It seems that each year Christmas decorations go up a little earlier in our house and this year has certainly been no exception. We put up our Christmas tree last weekend all thanks to the lovely people at Amara. Amara gifted me some new decorations from their HideAway range that is to die for. Lucky for me, the hideaway collection is inspired by Scandinavian and Nordic interior styles, featuring some neutral tone colour palettes and irresistible greys.
Christmas tree decorating is a bit of a team effort in our house. My husband usually does the hard bit. He gets the tree down from the loft, fluffs it and puts up the tree lights (the part that I really hate!) I then decorate the tree with the ‘help’ of our children. Decorating the Christmas tree with my kids is a bit chaotic to be honest. I always let them help as it’s all part of the fun, but then I tend to rearrange all the baubles once they’ve lost interest. My youngest daughter is only 2 so shatter proof decorations are the way to go in our house. Also, we’ve never had a real tree but I’m seriously considering it for next year. Our artificial tree is 5 years old now and it’s starting to show a bit. I can see that the branches are getting thinner but since it still looks pretty decent, I thought we’d use it again this year. We’ll be getting a real tree for our TV room next year though and I’d also like to get another artificial tree for our lounge too.
Anyway, I usually go for a Scandi inspired Christmas tree (lots of contemporary style baubles with a dash of metallics) so I felt that the hideaway collection would go perfectly with our existing theme. I prefer baubles or small ornaments when decorating the tree and stick to maximum 3-4 different colours. Most of the decorations are monochrome, black, grey or white. I do like to add both silver and gold baubles to the mix too to give it a more glamorous look. I never use ribbons or tinsel. At the moment I really like a tree that is not entirely covered in decorations. I like to be able to see the tree too but I have also gone a bit OTT in the past so maybe I’ll change my mind again one day.
If you’re going for a rustic chic Christmas look this year you’ll love these wooden decorations. Wood looks stunning but also quite understated, which I love. I adore these stylish wood slice baubles. You can complete the look with these quirky beaded tree decorations. I just love the abstract trees pattern and the monochrome detailing definitely makes them a statement accessory.
Luxurious faux fur is always a good choice for Christmas. I love faux fur cushions and throws, so when I spotted this furry star I knew it would look fabulous on our Christmas tree. Unfortunately, it seems to be out of stock at the moment but this metal hanging star ornament will also look beautiful on a contemporary style Christmas tree. 
Since we have kids, I usually go for shatter proof Christmas decorations. Obviously they are much safer around children, but I also like that they are not that heavy. I find that glass baubles tend to put too much weight on the branches and they can end up looking a bit funny. I love this shatter proof tube of 30 assorted baubles which gives you a nice mix of shiny, matt, glitter and horizontal rib and pumpkin patterned baubles. Of course plastic baubles are better value too and they definitely last longer in our house than glass ornaments. If I do use glass ornaments I always try to place them high so my children can’t reach them.
Funnily enough, we had to move furniture around in the living room in order to get our tree in. I quite like having the Barcelona chair next to the tree though. The wire wall art creates an interesting focal point in the room too. Who doesn’t love a bit of industrial chic, right?
Christmas tree decorating tips
– Pick your spot first, then buy the size and the shape that suits the space (I prefer to keep our Christmas tree in the corner so it’s a bit tucked away from the kids)
– Never place a tree (artificial or real) next to a radiator or any heat source
– Always inspect your Christmas lights before you start wrapping them around the Christmas tree (in case some of the bulbs are broken). Read this piece on How to put up Christmas lighting on a real tree if in doubt.
– If you’ve got an artificial tree, don’t forget to fluff the branches first to give it a fuller look
– When decorating the tree, start at the top of the tree and work your way down. I like to place smaller baubles on the top branches first and then occasionally mix them with larger items to balance the tree.
– Try not to place identical baubles next to each other (you’ll want to create a nice contrast and avoid the overly matchy-matchy look)
– Do place larger statement pieces on the tree (leave this last)
– Use a sheepskin rug as a tree skirt
– If you like glass ornaments that tend to be heavy and unstable, twist the string around the ornament and the branch several times to make sure the ornament is secure. This is also a great way to shorten the string without cutting it.
– Add snow dust to the tree to give it a real snowy look
– Place the tree topper last so you don’t have to worry about knocking off ornaments when decorating the rest of the tree.
– Use only one type of decorations, ie. baubles to create a minimal, modern look
– Stick to fewer colours and shapes in order to create a more balanced tree
– Go for Christmas decorations that represent your personal style. I’ve collected mine over time and I feel that a nicely curated bauble collection makes the tree a lot more unique and personal.
I think that’s all I can think of for now.. If you have any Christmas tree decorating tips you’d like to share, leave a comment or let me know on Instagram!
* This post is in collaboration with Amara Living.
