactile decorations like soft velvet bows and flocked baubles.

Play around with texture by incorporating decorations made from rustic ceramics, felt and wood. Our felt woodland-inspired decorations like this festive fox, skiing rabbit and cheery bear make perfect additions. Inject your tree with character by adding homey, traditional prints like gingham – this tree topper is perfect as the final flourish.

If you love a traditional decorating theme, stick to colourful bursts of red and green with metallic accents mixed throughout. Illuminate your tree with warm white fairy lights, then play with different finishes to elevate – try mixing glitter, glass and matte baubles with this mixed pack of 80.

Hanging decorations embellished with beading and sequins, like these mixed-finish baubles, bring a luxe feel. Then fill in any gaps with red baubles and velvet bows to tie the whole look together. Finish everything off with a gold star tree topper for a timeless finish.

The right string of lights not only brings life to your Christmas tree but illuminates the whole room to create a festive mood. First decide how many lights you’ll need – our Christmas light calculator is the perfect tool.

Then decide on the colour. Multi-coloured lights add that nostalgic, playful feel, while white lights are clean and classic. If you’re choosing white lights, you’ll also need to think about the tone. For cosy ambience, pick warm white lights, and for crisp, bright light, choose cool white lights.

When hanging the lights, you have a couple of methods to choose from. Go traditional with the horizontal round-and-around approach or try the expert-approved up-and-down method popularised on TikTok.

When it comes to adding the final flourish to your tree, think about the theme and the overall look you’re going for. Looking for decoartions you’ll reach for year after year? You can’t get more traditional than a classic gold star. Our gingham star makes for a rustic alternative for a cosy vibe.

For something more playful, our tinsel star adds nostalgic disco charm. Bows also make a quirky tree topper. This pearl beaded bow gives any tree a luxurious feel, while this metallic bow is a must for maximalists.