The Christmas season is filled with decorating opportunities, but none more special than the trimming of the Christmas tree. The style you use to decorate your tree is a reflection of your interests and taste. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

1. Many people choose to use a theme for decorating their Christmas tree. Before you invest time and money make sure the colors you choose go with your tree and the room where the tree will be located. What types of themes can you use? Well you could use a single color as your theme, such as an all white tree.  Or you could take a movie such as Transformers and use that as a theme. You could take a period in your families life such as the 70's or when you lived in Louisiana as a theme. You would then pick items to reflect your life during those times.

2.  No matter if you use a theme or not be sure to add some personal decorations.  Personal ornaments always add to the tree and make it especially unique. No one will have exactly the same ornaments as you have on your tree.

3. To save time and trouble save the boxes the ornaments came in for storage later.  If you do not have the original box; get a glass packing box from some mover.  Label the box before you store the ornaments for easy retrieval.  Be sure to separate each ornament with some type of packing material to protect them during storage.

4. The sparkle of a Christmas tree comes from the strands of Christmas lights hung on the tree. Use caution when stringing the lights. Avoid placing a bulb too close to a branch as a fire can occur quickly.

5. Before stringing the lights test the strand by plugging them onto an outlet. Changing a light bulb is much easier when the light strand is on the floor. Start stringing your lights from the very top of  the tree. Plan the placement so you are close to an outlet and can plug the Christmas lights into the electrical outlet.

6. Store your lights wrapped around some type of spindle.  This can be a large empty can or cardboard cut into a spindle.  This will help to keep the wire straight and not tangled for next year.

7.  When starting to hang ornaments work from the bottom up. Place larger ornaments near the bottom and then the smaller ones up top. Have pets?  You may want to place ornaments a little higher on the tree to minimize damage to the ornaments.

8. Think about how a tree looks after a snow and ice storm.  Most of the ice and snow is towards the outside of the tree.  Do the same with your Christmas tree tinsel.  Apply most of it toward the ends of the branch

9.  Hang your ornaments so each one is showcased with its special spot on the  Christmas tree. Sometimes you may have more ornaments than tree. Step back and look at your handiwork. Seeing bits of green among the decorations highlights the tree and the ornaments.

Phil The Gardener, a contributing writer for Gardeners World Online, is the author of the book "Tips for Choosing Your Perfect Christmas Tree". Read this book and you can confidently buy your perfect Christmas tree. To get your copy  (http://www.YourPerfectChristmasTree.com) click Your Perfect Christmas Tree.

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