The Top Tip For Making Your Christmas Tree Look Vintage (Even Before The Decorations)

Oh, Christmas tree, now is the time of year when you become the centerpiece of homes all over the world. For some, nostalgic Christmas trends are back in style this year, which might mean taking a more vintage approach to decorating. You don't need to shell out a bunch of money for the perfect, truly vintage artificial Christmas tree to get the look, and it's not necessarily about the ornaments you choose, either, although they can help. Before you start putting on garland and decorations, or adding an angel or star to the top of the tree, you'll want to make sure your tree is up to the challenge of "looking" vintage. It's not difficult — it's all about the branches.

The key to a vintage-looking tree starts with sparse branches — we're not talking the Charlie Brown Christmas tree with its six or so branches and saggy demeanor that barely holds one ornament. We're thinking more like the image that comes to mind when you think of the old school aluminum trees that were filled with glorious gaps between the branches, which allowed for your ornaments to make more of a showing and gave an effect as though they were "dripping" from the tree rather than nestled between the thick branches.

Real or fake, you can get a vintage look with your tree by picking one with long, sparse branches. If you already have an artificial tree that has individual, removable branches, you can remove some of them to create more space on a bushy tree. If the branches are pre-attached, you might be able to pull them apart to make more space between them, but if not, you may need to invest in a new tree if this vintage style is what you're hoping to achieve.

What makes this style of tree appealing is the fact that you get a better view of the ornaments you hang on it. With the bare spaces, there's more room to drape tinsel (which is also an excellent addition for a nostalgic holiday vibe). There's also more room to get ornaments deeper into the tree if you have around 12 inches of space between branch layers. From baubles and balls to whimsical creatures, each branch can host a variety of decor, so you have more room for all of your favorite ornaments. No need to buy brand new Christmas decor, thrift some vintage finds to complete a sentimental trek down memory lane.