Decorating the Christmas tree

• Colin and Justin's festive decorating tips
• Decorating the Christmas tree
• Spruce up your dining table

First of all, tackle the tree. As the centrepiece to most of the Christmas celebrations, it's important to dress it to suit its surroundings. Don't go overboard with tinsel and fairy-lights which cover every sprig of greenery – as the saying goes, less is more.

Colin and Justin suggest using colours that complement your existing scheme, so that rather than overpowering your living space, the tree enhances existing features.

They are also firm in their belief that, when decorating the tree, you should stick to two colours. Whether it's traditional red and gold, white and green, or a classic blue and silver, a simple colour scheme will always look more tasteful. Once you've picked your colours, use them for the rest of your decorative scheme for a truly tailored look.

Next, pay attention to the details of decorating: Lights should go on the tree first, then garlands and finally ornaments. This means that rather than looking like a messy tangle of wires and baubles, the tree will have a more complete, layered look.

Finally, to give your tree the appearance of depth, don't only hang baubles on the outer edges of the tree – place some further into the foliage for some soft sparkle.

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