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The day has finally arrived – you’re taking out your Christmas tree! It’s such an exciting time filled with holiday spirit and anticipation. But before your tree transforms from looking plain into a magical holiday centerpiece, there’s some essential work to be done.
And no, I’m not just talking about decorating. Fluffing a Christmas tree is a crucial first step if you want your tree to look its absolute best. Trust me, a well-fluffed tree can make a huge difference giving it that full and lush look everyone loves.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of how to fluff a Christmas tree step-by-step. And with these 12 simple tips, you’ll ensure your tree looks fantastic and ready for the spotlight!
So, let’s get started and make your tree look its absolute best!
The branches of artificial trees are usually very scratchy, rough, and uncomfortable against bare skin. So, first of all, make sure to wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your hands and arms from scratches and irritation.
To make it easier to move the tree after assembling and fluffing, place cardboard or something similar under the stand first.
This allows you to easily reach all around the tree, and when you’re done, you can simply slide it to any spot – whether it’s a corner or against the wall. Plus, it will help protect your floor!
Before you dive into fluffing, always check that the lights are working on all parts of the tree first. Connect all the strings and ensure the lights are on everywhere.
Just imagine the frustration of spending all that time fluffing, only to find out later that some sections of the lights don’t work! So it’s really important to check this before doing anything else with your tree.
The next step is to remove all the tags from the tree. And make sure to do this for every section.
Please don’t skip this step – get rid of ALL the tags! Don’t think the decorations will magically hide them because, trust me, they won’t!
If you leave the tags on, it will look messy and unappealing, like wearing clothes with the tags still hanging. Remember, a Christmas tree is a decoration, and tags have no place on it.
The only tags I keep are the ones with technical information about the lights, just in case there’s a problem later. But you can remove those and store them in a safe place for easy access when you need them.
Alright, now that you’ve done all the prep work, it’s time to start fluffing the tree.
So the next tip – which I believe is the most important one – is to fluff the tree section by section as you go.
Avoid assembling the whole tree at once, because fluffing by sections is much more effective and ensures you don’t miss any spots.
If you put the entire tree together first and only then start fluffing, it becomes awkward and uncomfortable, and you’ll likely overlook many spots, especially the branches near the trunk. But it’s essential to touch and fluff every single branch and tip to make your tree look truly beautiful.
Now, let me share some details on how to fluff each individual branch.
On each branch, besides the tips, you might notice smaller branches. So if your tree has them, take a moment to gently separate them.
For instance, my tree has two smaller branches at the end of each main one, so I make sure to find them and spread them out a bit to give them some space.
Start by fluffing the tips on the inside of the branches as much as you can. You don’t want the tree to look ’empty’ in the center.
It’s really noticeable when the outer branches are fluffy, but the inside looks hollow. So, focus on those inner tips and spread them in every direction – up, down, and sideways – to achieve that full and lush look from the inside out.
If your tree has very few or no inner tips, you can enhance its fullness by wrapping some inexpensive garland around the trunk. Just choose a garland that matches the color of your tree for a seamless look.
Source: Plain green Christmas garland
This simple addition can create the illusion of more branches and help fill in any gaps, making your tree appear more lush and full.
After fluffing the inner part of the tree, I move on to the middle and then the tips of each branch.
However, unlike the inner branches, the position of the ends really matters here. A common mistake is spreading them too far apart or lifting them up too much, which can create a starfish look.
Keep in mind that on a real branch, the tips don’t point out like that. They usually point straight, slightly to the side, and a little down.
So, try to give them a natural shape because we definitely don’t want any starfish vibes on our Christmas tree!
Don’t forget that you can rotate each section so the branches aren’t stacked directly on top of each other but arranged in a staggered pattern.
So take some time to adjust and twist each section to find the best look for your tree.
If you have a large tree, it’s much more convenient to fluff the top section before attaching it to the rest of the tree.
For really big trees – over 9 feet – you might even consider to pre-shape the top 2 or 3 sections before placing them on the tree. This makes the process a lot easier!
My tree is only 6.5 feet tall, so I fluff the top while it’s already on the tree just because I can easily reach it.
And after the tree is fully fluffed, I move it to its designated spot and put on the Christmas tree collar.
If you’re looking for the best twinkle lights, these two are my top picks!
SoftTwinkle offers the most beautiful, random, and truly soft twinkle effect – just the best on the market!
Lumineo lights are also excellent. While the twinkle isn’t as soft as SoftTwinkle, it’s still very pleasing, and you get a lot of lights on one string.
Both are stunning options!
Here’s an old proven trick I always use to check my work, whether it’s fluffing, decorating or anything else – I take a photo or video.
Sometimes your eyes can miss something, but a quick photo will instantly show all the flaws and gaps. So, in the end, I give it a few touch-ups and fluff-ups for that perfect look.
If you’re in the market for a beautiful green tree, these two are my absolute favorites for quality and price! Both have a full, lush, very realistic look and stand out for their incredible quality at such a great price.
I highly recommend both!
Fluffing your Christmas tree is an essential step, so by following these tips, you can make sure your tree looks full, lush, and ready for decorations!
I’d love to hear about your tree fluffing experiences! Share your tips or any questions in the comments below.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and the magic of a lovely tree🎄😘!
Ready to take your Christmas tree from “meh” to “magnificent”?
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I’m Oksana and I love paper flowers and all things paper. Here at FancyBloom I design new flower templates, make paper flower tutorials, and share my ideas and inspiration for fancy and modern craft.
