Ribbon or Ornaments First on a Christmas Tree? It Depends
Wondering whether to put ribbon or ornaments first on a Christmas tree? The answer depends on one thing: how you’re using the ribbon.
If you’re weaving ribbon through the branches, cascading it down the tree, or wrapping it around the tree like garland, put the ribbon on before the ornaments. But if you’re making ribbon bows, I do the opposite. I add my ornaments first and my bows afterward.
That distinction matters because, even though both are made from ribbon, they do two completely different jobs on a Christmas tree.
Woven Ribbon Goes on the Christmas Tree Before the Ornaments
For years, one of the most popular ways to decorate a tree with ribbon has been to weave wide wired ribbon through the branches.
Sometimes it runs vertically from the top of the tree. Other times it moves diagonally or spirals loosely around the tree. You can also tuck smaller sections into the branches so they look like one continuous piece traveling through the tree.
When ribbon is used this way, I would absolutely put it on before the ornaments, because the ribbon needs room.
You’re pushing it deeper into the tree, pulling branches forward, creating folds, and adjusting until it looks natural. Doing all of that around hanging ornaments means constantly working around them. Worse, you could knock them off.
The same goes for traditional garland. If it needs to wrap around or weave through the tree, I want that structure in place before I hang a single ornament.
Once the ribbon or garland sits where I want it, I can decorate around it.
Ribbon Bows Are Different
This is where the question gets a little confusing.
When someone says “ribbon on a Christmas tree,” they may not mean yards of wired ribbon at all. They may mean bows.
Bows have become especially popular again. You’ll see tiny velvet bows scattered throughout a tree, as well as larger, softer bows with long tails that drape over the branches.
I don’t treat those bows like traditional tree ribbon. I treat them more like a finishing ornament.
Personally, I don’t usually weave wide ribbon through my trees. I’ve used garland before, and I’ve seen some beautiful ribbon trees, but it isn’t my normal method.
When I use bows as finishing accents, they go on after my ornaments.
Why I Put Ornaments on a Christmas Tree Before the Ribbon Bows
I like to build the main body of the tree first.
Once the tree is shaped and the lights are where I want them, I start with the ornaments. Larger ornaments go on first because they set the visual weight and color. Then I work in the medium and smaller ones.
I also place some ornaments deeper inside the branches instead of hanging everything from the tips. That gives the tree more depth and makes it feel fuller.
Only after most of the ornaments are up do I really know what the tree needs.
That’s when the bows come in.
A soft ribbon bow can:
- Fill an awkward opening
- Carry a color into an area that needs it
- Soften a section that feels too ornament-heavy
- Create movement between different areas of the tree
If I put all the bows on first, I’d be decorating my ornaments around the bows.
I’d rather do the opposite.
The ornaments establish the tree, and the bows finish it.
Soft, Floppy Bows Don’t Need to Look Perfect
One reason I love the softer bows we’re seeing now is that they don’t have to look structured.
This isn’t the perfectly symmetrical bow with several stiff loops that many of us grew up with.
The look we’re seeing now is much looser.
A simple bow tied from velvet or silk-look ribbon can have slightly uneven loops and long tails that fall naturally over the branches. That movement is part of what makes it pretty.
Some bows can be small and tucked farther into the tree. Others can have long tails that drape across several branches.
And because you add them near the end, you can step back and decide exactly where that softness is needed.
That’s much harder to do at the beginning.
What If Bows Are the Main Decoration?
There are a couple of exceptions.
If bows are replacing most of your ornaments, start with them earlier.
There are gorgeous trees now with dozens of bows and very few traditional ornaments. In that case, the bows aren’t the finishing layer anymore. They’re the main decoration.
I’d treat them the way I treat my larger ornaments: place the bows first, spread the color and scale around the tree, and then fill in with whatever else is left.
The same principle applies if you’re using one very large bow as a major focal point. Anything that takes up significant visual space should be considered before the smaller decorations go on.
In other words, the order should follow the role each piece is playing.
The Order I Use to Decorate a Christmas Tree
Here’s the order I follow when I decorate. For a full walkthrough, see my complete guide to the order to decorate a Christmas tree.
1. Shape and fluff the tree.
This always comes first. No amount of decorating can disguise a tree that hasn’t been shaped properly.
2. Add or adjust the lights.
Even if the tree is pre-lit, I turn everything on first so I can spot any dark areas.
3. Add garland or woven ribbon, if using it.
Anything that needs to travel through the branches goes on before the ornaments.
4. Add the larger ornaments.
These establish the main color and visual balance.
5. Add medium and smaller ornaments.
I use these to fill in and create depth.
6. Add ribbon bows.
Now I step back and decide where the tree needs more softness, color, or movement.
7. Add picks, sprays, and specialty pieces.
These fill any remaining holes and pull everything together.
8. Finish the topper and make final adjustments.
Then I walk away, come back, move three ornaments I suddenly dislike, and eventually decide the tree is finished.
Usually.
So, Ribbon or Ornaments First on a Christmas Tree?
If your ribbon is wrapped, tucked, or woven through the branches, put the ribbon on first.
If you’re using ribbon to make bows, you don’t need to follow that rule.
On my own trees, I put the ornaments on first and the bows afterward. That way I can see the whole composition before deciding where the bows belong, and they feel like an intentional finishing layer instead of something I have to decorate around.
There isn’t one correct answer for every tree.
The better question is: what job is the ribbon doing?
If it creates the structure, add it first.
If it finishes the tree, add it later.
Christmas Decorating Staples I Use Year After Year
This section contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
My Grand Duchess Christmas Tree
My Grand Duchess tree from Home Depot is one of the best Christmas purchases I’ve made. I’ve owned mine for four years, and I still love how full and elegant it looks.
Shop the Grand Duchess Christmas Tree 9ft
Shop the Grand Dutchess Christmas Tree 7.5ft
Classic Glass Ornaments
Clear and classic glass ornaments are a staple in my Christmas decorating. They’re versatile enough to work with nearly any color palette.
Shop Similar Mercury Glass Ornaments
Shop Similar Mercury Glass Ornaments
My Woven Christmas Tree Collar
I love the natural warmth and texture my woven collar adds beneath the tree.
Antiqued Brass Bells
These are among my favorite Christmas accents. Their aged finish works beautifully with my traditional decor.
Ribbon for Floppy Bows
Ribbon is one of the decorating materials I return to year after year because I can use it in so many ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you put ribbon on a Christmas tree before or after ornaments?
It depends on how you’re using it. Put woven or cascading ribbon on before the ornaments. Add ribbon bows after the ornaments as a finishing touch.
Do you put garland on a Christmas tree before ornaments?
Yes. Garland, like woven ribbon, needs to wrap or weave through the branches, so it goes on before the ornaments.
When do you add bows to a Christmas tree?
I add bows after most of the ornaments are in place, so I can see where the tree needs more color, softness, or movement. The exception is a tree where bows are the main decoration.
What goes on a Christmas tree first?
After shaping the tree, lights come first. Then add anything that creates structure, such as garland or woven ribbon, followed by ornaments and finishing pieces like ribbon bows.
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