CHRISTMAS TREE TIPS FROM THE PROS

Few people feel like singing as they prepare to decorate the family Christmas tree.

Maybe they dislike putting the tree together, or perhaps they get dizzy as they put on the lights. For others, a lack of decorative flair makes them dislike the task because they know their tree won't look like the ones in the stores, even if they buy all the same ornamentation."We get a lot of questions on how to do it right," said Matt Seabaugh, seasonal department manager at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. "They ask a lot about how many strands of lights you can put together."The lights are a small detail in creating a Christmas tree that looks like the ones in the stores. The key to a good-looking Christmas tree is patience and a willingness to experiment, said Mary Keller, a designer at Silk Tree Factory. "It isn't very hard when you know how to do it," she said. "It takes a little extra time, but the effect is wonderful."Lowe's and Silk Tree Factory both held seminars after Christmas to give patrons tips to creating a store-worthy tree. Free advice is also available on everything from stringing lights to getting the tree topper to stay where it's supposed to.

Both stores suggest starting with the tree itself when trying to make it look like the professionals.

Limbs of a tree should have a downward sweep to make them look real. Modern, one-piece units automatically sweep downward due to the way they are stored. However, if you must attach the limbs of your tree, hold the branch near the trunk, grasp the branch about midway with the other hand, and bend down very gently."Think how a real one grows or looks," said Keller. "The shaping of a tree is what makes a decorator tree different than taking a tree out of a box and opening out branches."After the tree is shaped, lighting should be added. Seabaugh said most decorators recommend 100 lights per foot of tree. No more than three strands of lights should be linked together."They have fuses in the plugs, and it blows the fuse when too many are hooked up in a row," said Seabaugh.

Frank Trankle, area field supervisor for the Silk Tree Factory, said decorators generally wire a surge protector to the center of the tree trunk and plug in lights before adding them to the tree. Not only does this reduce the risk of blown fuses, it also helps to hide light cords, which improves the look of a Christmas tree.

Start on a bottom layer of branches at the trunk of the tree and lace lights in an over-and-under method to the tip of the branch and back before moving to the next branch. Continue lacing lights up the tree. If lights are left over at the top of the tree, run them down the trunk.

Never wind lights around the tree because they are hard to take off and don't give a good look, Trankle said."I used to hate putting a tree together because it made my back hurt and it never looked that great," said Trankle. "Lacing is easy and takes less time to take off than winding lights around the tree."Decorating the tree should be done in an orderly manner. After the lights are on, families should organize their ornaments by size and type. If ribbons are being used, they should go on after the lights. Play with ribbon bows and tails to create a special look."Don't let it just hang straight. Use at least two different sizes and varieties and give them some texture," said Trankle.

Next, take the decorations and place them on the tree, starting with the largest pieces. Don't give in to the temptation to "just hang everything on the tips," cautioned Trankle. Instead, work ornaments throughout the tree. Bend tree limbs slightly upward to support heavier ornaments, but leave the branches in a downward sweep."Placement sometimes is more important than how much is on the tree," he said. "Make a focal point with a bow or favorite ornament, then work everything else around that."The tree topper should be the last item placed on the tree. One decorator's trick to keeping that angel or bow in place bend the uppermost tree limbs upwards for support.

But what about when you don't have a showy ornament? What if your tree decorations are handmade by well-intentioned but not-very-artistic children and grandchildren.

Keller said what's on the tree doesn't matter as much as where it's placed on the tree. Homemade decorations should be treasured, she said, and won't necessarily keep a tree from looking like a professional decorator put it up."I've got one of those trees in my home," she said. "I've got a piece of ribbon I bought a long time ago that I really like, and I just put it on there to pull everything together, paper angels and all."