A stylist with a huge online following thanks to her impeccably-designed home has shared her advice for picking a stylish Christmas tree this year – and what not to do.
Chantel Mila – who is the brains behind the viral Mama Mila TikTok account in Melbourne – said she is a fan of a traditional green and full tree as they are the most realistic.
But you should only choose two to three colours when you’re decorating, as otherwise it can look too cluttered and end up feeling tacky.
A stylist who has gained a following of more than one million people thanks to her impeccably-designed home has shared how to get a stylish Christmas tree this year (Chantel Mila pictured)
Chantel said her favourite type of Christmas tree is a traditional one that is green, full and perfectly fluffed (her tree pictured)
What to do
‘A great tree is one that complements your home and makes it look even more beautiful,’ Chantel told FEMAIL.
‘I love the look of traditional, green, full trees, but Alpine stick trees and flocked trees are trending a bit this year. They are a great way to bring a Scandi vibe to your festive styling.’
Mum-of-two Chantel is also a fan of a pre-lit Christmas tree, as it ‘takes the hard work and time out of detangling lights’.
Once you have assembled and ‘fluffed’ your tree to make it look fuller, Chantel said it’s important to think about the overall theme.
‘You can choose the traditional colours of red, gold and green, or opt for a more Scandi look of whites and neutrals,’ she said.
‘You can even go navy and purples for a more regal look, but as a rule of thumb I recommend a palette of two to three colours.’
She added: ‘You can then add interest through mixing in different shapes and textures.’
Chantel said even though many think tinsel is tacky, it doesn’t have to be.
One of her top tips is to mix through tinsel that is the same colour as your tree, as this will make it look fuller and more expensive.
She said you should always only choose a colour scheme of two or three colours as otherwise it looks tacky; she has white, neutrals and pale pink (pictured)
One of Chantel’s pet hates is when a tree looks too threadbare and the branches haven’t been fluffed when you get it out of the box (stock image)
What not to do
When it comes to the other side of what not to do, often people have many rules around exactly how a Christmas tree should look, and Chantel is no exception.
Her big no-no is artificial trees that don’t look lush because they haven’t been ‘fluffed’ when you get them out of the box.
‘When a tree is stored in its box all year, it’s packed tightly and the branches are squished,’ she said.
‘The trick is to fluff it properly to make it look as full and realistic as possible.’
To do this, the mum-of-two said you need to start from the bottom, fan each branch outwards and spread ‘the branches up and down to create fullness and cover any gaps’.
‘You may want to wear gloves while you’re doing this, as it can take a while, but it makes the biggest difference to the overall look and feel of your tree,’ Chantel said.
Elsewhere, the stylist advised against too many colours, particularly colours which clash with one another, and said you don’t want to leave any gaps.
‘I religiously go with two or three colours, and then cluster my baubles or add pinecones to my tree to help fill the gaps and give the tree a fuller look,’ she said.
Anything that looks too threadbare is likely to look cheap.
When it comes to decorations, the stylist recommends many different shapes and textures to add visual interest (pictured)
What Chantel’s tree looks like this year
Chantel said her own tree is something that always brings her joy.
Chantel said if there are any areas where your tree is less full, you should look to fill them with a cluster of decorations (pictured)
For 2022, she has a colour scheme of whites, neutrals and pale pinks.
‘I bring this colour scheme in through glass baubles and decorations in all different shapes and sizes,’ she said.
‘I mix ceramic, velvet, shimmer, clear textures and a variety of shapes to add interest to a neutral colour pallet.’
So that her children get to feel like they are involved, Chantel said she keeps a shelf nearby where their artwork and decorations can go.
‘I bought my tree from Balsam Hill, it’s the Balsam Fir Flip Tree, which has a really easy setup and is pre-lit,’ Chantel said.
‘For decorations, I love everything at Balsam Hill, but I also recommend Target. It has a gorgeous range of affordable Scandi options.’
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