Whether you’re responsible for the presentation of a giant commercial Christmas tree or want to display a refined, branded, or themed tree within your business, organization, or community, getting it wrong can make a huge dent in the impact and festive atmosphere.
Professional decorators, event planners, and décor consultants can assist, from advising which Christmas tree is best for a commercial building to suggesting the size, shape, number, and placement of decorations that will achieve your desired aesthetic.
Today, we'll run through some of the top tips from our festive specialists at Jubilee Décor to ensure you avoid the common pitfalls.
Selecting a Commercial Christmas Tree
The first step is to consider the practicalities–you might choose from a sustainable, reusable panel-based tree, which can be repurposed yearly, or opt for a real tree. If you choose the latter, it is essential that you research trees with minimal drooping and needle loss to avoid the tree becoming worn and tired part-way through the festive season.
It’s also good practice to plan as far in advance as possible, considering:
How big is the Christmas tree you’d like, and how will you maneuver it to the intended display point?
How many decorations or lights will you require to fill the full surface of the tree, avoiding blank spots or areas without sufficient decoration?
How will the tree be lit and powered? Could you utilize solar lighting, for example, or will the tree be displayed in an internal space?
Planning is useful here because the larger your tree, the more time you’ll need to decorate before it can be unveiled or lit at a formal lighting ceremony.
Choosing the Right Decoration for a Public Christmas Tree
The next step is to assess the appearance and style of your tree. There are multiple solutions, from classic and traditional décor based on red and gold tones, themed styling such as trees decorated to match the colors of a flag, logo, or brand, or contemporary trees which are more uniform in color and often feature just one or two contrasting shades.
Ultra-modern decorations could be monotone, pure white, or based on black and gold for a high-end, luxurious ambiance, so there is no one-size-fits-all decorative scheme we would recommend for every tree.
Christmas Tree Decorative Ideas
Erecting LED lights in a pattern based on the shape of the Christmas tree and using reflective materials, mirroring, and string lights to accent the edges of the display can work very effectively, and you don’t necessarily need to use large volumes of general-sized decorations for a larger tree or display.
Garlands are classic and traditional but can be modernized with different textures and colors, such as berries, feathers, metallics, and ribbon–they also cover a far greater surface area of the tree than individual baubles and balls. Rustic-style trees can be decorated with wider ribbons and bows for a simple look, using the same color themes throughout–often red, green, and gold with wooden effect ornaments.
The trick is always to establish a theme or style before planning or purchasing decorations, ensuring all the colors, shapes, textures, and sizes conform to your intended finish. Many professional decorators create a color palette with their clients, using this as the basis for every decision to ensure the end look is polished.
Impacts of Professional Christmas Tree Lighting
Before you fit your lights and decorations, it may be useful to check that the tree is correctly erected and secure, with natural trees often needing a little trimming and ‘fluffing’ to place the branches in a uniform pattern.
The best technique is to begin stringing or assembling lights from the bottom of the tree, ensuring they circle the trunk or base of the tree and extend to the tips of each branch. High-quality lights, spotlights illuminating your tree at night, and color-changing lights create a sparkling, magical effect to ensure your Christmas display stands out and attracts attention.
Advancements in lighting make it far easier to generate impact and awe, particularly for larger and taller Christmas trees. While you can string miles of lights around a tree using scaffolding or a vehicle with a lifting arm, another solution is to use trees erected with panels, with lights pre-installed for convenience.
Pre-lit Christmas trees are more economical, require less time to assemble and decorate, and can be erected and lit within an hour or two–an ideal solution if you'd like a beautiful, festive Christmas display and have little time to spare!