Here are some awesome decorating tips and tricks to make your Christmas tree look like it was done by a professional!  Best part?  This 10′ tree was decorated for less than $50!

How To Create A Designer Christmas Tree On A Budget Sawdust 2 Stitches Featured On Remodelaholic

See more budget friendly Christmas tree decor with our dollar store finds: classic red and gold, white and silver, gold and blue

Be sure to check out the YouTube video we made this year too!  And subscribe to our YouTube channel.

By Corey of Sawdust2stitches

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 1: Lights

I am  going to just assume most people already  have lights, and will not be including them in the  total cost.

There are many ways to put lights on your tree. This is  the method that works well for me.  I start  at the top and work my way down, see the picture below.

Money-Saving Tip: I cheat a little.  My  tree sits in a corner and I don’t  string the lights around the back of the tree, so I don’t waste any lights where no one will see them.

If this was in front of a window, or in anyway visible, I would use the lights on the back. But, it’s not!

Decorating Tip: Plug the lights in while you arrange them on the tree. It will help you see any gaps or crowded places.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

(Optional) How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 1.5. Let the kids “help”

(If you don’t have little helpers in your home, skip to step 2)

I let my kids decorate the tree with no input from me as long as they were careful with the items. After a few days they consented to let me “decorate the top half”…. Moving on with a win-win! How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

How to decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 2: Ribbon

If  I could get you to take away just ONE thing from this tutorial it would be: RIBBON! Seriously, ribbon is awesome! It  comes in countless colors and patterns!

 

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitchesMoney-Saving Tip: If you know where to look, ribbon can be CHEAP.  I purchased mine from Sam’s Club.  It was 5″wide x 25 yards for $6.98 and I only used 15 yards! Check your local dollar store, the craft store sales, etc.

The thing I want you to notice is HOW MUCH space the ribbon takes up!  The more space the ribbon takes up, the fewer ornaments you will need.

If you are aiming to spend less on your tree decorating, don’t skip the ribbon!  Cost of the Ribbon  (Approx.)   =$5.00

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Decorating Tip: Please, please, please, do not rest the ribbon on the branches, as in the top of the picture. If you have an artificial tree, bend the branch around the ribbon.

If you  have a real tree, use a metal ornament hook  (use it like a bread twisty-tie). Wrap it around the ribbon and then onto a branch.

This scrunching of the ribbon keeps it in place, adds variation and interest, and also keeps it from masking too much of the tree.

Attaching ribbon to the Christmas tree #sawdust2stitches #remodelaholic

How to decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 3: More Ribbon

Money-Saving Tip: Like I said above, ribbon will end up saving you money with how much space it takes up, so don’t hesitate to spend some money on it!

This striped ribbon was 3″ wide and  50 YARDS long, for only $6.98!  On this tree I used approximately 15 yards, leaving plenty left over for garlands, gifts, wreaths etc. Cost of the second ribbon (Approx.) = $2.00

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Decorating Tip: Pair a patterned ribbon with a solid ribbon.

Attach it to the branches the same as the solid-colored ribbon, running it in the blank spaces.

Don’t be afraid to let it cross over or under the solid ribbon.

Related Reading: Winter Tablescape on a Dollar Store Budget

4. How to decorate a Christmas tree, Step 4: Extra Large Decorations

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitchesMoney-Saving Tip: Start at the dollar store! All the ornaments you see here were purchased there.

The  snowflakes came in a pack of two and the bells were $1 each.   These are AWESOME because they add texture to the tree (we don’t want it to be all bulbs).

Cost of Extra Large Decorations = $9.00

Related Reading: More dollar store Christmas tree decor hacks

Decorating Tip: When placing these extra large ornaments on the tree, try to set them a little ways in to add dimension and depth.  I don’t really “hang” these on the tree, but arrange them on a branch or branches.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitchesMoney-Saving and Decorating Tip: Spray paint some of the decorations (like I did for the red snowflakes) to add some variation.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 5: Large Ornaments

Money-Saving Tip: At the Dollar Store, these large ornaments were $1 a piece, which is more expensive than buying the smaller ones in a 16 pack for $5, but like the ribbon, you’ll see it is worth it!

Take a look in the photo below. I added $10 worth of ornaments which filled a majority of the blank spaces! Cost of large ornaments: $10.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Decorating Tip: Dollar Store ornament color options can be very limited, so don’t forget that spray paint is your friend!   You can read all about how I painted these here. How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

How to decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 6: Spray  Snow

Spray snow is a temporary spray that has a little bit of texture.  I love how it  adds dimension and fills visual space without the cost of more ornaments.How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Money-Saving Tip: Use it in short bursts, and do NOT cover every inch of the tree.   Add  just enough to make it look like a frosted pine tree,  NOT a white fake tree. 🙂How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Decorating Tip: Add the snow at this step, instead of directly after the lights. That way it will stay, not get brushed off when you add the ribbon and ornaments.

Cost of the Spray Snow = $1.50

 

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How to decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 8: Small (Traditional-Sized) Ornaments = $2.00

I say “small” but I am really referencing  the traditional-sized bulb you can find at most any store.  I found these bulbs at the dollar store,  8 ornaments for $1.00!  Boom.  In the picture below I  used 2 packs.

Cost of Small Ornaments = 2.00

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

 

Decorating Tip: When decorating a tree,  I prefer traditional colors. If you prefer a more elegant look, try cream or gold. For rustic, try brown or deep red. Use the accent color to make your tree suit your style.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

How to decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 9: Pop Color

Most of my “pop color” ornaments are the dollar store ornaments  that I also used in steps 5 and 8.  The only  difference?  Spray paint!

That’s right!  This year I opted for a light turquoise/seafoam.  I love it.  I love that I don’t need to be married to a color,  because it is only a $3.79  can of spray  paint.

Money-Saving Tip: When next year comes around, easily change out your accent color using spray paint. For about $4.00 I can change the entire look of my tree every year.  I just keep  repainting  the previous years’ accent bulbs .

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches I also added basic clear ornaments with tinsel put inside.  (Another easy way to change the pop color from year to year.)  You can read all about it here. 

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

Pop Color cost = $13.50

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 10:  The Star

As is tradition, the star goes on last.  Mine is another dollar store purchase! I  used a $1  star, and a 2/$1  snowflake. $1.50?  I will take it!

Decorating Tip: To give it a little more impact, I layered the star and snowflake.

 How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, Step 10: A little extra….

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

I made these odd-looking guys for basically nothing!  They consist of dollar store ornaments  (small ones, in a 16 pack for $1.00!), white pony beads, a white metal coat hanger, hot glue, and a drill!

Extra something cost = $3.00How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches

GRAND TOTAL=

  • 5″ Ribbon                      $5.00
  • 3″ Ribbon                     $ 2.00
  • XL Decorations           $9.00
  • Large Ornaments        $10.00
  • Spray Snow                   $1.50
  • Small Ornaments        $ 2.00
  • Pop Color                     $13.50
  • Star                                  $ 1.50
  • Extra Something         $ 3.00      =$49.50  To decorate a 10′ tree!

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree (like a professional) @Remodelaholic #sawdust2stitches One of my favorite features of this tree ? This beauty is kid proof!   It’s all plastic, without looking “cheap”.

One other great selling point?  I can  literally  throw the ornaments in a bin! When packing up Christmas, it takes no time at all!  No more wrapping individual ornaments or  worrying over the glass ornaments breaking into a million sharp pieces!

 Happy  Holidays, and enjoy!

See more affordable Christmas ideas here, and see more Dollar Store Christmas Tree ideas:

Plus more Christmas tree decorating tips and themes:

 

How To Decorate A Christmas Tree Like A Professional Sawdust 2 Stitches Featured On Remodelaholic

Originally published 11.21.2014 // Updated 09.18.2020

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About Corey