5 Hacks To Make Decorating Your Christmas Tree Way Easier

Decorating your Christmas tree is one of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit. But with just a few wrong moves, things can quickly turn into a real nightmare before Christmas. Maybe you impulsively chose a tree that is more sparse than it looked outside. Or perhaps you were sloppy in packing up your string lights last year, only to find that they've exacted revenge by morphing into an impossible knot.

Whatever your Christmas tree conundrum may be, this handy cheat sheet will help you fix it. Whether your gorgeous evergreen is real or faux, our tips will ensure your tree-trimming is smooth sailing, with an end result that will even impress Santa.

Here's what to keep in mind this Christmas:

#1 Fill In The Gaps

No matter how perfect your tree looks as you're loading it onto your car, there are bound to be a few sparse patches that you'll only notice once you get home. The solution: a few pieces of dark green garland strategically placed in the gaps. Your tree will look extra lush and no one will ever know the difference.

Find gifts for everyone on your list on Patch's Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

#2 Keep Your Lights Organized

While it might be too late for this trick this year, you can prevent that horrible ball of tangled Christmas lights next holiday season with this simple hack. When you're packing your lights away at the end of the season, take a durable clothes hanger (like these ones) and slowly wrap your way around it until you've gone through the entire string. Be sure to tape down the ends so they can't unravel. Come next December, you'll be feeling as bright as your tree.

#3 Fake Yourself Out

Don't get us wrong — we love a real Christmas tree. But they also come with a unique set of challenges — the watering, the sap and those pesky loose pine needles, to name a few. One easy solution? Opt for a fake tree instead! Artificial Christmas trees have come a long way in the past few years, and now you can buy ones that fold up for easy storage, come pre-strung and are totally mess free. Here are a few of our favorites.

#4 Hook Your Garlands

Have you ever wondered why the Christmas trees in your favorite movies and store fronts have perfectly strung garlands while yours always end up looking like a loopy-doopy mess? Well, if you're using heavier garlands or ones that are beaded, they might be too heavy or slippery to stay properly on their branches. Instead of hanging them directly on the tree, try laying them on the floor and twisting a wire hook around it every 20 inches or so. Then, hang those hooks from the branches. Get the full tutorial here.

#5 Save The Aspirin For Yourself

You may have heard that adding an aspirin tablet to your Christmas tree will prolong its life, but this is not the case. Experts say that feeding your tree aspirin does nothing to keep it green (the same goes for alka-seltzer and sugary sodas). Plus, your pets can get sick if they drink from the water basin. So save that aspirin for the morning after your holiday party and keep your tree on a steady diet of H2O.

Also Watch: Most Creative Christmas Trees of 2017

All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change. Patch may earn a commission on some purchased items.

Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images