How to Fluff Your Christmas Tree So It Looks Full and Gorgeous for the Holidays

Faux can be festive, with the right touch.

Hands adjusting branches on an artificial tree — Credit:
Pavel Matsepuro / Getty Images

If you've ever purchased an artificial tree only to wonder whether you accidentally bought the Charlie Brown version, then these tips are for you. Artificial Christmas trees don't come right out of the box ready for trimming. Most of them need to be fluffed to achieve the desired fullness. And, while it takes a little bit more effort than simply putting a few pieces together, the result is a tree that is beautifully realistic.

"Especially if you’re working with an older tree or one with fewer branches, a good fluff can take it from scrawny and sad to full and fabulous," says Tara Karolski, owner and event and holiday decor designer at Gather & Glow.

Want to give your faux tree a festive fluffing? Here's what she says you need to know.

Tara Karolski is the owner and event and holiday decor designer at Gather & Glow.

How to Fluff Your Artificial Christmas Tree

Ready to bring out the holiday spirit from your artificial Christmas tree? Here's exactly how Karolski recommends fluffing your tree before trimming it.

Put on Gloves

The tree may be artificial, but that doesn't mean it doesn't present the same poking risks as a real tree. To make sure you don't end up with hands that look like they've been subjected to a tough day in a rose garden, put on a pair of protective gloves. "Your hands will thank you, especially if your tree has those super realistic needles that poke like tiny daggers," Karolski says. "Long sleeves help too."

Go Section by Section

Fluffing an entire tree can be an intimidating prospect. Karolski suggests going section by section to ensure you cover every branch while also keeping track of what's already been covered. With each section, lift the larger branch, then spread out all the smaller branches and separate each one. The goal is to make the tree look as lush as possible. Karolski adds, "Build the tree from the bottom up."

Fluff Every Branch

When you're in a hurry to get to the fun part—the decorating—it's easy to speed through the fluffing process and assume that you can focus on the outer branches. But that won't give you the best look, and it's worth taking a little extra time to cover the entire tree. "Fluff every branch, even the tiny ones hiding in the middle," says Karolski.

Add Variation

Make sure you vary how you fluff each branch as you work your way through the tree. Just like in nature, you want the tree to have movement and variation from section to section. "Angle and bend the branches in different directions to create fullness," says Karolski.

How to Add Fullness to Your Tree After Fluffing

If you've fluffed and fluffed, and you still feel like your tree could use a little bit more oomph to get it ready for a holly jolly holiday season, then it's time to grab the reinforcements. Karolski suggests turning to other greenery to fill in the gaps and give the tree a fuller look.

"If your tree still looks a bit scrawny, work in extra garland or add in picks and stems for dimension," says Karolski, who typically opts for affordable garland and blends it in towards the middle of the tree where it will add fullness without drawing attention to the different greenery types.

She also suggests using contrasting greenery to help fill the tree out while also adding interest. "I love using faux eucalyptus and boxwood stems to give my tree fullness, texture, and a little extra pizzazz," says Karolski.

Love the snowy look of a flocked tree? There's one careful consideration to make when fluffing it, particularly if you're sensitive to dust and debris in the air. "If you have a flocked tree, wear eye protection and even a face mask. Those snowy bits love to travel straight into your eyelashes and lungs," Karolski says.

How to Store Your Artificial Christmas Tree

After all your hard work shaping and fluffing your tree into festive perfection, it can feel defeating to have to put it back into the box until next year, when you'll have to fluff all over again. Luckily, there are storage bags that will give your tree more breathing room. These soft-sided cases are the best way to avoid crushing the tree's branches and setting yourself up for a full fluffing the next year.

"In terms of storage, any bags that allow you to keep your tree upright work best to keep your tree as fluffy as possible," says Karolski.

Additionally, she explains that the type of tree can determine how it handles eleven months spent in storage each year. "Today’s fuller, rounded-branch trees are pretty low-maintenance, even after a year in storage. But those nostalgic green-needle trees will need a bit more fluffing to look their best," Karolski says.