12 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! Raring2go! 13 Raring2go!’s Top Tips on decorating your Christmas Tree! Fluff up the branches. You’d need “fluffing up” if you’d been squashed in a cardboard box in the loft for the last 12 months or in a netting and tied on top of the car! Get the lighting right. This is a very important part of any tree decoration so you should spend a good half an hour or so getting your Christmas lights positioned just right starting from the top and working your way down, weaving them around every major branch. Garland before baubles. Whether you use beads, ribbons or tinsel to add texture to your tree do this before the baubles, so you don’t knock them off! Choose a colour scheme. Pick colours that go well together and keep to a theme. If in doubt, keep in simple! The fun bit. Adding the baubles is the bit the kids can really have fun with. Start with the cheaper plain-coloured baubles as a base then add in the more decorative baubles later. Move expensive, glass baubles to the top - you know what will happen to them otherwise. The crowning touch. The final piece of your festive masterpiece - an eyecatching Christmas tree topper. There are lots of options on the market to suit all tastes, including personalised toppers, snowflakes and of course the more traditional stars and fairies. 1 4 If you’re anything like me decorating the Christmas tree is a time-honoured tradition undertaken with a glass of mulled wine in hand and some cheesy Christmas music playing. But is there a right or wrong way to decorate a tree, and how can you make it fit for Harrods front window? Here are our top tips for a standout tree to make the whole street jealous! 2 5 3 6 O’ Christmas Tree, O’ Christmas Tree For many of us, Christmas starts when we buy our tree. Nothing quite compares to the look and smell of a real Christmas tree and choosing the perfect one is a cherished tradition in many families. Raring2go! outlines the pros and cons of different types of trees to help you choose the right one this Christmas: Choosing the ‘right one’: Measure the space where you plan to put your tree carefully. Take into account the heights of your tree-topper and stand as well as your ceiling. Don’t forget to measure the width of your space too. Christmas trees are usually trimmed so that they are 80% as wide as they are high, so you should be able to get a good idea of width even if your chosen tree is wrapped. If you’d like to see your chosen tree unwrapped, just ask. If the shop won’t unwrap it, go elsewhere! Make sure your chosen tree is fresh. Needles shouldn’t come off in your hand and the branches should be bendy. If the tree sheds a lot of needles, or the branches snap, choose another tree. Look after it! Once you’ve chosen the right tree, look after it! When you get your tree home, place it in a bucket of water until you want to bring it indoors. When you’re ready to bring the tree inside, saw two or three centimetres off the bottom and place it in a stand or bucket with some fresh water. A tree can drink more than a pint a day, so always keep it topped up! Know your trees! • The Norway Spruce has its own unique scent, feel and shape that will remind you of a traditional Christmas. The needles are mid to dark green and a bit prickly to touch, but the strong branches make it an ideal tree to decorate. It’s prone to dropping its needles so you need to water it regularly to prevent this from happening. • For a lovely symmetrical shape and strong branches look for a Nordmann Fir. The needles are shiny, mid green and soft to touch, making it ideal for all members of the family to decorate. The Nordmann Fir is a low needle-drop tree. • The Scots Pine has a bushy shape that can be appealing, but its long, twisted needles are tricky to hang decorations on. A strong pine smell and good needle retention are its other plus points. • Grand Fir is a glossy dark-green colour with needles that are three to four centimetres long with a wonderful citrus smell. It’s soft to the touch and may not be able to hold heavier decorations. It’s a pretty tree but it can often be very tall. • The Lodgepole Pine is quite like the Scots Pine but has darker, straighter needles. It has a wonderful pine scent and great needle retention.
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