Did you know some people spend all year getting ready for Christmas?
While most of us muddle through December with last year’s tinsel and fairy lights, professional tree trimmers spend months preparing trees for shops and public places.
Our lifestyle editor Louise Richardson asked some experts for their advice and came up with this handy step-by-step guide to trimming your tree.
First, choose your tree. A good artificial one should last years. Take time teasing out the branches to get it nice and even.
String your lights. If one string isn’t enough, place any overlap at the back of the tree. Replace any broken bulbs and test the lights to make sure they’re working.
Now hang up your decorations, leaving even spaces between them and checking regularly to make sure the symmetry is right. Resist the urge to cram on extra pieces for good luck at the end.
Last but not least, add presents. They look even better if you take the time to co-ordinate the giftwrap. Such trees look sophisticated in their simplicity – and that’s what we should be aiming for!
