Putting up the Christmas tree is one of the best moments of the festive season. It’s when the house finally starts to feel like Christmas. Maybe it’s your first tree in a new home, or maybe you’re carrying on a family tradition that goes back years. Either way, a bit of planning goes a long way. At Stakelums Home & Hardware in Thurles, we help thousands of customers across Ireland get ready for Christmas every year, so we’ve put together our best advice in one guide. Inside, you’ll find how to decorate your tree step by step, how many lights and baubles you need, colour themes for 2026, and the safety tips worth knowing before you plug anything in. Everything you need is in our Christmas range, from artificial trees and lights to baubles, garlands and toppers.
The experts at Stakelums recommend decorating your Christmas tree in seven steps, from fluffing the branches and adding the lights to draping garland, hanging baubles largest to smallest, filling gaps with picks and personal decorations, placing the topper and finishing the base with a tree skirt, ring or basket.You’ll find everything for each step in the Stakelums Christmas range, with delivery across Ireland.
What You’ll Need to Decorate a Christmas Tree?
Gather everything before you begin so you’re not climbing up and down a stepladder looking for hooks. It also helps to unpack your decorations and test your lights a day or two beforehand, so you have time to replace anything broken or missing. Lay everything out by type, so it’s easy to grab the next thing as you go.
You’ll need:
- An artificial Christmas tree and a sturdy stand
- Tree lights (unless your tree is pre-lit)
- Garland or ribbon
- Baubles in two or three sizes, plus decoration hooks
- A tree topper
- A tree skirt, ring or basket for the base
Missing a few pieces, or starting from scratch? Our Christmas essentials collection brings trees, lights, garlands, stands and wrapping together in one place, so you can pick up everything in a single order.
What Size Christmas Tree Do I Need?
Choose a tree that’s at least 15–30cm shorter than your ceiling, to leave room for the stand and topper. Most Irish homes have ceilings of around 2.4m (8ft), so a 6–7ft tree is usually the best fit. Rooms with higher ceilings, or large hallways, can take an 8–9ft tree.
It’s worth measuring the width of your space too, because a full tree can take up more floor space than you’d expect. Our artificial Christmas trees range from 60cm tabletop sizes to 10ft statement firs, so there’s a fit for every room. If space is tight, a slim Christmas tree gives you all the height with a much smaller footprint.
Step by Step to Decorate the Christmas Tree
Step 1: Fluff and Shape the Branches
This is the step most people rush, and it makes the biggest difference. Start at the bottom and work up, one tier at a time. Separate each branch tip and bend them in slightly different directions to fill the gaps. Shape the inner branches near the trunk too, not just the outer tips.
A hinged tree like the Everlands Grandis Fir makes this step quicker, because the branches are already attached and simply fold down into place.
Step 2: Add Your Christmas Tree Lights
Lights always go on before decorations. Plug them in and test them first, so you can swap a faulty set before the baubles are on.
Start at the base and wrap the lights around the tree as you work your way up. Tuck some deep into the branches near the trunk, not just along the tips, so the tree glows from the inside out. Wondering how many you’ll need? Most people go for around 100 lights per foot of tree:
| Room | Ceiling height | Tree height | Lights needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment or small room | 2.1m (7ft) | 5–6ft | 500–600 |
| Standard living room | 2.4m (8ft) | 6–7ft | 600–700 |
| High-ceiling room | 2.7m (9ft) | 8ft | 800 |
| Large hallway or double-height space | 3m+ (10ft+) | 9–10ft | 900 -1,000 |
Not sure whether to choose warm white or multicoloured? Read our Christmas lights buying guide or skip this step entirely with a pre-lit tree.
Step 3: Drape Garland or Ribbon
Start at the top and drape garland in loose swags as you work down, rather than wrapping it tightly. For ribbon, try cascading lengths from top to bottom, or tuck short loops into the branches. Shop our wreaths and garlands and ribbons.
Step 4: Hang Baubles from Largest to Smallest
Space your biggest baubles evenly around the tree first. Then fill in with medium baubles, and finish with the smallest ones on the thinner branches near the top. Keep heavier baubles on the lower, sturdier branches.
For a fuller, more styled look, hang some baubles deep inside the tree as well as on the outer tips. Find baubles and bauble sets in our Christmas tree decorations range.
Step 5: Fill Gaps with Picks and Personal Decorations
Tuck in decorative picks, berry sprays or frosted stems to add texture. Then hang the pieces that mean the most: handmade decorations, keepsakes and family favourites. Repeat two or three key colours across the tree so everything feels connected.
Step 6: Add the Tree Topper
Stars and angels are timeless, while bows and floral toppers suit a more modern look. Choose one in proportion with your tree. A large tree can carry a statement piece, while a small topper can look lost. Browse our Christmas tree toppers.
Step 7: Finish the Base
Hide the stand with a tree skirt, a woven basket or a metal tree ring, like the Kaemingk antique gold tree ring. Then add wrapped presents underneath. See our tree stands and accessories.
Christmas Tree Decorating Themes for 2026
Choosing a theme is the easiest way to make your tree look styled rather than cluttered. Stick to two or three main colours, then repeat them across your baubles, ribbon and topper. Here are four looks we love this year.
Classic Red, Green & Gold
You can’t beat a traditional Christmas tree. Red and gold baubles against deep green branches, warm white lights and a tartan or velvet ribbon bring back that nostalgic feeling of Christmas at home. To keep it fresh rather than dated, mix glossy and matt finishes, and try a few oversized baubles. Finish with a gold star, and set a nativity scene nearby to complete the look.
Scandi Natural
For a calm, minimal tree, go for natural textures in a soft palette of white, cream and wood. Hang wooden decorations, felt shapes and pine cones, and keep the lights a simple warm white. Leaving a little space between decorations is part of the look, so less really is more here. This theme suits modern homes and pairs beautifully with a woven basket at the base.
Icy Silver & White
If you want something crisp and wintry, choose silver, white and clear glass baubles with cool white lights. A snowy Christmas tree does half the work for you. Add frosted picks, glittery snowflakes and a silver star, and the tree will catch the light from every angle. For a softer twist, add a few touches of blush pink or pale blue.
Rustic Woodland
Bring the outdoors in with copper, bronze and burnt orange baubles, berry sprays, faux foliage and hessian ribbon. This warm, earthy theme feels right at home beside a fireplace. Add floral picks and stems to fill the gaps, and finish the base with an antique gold tree ring.
Decorating Your First Christmas Tree in a New Home
Your first Christmas in a new home is a special one, but kitting out a tree and a whole house from scratch can feel like a lot.
Here’s how to get started without overspending:
- Measure before you buy,check your ceiling height and floor space so your first artificial Christmas tree fits the room properly.
- Choose a pre-lit tree, a pre-lit Christmas tree saves you buying lights separately and makes setup much easier every year.
- Start with one bauble set in two colours, a multipack of Christmas tree decorations gives you a coordinated look straight away, and you can add to it each Christmas.
- Buy the essentials first that’s a tree, lights, a tree stand or ring, a tree topper and a wreath for the front door. Leave the extras for later.
- Make the rest of the room feel festive, a few Christmas cushions and throws on the sofa, some candles and holders on the mantel and festive tableware for Christmas dinner will make your new home feel cosy around the tree.
- Start a tradition, add one special decoration every year, like a dated bauble or a keepsake from somewhere you’ve been over time, your tree tells your story.
You’ll find everything for your first tree in our Christmas essentials collection, and plenty of finishing touches in our Christmas homeware and home decor range.
Whether you’re decorating your first tree or giving a family favourite a fresh new look, you’ll find everything you need under one roof at Stakelums. Our Christmas range covers artificial and pre-lit Christmas trees, Christmas lights, baubles and tree decorations, garlands, toppers and festive homeware, from trusted brands like Everlands, Kaemingk and Noma.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What goes on a Christmas tree first, lights or decorations?
Lights always go on first, followed by garland or ribbon, then baubles and decorations. Adding lights after the decorations is awkward and can knock baubles off the branches.
2. How many lights do I need for a Christmas tree?
Allow around 100 lights per foot of tree height. A 6ft tree needs about 600 lights and a 7ft tree about 700. A pre-lit Christmas tree skips this step altogether.
3. How many baubles do I need for a Christmas tree?
Plan for roughly 10–15 baubles per foot of tree, in a mix of sizes. A 7ft tree needs around 70–100 baubles, depending on how full you like it to look.
4. When should you put up your Christmas tree in Ireland?
Many Irish households put up their tree on or around 8 December, the traditional start of the Christmas season in Ireland. More families now decorate from late November.
5. When should you take down your Christmas tree in Ireland?
Traditionally, Christmas trees in Ireland come down on or by 6 January, known as Little Christmas or Nollaig na mBan. Leaving it up later is said to bring bad luck.