Shaping Your Christmas Tree
It's easier than you think.
For some people, it is enough to buy a tree, put it up, and slap on the decorations. For others, it becomes a work of art. Be it an artificial tree this year or a fresh cut pine, shaping it correctly can turn an ordinary tree into a dazzling masterpiece offering warmth to the home.
Shaping artificial trees is generally much easier than natural trees since the branches are usually moldable. They often times have wires inside them making it possible to configure them precisely as is desired.
The first thing to keep in
mind when shaping artificial trees is that they need to have
an even feel to them. What this means is that there shouldn’t
be any holes or overly open spaces in the tree itself. Space all the
branches an equal distance from each other creating a full look. If there
are any branches that tend to stick out too far, they can be doubled
back or the ends can simply be turned up. Stand back and look at the
overall shape of the tree and adjust it until it looks good.
Shaping and adjusting natural trees has advantages over artificial trees, but has a few disadvantages as well. Although it is more difficult, natural trees can be filled in too by strategically placing ornaments on specific branches to weigh them down. If a branch has empty or open space below it, try placing heavier ornaments on it to drag it down a little. Using this method effectively can result in a great looking tree.
A huge advantage that natural trees have is that they can
be clipped. It is easy to dramatically adjust the shape of a natural
tree with the right pair of clippers. Trees can be clipped in a variety
of ways. Some people prefer their trees with concave edges and others
with convex. With a natural tree either goal can easily be achieved.
Before shaping a tree, it can be important to consider what
is going on top. Of course the most common object is a star,
but there are many other options such as angels or Santa
Clauses. What goes on the top of a Christmas tree can often
affect how it should be shaped. After taking all these things
into consideration, it’s time to trim! Oh, and don’t forget to make sure
there is enough space underneath for presents!