These tips, culled over the decades, take the guesswork out of decorating your evergreen.
1. Start with the lights. Using lights with wire that blends in with the tree, string them around major branches, starting at the base of a branch and wrapping outward. Once you reach the tip, do the same thing as you work your way back in.
2. Add any garlands. Start at the top so the garland sits more naturally on branches, slowly increasing the slack between each circle as you work your way down.
3. Hang ornaments. Place your ornaments on the floor next to the tree, in organized groupings (type, color, shape). Distribute each category equally while working from the bottom to the top of the tree.