Pre-Lit Christmas Trees

How a pre-lit Christmas tree works

The lights on a pre-lit tree are wired to the branches when it is made. Taller trees usually come in sections that slot together; on many designs the wiring connects as they do, while on others you join a plug between tiers, and the tree then switches on in one go.

Once the tree is standing, fluff out the branches before you switch on. Start with the bottom tier and work upwards, fanning the tips out and slightly up so they sit around the lights rather than over them. It takes a little patience, but it is the difference between a tree that looks lush and one that shows its centre pole.

What sets a fibre optic tree apart

A fibre optic Christmas tree lights in a different way. Instead of bulbs along the branches, it has a light source, usually in the base, that shines up through bundles of fine strands, so the glow shows as points of light at their tips: softer and more scattered than a string of bulbs, and lovely in a dim corner. A few of our trees work this way.

Spread the strands gently with your fingers so the points of light sit apart, and handle them lightly: the fibres are fine and can kink or snap if they are crushed.

Height, width and where it will stand

Begin at the ceiling: measure from floor to ceiling and take off the height of your topper, allowing a gap so it sits clear. Check the width of the spot too, as a tree is widest at its lowest branches and they need room to spread without brushing a sofa or a radiator.

Then pick a look. If you want a Christmas tree with lights threaded through the branches, choose a pre-lit tree; for a soft scatter of light points, a fibre optic one. Some of our trees are potted, standing in their own pot rather than on a folding stand; they sit well in a hallway, on a landing or at the foot of the stairs as a second Christmas tree.

Sockets, leads and switching off

Some of our trees plug in at the wall, so find your nearest socket before the tree goes up. Stand it where the lead reaches without stretching, and take the lead along the skirting board rather than across a doorway or under a rug. Keep plugs and adaptors dry and easy to reach.

Switch a plug-in tree off at the socket when you go to bed or go out, and before you adjust a branch. When it comes out of storage, look over the lead and plug before you switch on, and leave it unplugged if anything looks worn or damaged.

Dressing a tree that is already lit

With the lights in place, dressing the tree is the fun part. Hang heavier baubles close to the trunk, where the branches are sturdiest, and lighter ones towards the tips. Tuck a few baubles that reflect the light deep into the branches too, where they catch the glow from inside and give the tree depth.

Drape ribbon or garland loosely so it frames the lights rather than covering them, and add the topper last, choosing one light enough for the top branch to hold upright.

Taking down, dusting and packing away

Switch the tree off and disconnect it before you take it down. Fold the branches up towards the trunk gently, easing them around the lights rather than pulling on the wires, and lift the sections apart without twisting the plugs between them.

A few of our trees are made with PVC or metal, and a soft brush or a dry cloth lifts dust from either before the tree goes away. Keep water and spray cleaners clear of the lights and leads, and store the tree in its box or a tree bag somewhere dry, rather than in a loft that swings between hot and cold.