How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

	Starter Kit 🎁	Premium Bundle ✨
Tree Included?	✅ Yes – 5 & 6 ft only	Optional – Choose to add or skip
Type of Tree to Choose	Economical, Great Value	All Premium Tree Options
Decor Style	Basic & Classic	Designer & Complete
Best For	First-Time Owners	Show-Stopping Statement Trees
What’s Included	Tree, Lights, Baubles, Tree Topper	Full Designer Décor Set (Varies by Theme)

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the best moments of December’s festivities. The twinkling tree, all lit up and adorned with gleeful and glittering ornaments, marks the centrepiece of the home. And once the decorated tree is ready, Christmas truly begins! There’s nothing more joyful than transforming your home into a winter wonderland – even in the tropical Singapore climate.

With so many ways to decorate your Christmas tree, you may be wondering where to start. This article will guide you through the best way to decorate your tree, including how to choose a colour theme, styles of baubles, types of tree picks and sprays, and in which order to arrange your adornments.

Happy decorating!

Choose a high-quality Christmas tree

A traditional Christmas tree, as we now know it, is a bushy fir, spruce, or pine tree, as popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 19th century. Prince Albert, a German royal, introduced the lore of the Christmas tree, which originated in Germany as a symbol of faith in the 8th century.

Since then, these evergreen conifer trees have been synonymous with Christmas. Though it’s a lot more challenging to source a real tree, you have plenty of choices for hyper-realistic artificial Christmas trees. And the added benefit – no pine needles to clean up!

When choosing an artificial Christmas tree, consider factors such as density, height, width, number of tips, and the level of realism you prefer. Whatever the size of your home, from spacious to compact, we have a Christmas tree to fit your space perfectly.

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Density

Airy and sparse trees have thinner branches with shorter, stiffer needles that resemble those of a natural spruce tree. Lower density requires fewer decorations. Full and lush trees have a bushy body, often with longer needles, to mimic the appearance of a Colorado Pine, Scots Pine, or Blue Spruce, for example. Ultra-dense trees have the most branches and needles, resulting in an impressive body. These often replicate a natural Balsam, Fraser, or Noble Fir. Dense or ultra-dense trees are ideal for adding more decorations.

Height

It’s important to measure the height of the room where your Christmas tree will sit. Don’t forget to add room for a tree topper, which will add height to your tree. Shorter trees are typically 5 feet (1.5 metres) tall or less, well-suited to compact living spaces. Tall trees stand at 6 feet (1.8 metres) to 7 feet (2.1 metres) for lofty rooms. Extra-tall trees are 8 feet (2.4 metres), 10 feet (3 metres), or 12 feet (3.6 metres) in height for grand spaces with very high ceilings.

Width

Most regular-sized rooms will suit a standard wide tree to complement the space. Opt for an extra-wide tree if you would prefer a fuller, bushier body. For compact spaces, in a condo or HDB flat, consider a slim tree.

Number of tips

Similar to density, you can visualise a tree’s bushiness by checking the number of tips (the small branches on a large one) listed. The higher the number of tips, the fuller and bushier the tree will be.

Realism

Hyper-realistic Christmas trees look as close to real-life conifer trees as possible. Made from polyethene (PE), these trees feature 3D moulded branches, with extra care and attention to detail in the colouring and placement of the needles. You can even choose to have snow-covered branches or pine cones. Other Christmas trees have a similar silhouette, but lack the superior level of detail that mimics a real tree. These trees use traditional polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a slightly stiffer and less lifelike material than PE Christmas trees.

Pick a colour scheme

Before purchasing the baubles and lights, it’s a good idea to have a colour scheme in mind. If not, you risk clashing colours between ornaments, lights, and garlands. Here are some examples:

Grand Champagne Theme Premium Bundle by Masons Home Decor - Christmas Tree Singapore

Warm theme: A more traditional Christmas tree look opts for deep hues, such as gold, bronze, red, dark green, burgundy, maroon, and rich brown, paired with warm white or coloured lights. Vintage ornaments, such as teddy bears, nutcrackers, drums, holly, and red robins, fit well with the traditional theme.

Cool theme: A frosty Christmas tree features cool-toned colours, including silver, blue, turquoise, teal, white, and grey, with pure white lights. Wintery polar bears, icicles, snowflakes, snowmen, and pearly-white angels are some go-to ornaments with the cool theme.

Monotone theme: For a uniform look, a tree decked in either all gold, all silver, all red, or all purple. In recent years, a ‘White Christmas’ themed tree with snow-coloured ornaments and flower picks has become a signature statement.

Rose gold and pastel decorations on a Christmas tree

Pastel theme: An up-and-coming design theme that you could experiment with this year. All pastel shades complement each other well, making it an easy, feminine, playful, light, and chic colour scheme. Pink, rose gold, and peony are a few ideas.

Your Christmas tree will look even more beautiful when you choose a colour scheme that complements your home decor. If your home features a lot of wood or warm tones, such as wooden laminates, beige tiles, or marble, a warm-themed decorated tree would be a suitable choice. However, if your home’s decor theme leans towards white, metals, and black, a cool themed tree would work well.

Number of ornaments and lights

Singapore family hanging Christmas tree decorations

The key to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree lies in a little preparation and the right proportions. To achieve that stunning, full look, it’s essential to know how many lights and ornaments your tree needs based on its height.

For a touch of depth and a high-end feel, aim for a balanced mix: start with simple baubles as your base, then add visual interest with accent pieces, tree picks, and sprays, finishing it off with a standout tree topper.

Check out our guide to figure out the perfect amount of each item you’ll need!

A 5-foot Christmas tree

20-25 plain baubles (such as one box of Palline Baubles) or 12 accent baubles (such as 3 boxes of an Ornament Set)
6-8 tree picks
1 tree topper
1 set of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

A 6-foot Christmas tree

25-30 plain baubles (such as one box of Palline Baubles)
8-12 accent baubles (such as 3 boxes of an Ornament Set)
12-16 tree picks
1 tree topper
2 sets of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

A 7-foot Christmas tree

25-30 plain baubles (such as one box of Palline Baubles)
8-12 accent baubles (such as 3 boxes of an Ornament Set)
12-16 tree picks
1 tree topper
3 sets of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

An 8-foot Christmas tree

40-45 plain baubles (such as two boxes of Palline Baubles)
12-16 accent baubles (such as 3-4 boxes of an Ornament Set)
15-20 tree picks
1 tree topper
4 sets of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

A 10-foot Christmas tree

40-45 plain baubles (such as two boxes of Palline Baubles)
16-20 accent baubles (such as 4-5 boxes of an Ornament Set)
20-25 tree picks
1 tree topper
6 sets of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

A 12-foot Christmas tree

50-55 plain baubles (such as two boxes of Palline Baubles)
20-25 accent baubles (such as 4-5 boxes of an Ornament Set)
25-30 tree picks
1 tree topper
8 sets of 10-metre tree lights
1 tree skirt or collar

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

Step 1: Turn on the Christmas playlist

Set the scene by playing your favourite festive tunes in the spirit of tree decorating! Add some delicious Christmas drinks and snacks to make it a family fun activity. Once you have the atmosphere prepared, it’s time to bring out the tree and all the decorations. Organise and lay them out so it’s easy to see what you have.

Step 2: Assemble the tree and shape the branches

Set up the Christmas tree base and stack the pieces of the tree’s body securely. Each section, except the final top piece, should have its branches in a horizontal position.

Attaching an artificial Christmas tree to its stand

The top part, known as the tree’s head, needs to be shaped into a triangle. Pull the branches down and separate the smaller branches, called the tips, so they look realistic and fluffy.

Work your way down the tree, making sure every small branch in the body is fluffed and arranged. You don’t want any of the branch tips clumped together, even at the back!

Adding the tree topper to a Christmas tree

Step 3: Add your tree topper

Set your Christmas tree topper either on the very top branch or, if you prefer it to be more stable, place it slightly lower and nestle it in the head of the tree.

A shining star or an angel are popular tree toppers. To keep it extra secure, use a dark green cable tie to hold it in place. The dark green colour is recommended rather than black, so that it camouflages with the rest of the tree’s branches.

Step 4: String tree lights

Add your Christmas tree lights before you start hanging the other ornaments. Choose warm white, cold white, or coloured lights.

It’s easier at this stage to conceal the light cables and arrange them neatly without getting caught in the baubles. Starting at the bottom of your tree, wrap the lights carefully around the branches until you reach the top.

Stringing the lights on a Christmas tree

Each set of Mason string lights features a plug that allows you to connect one set of lights to another. It’s a handy feature for taller and wider trees, which require multiple sets of lights to complete their illumination!

Extension cable for Christmas tree lights

Once all the lights are added, adjust the placement, making sure they are evenly spread out between the branches, and any extension connectors are concealed. Turn on the lights at the plug to check if you’re happy with their layout.

Step 5: Hang the base baubles

Use simple, solid-coloured baubles first. These will act as the foundation for your Christmas tree’s entire look. Space them out evenly around the tree, including the back. You want to make sure there is room for your fancy ornaments.

Step 6: Hang your accent baubles

Next, hang your accent baubles in between the simple ones. Your accent baubles might be a different colour, shape, or texture. These will add interest and dimension to your tree’s decor.

Step 7: Decorative tree sprays

Christmas tree sprays are larger tree picks that tuck into the tree. These may be festive ribbons, clusters of berries, showstopping festive flowers such as Poinsettias and Magnolias, or long branches of pine cones, and foil leaves, for example. Weave in a few tree sprays to bare spots, and add extra character and flair to your Christmas tree’s appearance.

Decorating a Christmas tree with flower tree picks

Step 8: Tree picks for detail

Smaller tree picks including flowers, berries, butterflies, and even gingerbread men, add interest and contrast with larger decorations.

Step 9: Add a tree skirt or collar

When the tree is fully decorated and adorned, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Add a tree skirt or collar as an attractive way to hide the tree’s stand and any unsightly light cables around the base.

A tree collar is made of sturdy material and stands upright to give the illusion that the tree is placed in a basket.

A tree skirt is a traditional fabric option that drapes over the base with extra space to place Christmas gifts on top. To add a tree skirt, simply lay it flat underneath the tree, wrapping it around the stand, and tie it at the back.

Step 10: Admire your decorated tree!

Now that you’ve finished adorning your Christmas tree, get ready for the compliments and selfies this Christmas. There are going to be plenty! If you’d prefer to skip the hassle of decorating, browse our Mason’s Christmas Tree Bundles, which come with everything you need.

Take the stress out of decorating and browse our bundles

Our starter bundles include the essentials for first-time tree owners, while our premium bundles offer a fully decorated, show-stopping designer tree, all done for you. Simply choose the colour theme you love and order it straight to your door!

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