Christmas tree decorating is more than just a family tradition; to some, it's an art form. While it's true that anyone can decorate a Christmas tree, decorating one well does require some talent, forethought and planning, and a good eye for design. To decorate a holiday tree that really stands out from the crowd, there are a few things to keep in mind and a few important design principles to put to the task.

Theme:

First and foremost, a really well decorated Christmas tree usually has some type of central theme that ties the design together. For example, if you are someone who enjoys baking and cooking, why not decorate a small tree especially for your kitchen. Things like wooden spoons, cookie cutters, small spice jars, and recipe cards can make very charming ornaments, and most importantly, they all serve to anchor the tree to one specified decorating theme.

Color:

A well decorated holiday tree should not be a pandemonium of colors, but rather, should follow one specified color theme. If you aren't sure how to come up with a color scheme that works, a good place to start is with a color wheel and a basic book about color theory. Be sure to consider the color of your tree as part of your color scheme, too. For example, a white tree is a good backdrop for almost any color of decorations, whereas a green tree is slightly more limiting. If you are using a traditional green tree, be sure to begin your color scheme with green as the primary hue.

Quantity of Decorations:

Holiday trees that are really striking usually feature large numbers of ornaments. Trees that are sparsely decorated rarely attract much attention. So the general rule of thumb is, if you want your Christmas tree to be a real "show stopper," be very generous with the ornamentation.

Variety and Scale of Decorations:

Assuming that all the decorations you've chosen for your tree follow a central decorating theme and color scheme, variety of scale and type of very important. That is, don't go to the store, choose two or three varieties of ornaments, and simply buy 50 or 100 of each type. This tree will be decked out with a lot of ornaments, true; however, they will all be mostly the same thing, which is visually boring. Instead, try to choose a variety of different ornaments that all fall within your specified color scheme and theme. Be sure to consider the sale of decorations, too. It's easy to end up with a tree that features only 3 inch ornaments. Try to select a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Element of Uniqueness:

Last but not least, try to find at least one or two things about your tree that can be extremely unique or comment-worthy. These elements of interest can be almost anything; your imagination really is the limit. For example, one interesting finishing touch to your tree might be to add large feathers in your specified color scheme, sticking out from all different parts of the tree. This is not only visually interesting, but also a very unique touch. Whatever distinctive final touches you put on the tree, try to keep it honed within your decorating theme.