Christmas Tree Decorations — Baubles, Toppers and Skirts

A tree gets decorated from the top down, and the bottom is what gets forgotten. The plastic stand stays visible all December, under a branch that does not quite cover it, and it is the first thing guests see from the sofa.

The deciding factor is how many pieces the tree can take. A 1.5 m tree absorbs about twenty baubles without looking crowded; at 1.8 m you need thirty before the gaps stop showing. A mixed set of matte and shiny baubles beats a uniform one: contrast in finish is what creates depth under light, not colour.

Three pieces are enough to make a tree look finished: baubles for the mass, a topper for the high point, a skirt to hide the stand. If the tree is plain, take a patterned skirt; if it is busy, take a plain one — two elements competing cancel each other out.

Measure the base diameter before choosing a skirt: a 120 cm model overhangs a side table and folds down, which shows more than the stand it was meant to hide. For a small tree placed up high, a 90 cm skirt or a pre-decorated table tree works better.