It’s all about the Christmas tree

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: It’s all about the Christmas tree When it comes to decking the halls, it’s all about the Christmas tree. Whether you favour a ‘can-you-believe-it’s-not-real?’ artificial one or always opt for the genuine article, whose fragrant scent (and needles) will fill the house, it’s the decorations that say most about your taste and family history – from hand-me-down baubles to childhood creations. Some people are very specific about the look they want to achieve – selecting colour themes and planning their arrangement. Others allow creative licence to take over and hang the tree with all sorts of eclectic eccentricities, creating a festive talking point for the season. Whichever style takes your fancy, here are some ideas to help make it tree-mendous… TRULY TRADITIONAL Red and green is the ultimate festive look, and has timeless appeal that can be interpreted in a retro way or given a dash of kitsch. “This is an absolute classic look,” says home styling expert Craig Roman. There’s a lovely nostalgic feel to this style of decoration, which is seen in red candy cane and Santa stocking decorations. This season, we’re seeing much more emphasis on the texture and finishes of baubles – incorporating matt with shiny; shiny with glitter; or those which are ribbed. Many have an ‘added extra’, such as a tiny charm attached to the top, or a ribbon with beading. “People could embellish their own baubles, by sourcing charms, stickers or glitter from craft stores, or using a glitter pen to personalise. Add to the red effect by pegging cards to red ribbon, which can be hung from banisters or curtain rails or adding red bows to a wreath.” DECOR TIP: For a luxury look, dress your tree from the back to the front, hanging up to four baubles all along each branch, depending on their length. Place darker coloured baubles at the back (nearer the trunk) and the brighter shades near to the branch tip, to give the illusion of depth. Add to the richness with a string of red berry lights. WHITE MAGIC This look captures the atmosphere of a winter wood, where snow-laden trees sparkle and shimmer. “This is a magical, winter wonderland effect, which – because of its neutral colour palette – works with any decor and is hugely popular,” says Roman. “Lightly flocked artificial trees with twinkling pre-lit white lights are perfect for this, and then all you need is a collection white or silver baubles – the ‘less is more’ rule definitely applies to this style. “If pure white is too cool for your taste, warm up the effect with a few gold baubles. This metallic finish is enjoying a revival and will feature very strongly in collections next Christmas too. For a finishing touch, make snowballs by simply rolling white or silver strands of tinsel into a ball, and pop them in between branches.” DECOR TIP: If you’re adding strings of lights to a tree and want to check to see if they’re evenly placed, turn them on and look at them from the other side of the room by squinting through half-closed eyes. BRANCH OUT If you haven’t got the space for a large, bushy tree, or don’t want to make that sort of statement, embrace the trend for slimmed-down ‘size zero’ trees, with slender trunks and bare branches. You can even ditch a free-standing version completely and opt for a Christmas tree wall sticker. “There are a lot of naked trees around this year,” says British TV presenter and crafts queen Kirstie Allsopp. “It’s definitely a trend, and is for those who are confident in their taste and like something alternative and design-led. “If you’ve having a minimalist twig thing, then you put very small, very delicate decorations on it. “One of the reasons Scandinavian decorations look so beautiful is because they’re so understated, and those Scandi trees do work well with just a few decorations.” features@7days.ae Read the original story at: It’s all about the Christmas tree