OK, now it's getting closer to decision time. The Christmas tree will be going up in a few weeks, and the natural ones are going to fly out the lot. Now is the time for anyone that hasn't already decided on what kind of tree, and how to decorate it, to do so.
Natural trees are popular. They offer real scents, and they do not have to be stored. And they can be chipped for mulch. However, you do have bugs that could come out in the warmth of the living room. They also need water. They keep for 4 weeks or so before losing too many needles. They are messy. With C7 and larger bulbs, they can be a fire hazard. Setting up the lights can be more difficult. Natural trees will cost you from $20 and up; if you have them growing on your property, you can cut them down yourself.
Artificial trees have advantages. They are cleaner. You can keep them up all year long if you wish. They come in color schemes that are impossible with natural trees. You can set up the lights as you are assembling them, allowing you to light it from the center out. They cost from $40 and up for a decent one of reasonable size. Their faults are storage hassles and that they are made from plastic. Artificial scent is just not as good as the real thing.
Live trees are also an option. If you live in a suitable climate, a spruce in a large pot will do fine. You use it for one year and then set it outside. These need to be kept cool. They generally are not as messy as a cut tree but messier than an artificial one. Norfolk Island Pines are commonly used, too. This is not recommended unless you use LED lights, as the leaves are extremely sensitive to any heat. Like a natural cut tree, you cannot disassemble them for ease of setting lights in the center. These can be left up until the natural time for growth, at which point the decorations have to come off. Spruce trees must be kept as cold as long as possible, and should go outside after Christmas.
Once you have the tree selected, fitting is important. A cut tree can be reduced if too large. Artificial trees with spacers can have spacers added or removed. Live trees cannot be reduced without killing them. You obviously do not want a 9' tree in a 7' ceiling. The tree's width is also important because you do not want the tree in the way of other traffic. Some artificial trees come in narrow widths, half-trees, and even upside down. The real trees also come in narrow widths, and straggling branches can be trimmed if desired.
After securing the tree in the stand (natural trees will need water, artificial ones will not), now it's time to set up the lights. My favorite trick is to run lights along each branch as I assemble it. Starting at the base, secure the light to the first green and run it to the tip, secure it, and then back to the base. Then run along the next branch and repeat the process. You get a tree that is lit from the center out, and the lights will not impede placing ornaments on the tree later. Your choice of colors is up to you--some people prefer clear; others, all one color; still others, multicolor. I highly recommend LED lights because they save up to 90% of the energy used by standard minis and do not tend to blow. If you do it this way, prepare to use from 600 to as many as 4,000 lights (if you also run lights up and back on each green on the way back to the base). You will need to plan your wiring accordingly.
Once the lights are up, it's time to place ornaments. I generally start placing them in the center area of the tree and working out. This is a great way to use up those faded and otherwise crappy ornaments with minimal problems. Once you get near the surface, placing garland is next. You can place the top along with the lights if you wish to hide the cord inside the tree, or at any time if not using an electric top. It pays to have about twice as many standard ornaments, all the same size or about the same, as heirloom ornaments. Cherry bulbs also work, but if you use them alone, they will be well hidden in the tree.
There are many possible themes. Many people use reds and greens a lot. Some use red and silver. There are silver/gold, blue/white, gold/red, and blue/red color combinations. Some people use lots of spherical bulbs. Others use figurines. Santa ornaments, angels, cross ornaments, and jingle bells are popular. Snowflakes, icicles, and bells are popular. Using them alone or in combination with each other has its own effects. Other suggestions are fruits and pine cones. Some have the tradition of using a pickle ornament. There are also ornaments for just about every hobby, even Pokemon ornaments.
Whether you wish to have a tree with many colors or a few, is up to you. Some people think the perfect tree is one that is sparsely lit with about two dozen Santa Claus ornaments and a star on top. Someone else might think that is wimpy and load a tree with 4,000 lights and a billion ornaments of every style. A few points to keep in mind: Using tinsel garland (if you can find it) multiplies the lights by relfecting the light in thousands of different places. Loose tinsel can have the same effect if you are willing to put up with loose tinsel coming off the tree. There are bulbs that have glitter, which multiplies the points of light by reflection. Large ornaments will stand out, where small ones can act as space fillers. And, there is the safety issue--some of those lights can work loose, causing any metal that contacts the wires inside the light to become electrocution hazards. Glass bulbs should be placed where they cannot get knocked down or you will be replacing them plus cleaning up shards of glass.
And, the Number One Safety Rule when setting up a Christmas tree. Under no circumstances should you leave candles burning on a tree unattended. If you are going to use candles (and I do not recommend it), then you need to have it attended at all times. All it takes is for a candle's balance to change or for the flame to reach a leaf to start a fire in very short order. This is the main reason why they went to electric lighting for Christmas trees. I even recommend making sure not to leave electric lights on unattended, if only to save electricity and bulb life. For LEDs, it is less important for safety but still helpful to save electricity.
The most important factor is to have fun. Get the children involved. This is one "chore" that is actually fun. I remember when I was little, I looked forward to when the Christmas tree went up. Even small children can handle safety bulbs (that is, ones that cannot break when dropped). Those that are 8 and up can help rigging up the lights and putting breakable bulbs on, but should be supervised if they are going to put up the top. Teenagers can set up a Christmas tree unattended and unassisted (unless you desire to help, of course). And remember, it is YOUR Christmas tree. Whatever you think looks good on it is what belongs on it.