Expert designers reveal their secrets on tree trimming

Part of the joy of holiday decorating is admiring classic family ornaments and remembering Christmases past.

The problem is: How do you keep your tree — trimmed with cherished but faded ornaments — interesting every year?

Fear not.

You needn’t forsake treasured and eclectic heirlooms from your first Christmas together or your kid’s second-grade art project made with Cheerios and glitter.

We sought the sage advice of the Christmas-tree gurus at Joyworks in Snohomish, a 5,000-square-foot boutique where Jill Edwards and Jana Label have decorated about 20 stunning trees.

They’ve also been tree designers for the past decade along with their co-worker, Sandi Botting, at the Providence General Foundation’s Festival of Trees, which continues today and Saturday at Comcast Arena in Everett.

Every year they create a one-of-a-kind tree to be auctioned off, among others, for charity. This year their festival tree is based on bird motifs, including all sorts of winged wonders, plus holly, berries and gilded nests.

Take a look at their advice for dressing up a traditional tree.

Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@heraldnet.com

TREE DECORATING TIPS

FAKE IT

Plastic trees are much easier to manipulate than cut trees. They last longer. They’re practically indestructible, and their branches are easy to bend to your decorating will. If you have a heavy ornament or a piece that doesn’t want to stay in place, for example, you can bend branches to help support it.

LIGHTEN UP

If you want a brighter tree, simply double or triple the amount of lights you would usually use and wrap the strings around each branch instead of wrapping them around the entire tree. Better yet, buy a prelit tree, which should create the same effect.

ORDER

Put lights on first, then garlands, then ornaments, starting with large ornaments and finishing with the smallest to fill open spaces. If you have delicate garlands, you can put those on last to fill in any empty branches or holes.

FILLER

Take your tree to a new level by adding large collections of matching inexpensive ornaments. Shoot for a minimum of 20 filler ornaments per 2 feet of tree height. Choose something understated to play the supporting role of filler, such as matching balls, snowflakes or icicles.

WORK FROM INSIDE OUT

Don’t overlook the open spaces deep inside the tree. That’s an ideal spot to hang filler ornaments. You won’t be able to see them as well, but they will add glamour and, if they’re metallic, reflect light throughout the tree. “It gives you kind of a three-dimensional look,” said Jana Label, who works at Joyworks. “Put your cheap stuff on the inside.”

RIBBON

Mix up the look of your tree every year by adding a new ribbon as garland. Use the ribbon you used the previous year to wrap presents or cut it into pieces and make bows for the tree.

Bring in live holly, berries, and moss or dried flowers such as hydrangea to add botanical or harvest themes to your tree.

HANG TOUGH

Most ornaments come on long hooks or loops. Don’t let them dangle too much or you’ll make dead space: Simply hook the loop or hook over the branch, hold it in place and wrap the remaining length around the branch tip. It will be more secure as well as tidy and close to the branch.

SKIP THE SKIRT

You don’t have to use a tree skirt to tidy up the base of the tree. Substitute decorative boxes, buckets or other home accents for a contemporary, clean look.

TOP IT OFF

When choosing a tree topper, don’t be afraid to go big. “You can turn anything into a tree topper,” said Jill Edwards, who works at Joyworks, adding that their Festival of Trees tree will feature a large bird cage as a topper. You don’t have put such large toppers on the top tip. “It’s better to come down about a foot,” she said.

ACCESSORIZE

Don’t overlook decorative holiday accessories when choosing large ornaments. Festival trees over the years have featured all sorts of grandiose toppers and ornaments, including large toys, dolls, stuffed animals, snowmen, hats, shoes, ice skates, skis, garden tools and kitchen gadgets. Nestle large ornaments deep into the tree and use metallic floral wire to secure them.

BALANCE

If you decide to use large ornaments be sure to space them on alternating sides of the tree to keep the visual balance in check.

SPRAYS OF FOLIAGE

Faux leaves, berries and twigs add botanical touches to a traditional tree, thanks to easy-to-mold metal stems. “It really fills out the tree,” Label said. “We use a lot of sprays.” If you can only afford a few, cut them up into pieces with wire snips and wrap them around branches throughout the tree.

WORDS AND PICTURES

Signs have become a huge element of holiday decor. Add them to your tree for an instant message or incorporate framed photographs for a nostalgic effect.