How to fluff the branches

The frame itself opens in one minute, tier by tier, no tools needed. But a freshly opened tree looks narrower and sparser than it should — the branches are pressed to the trunk from storage.

Fluffing is what makes the crown full. It takes 30–60 minutes depending on height. It is not assembly and it is not difficult — it is the step that separates the tree in the photo from the tree in the box.

What to prepare

• Clear space around the tree so you can walk all the way round it
• Cotton gloves: they make the branch wire easier to handle and your hands tire less
• A steady stepladder or chair for the upper tiers of a tall tree
• An unhurried hour: fluffing takes 30–60 minutes depending on the height

Step by step

• Open the tree fully and let it stand for half an hour — the branches will partly settle out on their own
• Start at the bottom: the lowest tier is the densest and sets the silhouette
• On each branch, spread the side tips in different directions — up, down, sideways — not in one plane
• Bring the tips outwards: they form the outer contour of the crown
• Step back a few paces and look for gaps — they only show from a distance

Step by step: one branch

• Take the branch near the trunk and angle it out from the centre
• Start with the sprigs closest to the trunk and work towards the tip
• Spread each sprig like a fan: the outer ones to the sides, the middle ones slightly up and down
• Lift the tip of the branch slightly — the crown then looks alive rather than drooping
• Go all the way round the tier before moving up to the next one

Fluffing the top

The upper tiers are short and have fewer branches, so that is where gaps are most often left. Fluff the top from a stepladder rather than on tiptoe from below: guide the tips slightly upwards so the silhouette narrows smoothly. Straighten the top branch vertically — that is where the star goes.

How to fluff the tree faster

• Unfold the tree the evening before — overnight the branches partly spread out by themselves
• Switch on bright, even light: gaps in the crown are easier to see
• Do not go back to finished tiers until the whole tree is done: judge the overall look at the end

Common mistakes

• Working from the top down: the upper tiers cover the lower ones and the work has to be redone
• Spreading all the sprigs in one plane — the crown comes out flat and see-through
• Fluffing only the front: the side and back branches are more visible than you think, especially in mirrors and windows
• Hanging decorations before the fluffing is done: they get in the way and pull the branches down
• Overloading a branch: it holds about 1 kg of decorations, and the heaviest ornaments are best hung closer to the trunk

What to do about gaps

Find the gap by looking at the tree from a few steps back, then spread the neighbouring sprigs towards each other — above and below the gap. A few branches around it are usually enough to close it without redoing the whole tier.

How to tell the tree is well fluffed

• The trunk cannot be seen from any side
• The silhouette narrows smoothly from the bottom tier to the top, with no steps
• The branch tips point outwards and slightly upwards
• The crown is even, without dark hollows or flat patches

When to add the lights

Lights go on after fluffing but before the ornaments. Run them from the trunk along a branch to the tip and back, tier by tier, from the bottom up. That way the wires hide in the crown and the light comes from within, not just around the outline.

Next year is quicker

Cast branches keep the shape you give them. Pack the tree away carefully and fluffing will take noticeably less time next season — the main work is done once.

Two people are more than twice as fast: one holds the tier, the other spreads the branches, and nobody has to keep walking round the tree.

Putting the tree away after the holidays

Take off the ornaments and lights, fold the tree tier by tier in reverse order and lay it in the box without squashing it. There is no need to flatten the branches back: cast needles remember the shape you gave them, and next season there will be less work.

Fluffing a small tree

A small tree is easier to fluff on a table: set it at eye level and turn it rather than walking round it. The order is the same — bottom to top, trunk to tip — but there is much less to do.

Can you fluff the tree straight after delivery?

Yes. If the box travelled or stood in the cold, let it warm up indoors first: warm branches bend more softly and are nicer to work with.

How long does it take to set up the tree?

Unfolding the frame takes about a minute. Fluffing the branches takes 30–60 minutes depending on the height. Lights and ornaments come separately, at your own pace.

Do you have to fluff the tree every year?

Yes, but less: cast branches remember their shape, so next season it is usually enough to touch up the tips and close any gaps left by storage.

Does a snow-covered tree need fluffing too?

Yes, the order is the same as for a green tree. Work calmly, without sharp movements — the branches settle more evenly that way.