Elaborately adorned Christmas trees are often the focal point of homes during the holiday season, and decorating the tree is a family tradition for many. From the Christmas tree skirt all the way to the topper, make sure your Christmas tree is one of the best this season by learning a few tips on how to decorate a Christmas tree.

Luckily, Christmas tree decorating can be fun and is something many families greatly enjoy doing together. Kids and adults alike love to string lights and garland, hang ornaments and toss shiny tinsel onto the tree's branches.

And once you have your tree decorated, you can start working on the rest of your house. To do that, you may want to check out Mahalo's How to Wrap Presents, How to Make Your Own Gifts or How to Have a Green Christmas. Don't forget to check out some of the yummy Christmas food pages such as How to Decorate Christmas Cupcakes, How to Decorate Christmas Cookies, How to Make Gingerbread Men and How to Build a Gingerbread House.

• While you may be dreaming of chestnuts roasting over an open fire, it's not OK if your Christmas tree is the source of that fire. Fires are not the only danger trees can pose. So, before you start decorating, keep in mind these safety tips:

1. If using a live tree, make sure it is well-watered and fresh.NFPA: Christmas Tree Fires
2. Only use artificial trees which are labeled as fire resistant.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
3. Do not use lighted candles as decorations on your tree.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
4. Use a step stool or ladder to reach the high places.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
5. Keep an eye on children and pets when they are around the tree and place tree ornaments that are breakable or have small parts higher up on the tree and out of reach.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
6. If you have small children, do not mix edible ornaments (such as popcorn or candy canes) with nonedible ones.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips

• What you need to do to set up your tree will depend on if you have a real or an artificial tree. However, no matter what kind you use, you should give some consideration to the location of your tree.
  1. Keep your tree at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, heaters and similar heat sources.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips
  2. Do not place your tree anywhere it might block foot traffic or doorways.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
  3. Place your tree in a location near an outlet to avoid running cords over long distances.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips
     1. If necessary, run extension cords against walls.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
     2. Do not run cords under rugs.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
  4. Once set up, make sure your tree is sturdy and does not wobble.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips

• For information on how to set up a live Christmas tree, check out the following links:
  1. MarthaStewart.com: Setting up a Christmas Tree
  2. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Selecting and Caring For Your Cut Christmas Tree
  3. National Christmas Tree Association: Tree Care Tips
  4. University of Illinois Extension: Christmas Trees & More-Tree Care

• Decorating a Christmas tree using a theme has become more popular lately. Many themes center around a certain item such as angels, teddy bears, snowflakes, Santa Claus, snowmen, penguins, sports teams or flowers.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree About.com: Christmas Themes with Snow, Santas, Angels, and Colors However, you can also create a theme around a color. Pick one or a combination of colors.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree When considering a theme, you should look at the room where the tree will be located so that it uses colors or themes related to that room. At the very least, you want the colors to be in harmony with that room.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees You can set the color theme using the tree skirt and garland and add ornaments to match.ABC News: Decorating a Theme-Based Christmas Tree (December 10, 2003)

• Some other themes you might want to consider include:

1. Adirondack, Country or Log Cabin: Make seed and nut ornaments, pine cones, seed pods, dried berries and leaves.HGTV.com: Christmas Tree Themes About.com: Christmas Themes with Crafts, Cabins, Toys, and Sports
2. Alphabet: Use boxes adorned with letters and spray-painted large wooden letters.CBS News: Unique Christmas Tree Trimmings (December 7, 2006)
3. Fisherman: Use miniature tackle boxes, nets, lures and fish ornaments.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree
4. Gardening: Use miniature flowers, vegetables and garden tools.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree
5. Handmade: Use only handmade ornaments on your tree.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree
6. Kitchen Tree: Decorate with miniature utensils, teapots and pans. Use a dishtowel for your tree skirt.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree
7. Nascar: Use circular race tracks for the garland. Add empty oil bottles, NASCAR number decals, checkered flags, toy cars and similar items for ornaments.CBS News: Unique Christmas Tree Trimmings (December 7, 2006)
8. Southwestern: Use chili pepper lights. Add cow, horse and cowboy hat ornaments.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree
9. Victorian: Use pink, cream and gold hearts and lace or old fashioned ornaments.Lowe's: Creating a Designer Christmas Tree Victorian Christmas: Decorating the Christmas Tree

• Other Christmas themes include:

• Lights are a common staple no matter how you decorate your tree. They are usually the first thing that goes on your tree. While they are almost standard on every decorated tree, there are hundreds of variations on how you can do it.

• With Christmas tree lights, more is usually better.HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree You will need at least one strand of 100 lights for every vertical foot of tree.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree The choice is yours.

• If you are purchasing new lights this year, you may be surprised at the wide variety of types available. You may need to experiment with different types before you find a scheme you like.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

1. Buy the best quality lights you can afford.HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree
2. Make sure the wattage of your lights are the same. This will prolong the life of your bulbs by preventing power surges.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier
3. Strands that have lights spaced 7 inches apart are easier to wrap around a tree's limbs than ones that are spaced 3 inches apart (which is the standard).HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree
4. If you have a flocked tree, use lights with a white cord.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips
5. Christmas tree lights can be stacked or end to end (aka string to string) depending on the type of plug.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier Try to purchase the same type of lights.
6. Use 100-light strands for real trees and 50-strand lights for artificial trees. The 50 light strands are easier to work with and are less likely to burn out.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier
7. Use a background of white lights that highlight colored lights on the forefront of the tree.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
8. Layer several strands of twinkle or colored lights to give them more impact.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
9. Miniature all-white lights will complement any decorating scheme.HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree
10. Strings with faceted glass bulbs refract more light and appear brighter.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
11. If decorating your tree with a theme, add party lights after the main lights to highlight that theme.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips

• Before stringing your lights, there are some things you should consider.

1. Before removing purchased lights from the box, plug them in to make sure they work.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier
2. Test each set of lights before placing them on the tree.MarthaStewart.com: Setting up a Christmas Tree
3. Keep the lights plugged in as you string to help you spot any holes.RealSimple.com: The Art of Christmas Tree Lighting
4. Divide the tree into three vertical sections and string each section separately.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier
5. Wrap an extension cord with spaced outlets around the base of the tree and attach it with twist ties.MarthaStewart.com: Setting up a Christmas Tree

• How you string your lights is up to you. However, you may want to consider one of these three methods:

1. Start at the base and work upwards.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Wrap the lights around every major limb from the trunk to the tip and then back.HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree Continue until the entire tree is covered.
2. Weave strings of lights near the base of the branches and then move to the outer edges of the branches.About.com: Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree This is the method used by Rockefeller Center in New York City.RealSimple.com: The Art of Christmas Tree Lighting
3. Wind a short set of lights around the trunk of the tree. Then, attach a longer set of lights at the top and spiral it around the tree. The lights should rest on the tips of the branches.HobbyCraft: Decorate a Christmas Tree

• Whenever using lights, safety should be your first concern. Here are a few tips to ensure you don't have any problems:

1. Replace any lights that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips
2. Use only indoor lights on your tree.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
3. Do not use electric lights on a metal tree.Naval Safety Center: Christmas Tree Safety Tips
4. No more than three light sets should be plugged into an extension cord.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
5. Turn off lights and other decorations before you go to bed and before leaving the house.National Safety Council: Christmas Tree Tips
6. You can string together three 100-light strands or six 50-light strands.Better Homes and Gardens: Christmas Tree Lighting Made Easier Do not try to connect more than that.

• The topper is what sits at the top of your Christmas tree. While most people imagine stars and angels, you are not limited to these two choices. In fact, if you keep in mind that more is better, there really is no wrong choice for a topper.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips

• Although you might think adding the topper is one of the last things that you should do, by adding it first you can get a better feel for the overall picture and balance of the tree.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips After all, the topper tends to be the focus of the tree and one of the first things people see. Plus, by adding it first, you won't have to try and reach over decorations to set it on your tree.

• If your topper sits too high on your tree, then you may want to trim a few inches off the top. You can straighten a tilting topper using wire on a stick or rod to give it a vertical perch.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips

• If you are looking for ideas or need a new tree topper, check out some of the following links:
  • Amazon.com Search: Christmas Tree Toppers
  • Google Product Search: Tree Toppers
  • Bronner's Christmas Wonderland: Tree Toppers
  • Better Homes and Gardens: 20 Tree-Toppers for Christmas
  • Target: Tree Toppers

• Garland should be added after the lights but before the ornaments.About.com: Garland Tips for Christmas Trees Although garland is not required, it can be a nice touch to your tree.

1. Some things that can be used as garland include thin strings of beads, thick paper, foil, feather boas, flower leis, fish netting, wired or mesh ribbon.About.com: Garland Tips for Christmas Trees Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips
2. There are no wrong or right ways to hang garland, so long as it doesn't hang too tightly.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
3. You will need about two strands of garland for every foot of tree.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
4. It is best to start at the top of your tree and work you way down.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
5. Use more garland on the bottom portions of your tree.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
6. Combine fancy and plain garland to avoid making your tree look too busy.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

• Ornaments are the major parts of your tree's decoration and will vary from tree to tree. The best advice you can follow is to do what you want. After all, it is your tree and it should reflect your personality.

1. Oversized ornaments cost more, but you need less, and can be more visually striking than normal sized ornaments.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees

2. Crystals will create a sparkle especially when placed next to the lights.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees

3. For brighter lights, add ornaments with reflective surfaces.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

4. Pinecones, leaf sprays, berry branches and other natural elements are inexpensive ways to add a natural quality to your tree.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees

5. Use specialty shapes to create variety on your tree.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

6. Other items you can use on your tree include berries, fruit, leaves dipped in copper gold or silver, ivy, fern leaves, magnolia leaves, clip-on birds, icicles and silk flowers.HGTV.com: Designer Christmas Tree Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees

7. If you want to make your own Christmas ornaments, then you should check out Mahalo's How to Make Christmas Ornaments

• There are two basic theories on hanging ornaments. One suggests leaving your favorite or better ornaments for last while the other suggests starting with them.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Both theories suggest that it is the best way to ensure these ornaments are placed in the most visible spots. Make sure you hang them at eye level. This will keep them where they are visible and out of reach of pets and children.Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips No matter which method you decide to do use, you may want to take some of these other tips under advisement when you are decorating your tree:

1. Start with your largest ornaments and use smaller ones to fill in the spaces around them.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
2. Place some ornaments toward the inside of your tree to create depth.About.com: Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree
3. Use green floral wire or colored ribbon in place of ornament hangers because they are less likely to slip off the tree.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Tree Decoration Tips
4. Bend the tips of branches up to help keep the ornaments on the tree.MarthaStewart.com: Christmas Tree Decoration Tips
5. Use filler ornaments such as solid color balls to coordinate and enhance your decorating scheme.About.com: Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree
6. Repeat one type (color or shape) of ornament to create unity on your tree.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees
7. Gaps in your tree can be gilled with silk flower sprays, bunches of artificial leaves, a lightweight wrapped gift, family photo or large accessory.Better Homes and Gardens: 11 Tips for Prettier Christmas Trees Ornaments to Remember: Christmas Tree Decorating Tips

• Without a Christmas tree skirt, you will find yourself staring at a very ugly base or tree stand. You skirt should be large enough to cover the tree stand but not be so long that people trip over it.About.com: Christmas Tree Skirts Beyond that, it is really up to you about what you use.