Yes, we know you can sense it too. Christmas carols playing on the radio, holiday smells wafting from kitchens, and the twinkle of Christmas lights that remind you of that artificial Christmas tree still cosy in its Christmas trees bag. It’s that time of year again, when Christmas trees need to be proudly displayed!

Now many people simply relish the thought of setting up their artificial Christmas trees, stringing it with twinkling lights, and plotting their Christmas theme. Others take one look at all the Christmas paraphernalia and see it as such a chore. Well, no fear! Simply follow these steps and tips for Christmas trees decorating and you’ll be sipping cocoa by your gorgeous tree in no time!

Step 1. Bring them out of storage. Take out your prelit artificial Christmas tree and all other Christmas decor. If your artificial Christmas tree and other Christmas decor were not stored in a dust-free bag, make sure to wipe them down with a damp cloth to minimize and sneezing and wheezing during the holidays.

Step 2. Check for parts. Check that you have all the sections of your artificial Christmas tree; it’s frustrating to have everything up only to find that there’s a chunk of tree missing. Now, before setting up your tree, check if the lights in all sections are working. Plugging the lights into a socket, one section at a time, makes it easier to detect any defective bulbs. If you find any broken, missing, or burnt bulbs, replace them before putting the tree together. If this is a new tree, remove any stickers or labels.

Step 3. Get ready to assemble! If everything checks out, attach the bottom section to the tree stand and proceed to assemble the entire tree. Fluff out the branches of the artificial Christmas tree, to make it look full and life-like.

Step 4. A blooming artificial Christmas tree. Leaving six or seven inches at the top of the tree for the topper, tuck a floral spray (poinsettias, leaves, sprigs of berries, etc) on the upper left side, beneath the area for the topper. Secure with twine or wire and tie the spray to the branches. Move down diagonally to the right side of the tree and insert another floral spray. Move down the tree in a zigzag pattern, attaching a cluster of floral sprays as you move down.

Step 5. String on the garlands. Now that you have your tree assembled, you’re ready to decorate! Since using prelit Christmas trees eliminates an hour or two spent stringing lights onto your artificial Christmas tree, you can now move on to decorating with garlands, beads, tinsel, and Christmas tree ornaments. If using garlands, beads and the like, work from the top of the tree down towards the base of the tree. Remember that the garlands are the background for your wonderful Christmas ornaments. So make sure to lay these garlands out in a neat manner and avoid bunching.

Step 6. The order of ornaments. Firstly, group your ornaments according to special ornaments and basic ornaments. You should hang the basic ornaments first. These are also called the filler ornaments and include your solid-colored balls. There should be 20 filler ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. After you have done this, hang your special ornaments (teddy bears, heirloom angels, etc) in between the “fillers”.

Don’t be afraid to hang your larger ornaments towards the top of the tree. While large ornaments are traditionally reserved for the middle or bottom, because of the more fragile nature of the top branches of live Christmas trees, using artificial Christmas trees offers sturdier top branches. This allows for more support for larger or heavier ornaments. The trick to avoid awkward looking large ornaments is to tuck these into the inner part of the tree. Hang the medium-sized and smaller ornaments next.

Remember to hang ornaments towards the inner part of the tree and at the tips of the branches to bring interest, depth, and texture to the artificial Christmas tree. Overall, plan to use your ornaments evenly throughout the tree.

Step 7. The finishing touch. The top of the tree is usually reserved for special ornaments. Attach your star, angel, or even an arrangement of bows, feathers and sprigs! This place of honor is yours to decorate so get as creative as you can or go all out with designer tree toppers.

Step 8. Sit, sip, enjoy. Now that you have your beautiful tree up, plug in the Christmas lights, dim the room, and sip a cup of well-deserved hot cocoa while admiring your artificial Christmas tree from your favorite chair. Have a beautifully decorated Christmas!