We all want the perfect holiday tree. The magnificent display piece worthy of all of the praise our friends and family can heap upon it. But sometimes it is not as easy as we wish. Fake trees can look, well… fake. Thankfully there are ways to get better results from your holiday efforts to make that fake tree look a little less fake. The trick is to properly “fluff and pose” your tree while you set it up.
Rather you are working with a brand new tree, or an old one hauled one you hauled out of storage, the approach is the same.
Start out by inspecting the tree to make sure all of the parts are there and nothing is broken.
If it is a pre-lit tree take the time to plug the sections together and plug them in before you start. This way, if there is a problem with the lights, you can trouble shoot it before you are facing a fully fluffed and decorated tree.
Make sure that you have enough room in the chosen place for the tree. Both people and pets will need to be able to move freely around the tree, and there should be room for children to spread out, unwrap and pile presents.
Make sure the tree will be safe. Keep it well away from any possible danger areas such as too close to stairs or too close to a fireplace. Position it close enough to an outlet that you do not need to run an extension cord across a traffic path.
Plug any surge protector or extension cords you will need into wall outlets that might end up inconveniently located behind the tree when it is set up.
The first step is determine if you will need to lay out a floor cover. You will want to place something on the floor if you have wood flooring or are worried about possible floor damage from the tree stand. Once that is done situate your tree’s base and get the first section of the tree (if it is a multi-part tree) settled into the stand.
Now the fluffing and posing begins.
Take your time at this stage, think about how a real tree looks when you see it growing in the woods. Think of the kind of tree you would pick out on a tree lot. The wonderful thing about fake trees is that you can make them into any kind of tree you want to, and the more time you spend at this stage to perfect how the tree looks, the more impressive it will be when you add lights and decorations. The goal is for guests to question rather you have a real tree or a fake tree.
If your tree has layers of branches that fold up, then you want to fold up and secure all but the lowest level. You will work your way up the tree one level at a time. You also want to work on just one branch at a time.
Start at the back of the branch and shape so the small branch sections all spread out. For a real look refer to images of similar trees, for a custom look follow your imagination. If you want a fuller tree, and to hide the trunk area, you will want to lift and lower the back most pieces of the branch to fill in the center. This will help to make the tree look fuller and can hide a lot of sins in an imperfect tree core. With the back-most section arranged, arrange the branches out through the center of the branch in a scattered pattern, giving a fullness, while still looking like it was a random growth pattern. and then finish with the tops straight out for hanging garland and ornaments on.
Do not be in a hurry, particularly if this is the first time you have set up a fake tree. It is well worth the effort to take your time with each piece to get it positioned how you want it. Also, be sure that you step back away from the tree and look at it from different areas in the room on occasion. This will help you see where you need to make small adjustments that are easier to make as you are working on an area than to try to fill in the area later on.
Now is also a good time to consider if there are any special ornaments that need a specific size area for display. One year I made little burrow areas back into the tree and placed birds and squirrel figurines into ‘nests’. Do you want to put presents on the tree? Will you need to craft “shelves” for them to be set on?
Work around the tree branch by branch, then move to the next layer up and work your way around it in the same manner. Keep adjusting until the first section is finished, then add the next section to the tree and repeat the process with it. One layer at a time, one branch at a time.
If your tree has a small top section, do not put it on the tree. Hold it and adjust the branches. Near the very top you should work with an eye toward what kind of tree topper you are going to put on the top of the tree. Position the top branch pieces to best suit the tree topper. If you do not use a tree topper, then arrange the top to resemble the top of a natural tree. When it is properly fluffed and posed, place the top section on the tree and check the area where the branches meet the branches of the tree below it. Make any needed adjustments to best join the top to the tree so it looks natural.
Step back to several points in the room, both standing and seated, and examine the tree. Be critical of it and make any adjustments that are needed to finish the posing of the branches for the best effect.
You should now have a lovely tree ready to adorn with decorations.
Remember:
- Plug in any scooters or extension cords before you start setting up the tree
- Test the lights on pre-lit trees before you assemble the tree
- Work in layers – bottom to top
- Go slow
- Try to simulate the growth of a real tree
- Fluff and pose the top before you put it on the tree
- Step back occasionally to see it from other viewpoints
