Setting up your new Christmas tree is the first step toward bringing your holiday vision to life. For a smooth setup, inspect your tree, assemble it, test the lights, shape the branches, then decorate. Checking everything before adding decorations helps you spot and address any issues early.
If your tree looks compressed or sparse straight out of the box, that’s normal. Branches are packed tightly for shipping, while product photos show fully shaped trees. Allow roughly 1 to 3 hours for first-time shaping, depending on your tree’s type, height, and shape. Shaping generally takes less time in later seasons.
What To Expect When You First Unbox Your Tree
Why the Branches Look Flat
Your tree is packed and shipped in compressed sections so it arrives safely. It's completely normal to see gaps and tips pressed together until you shape and fluff them.
Tip Variation Is Intentional
Branch tips are designed to differ in length and direction, which is part of what makes our artificial trees look like real evergreen.
Check Your Package Photo
Some trees have upswept tips and others have downswept tips. Use the photo on your packaging, in our catalog, or on our website as a guide when you shape.
How Long Will It Take?
- Shaping: One person can take roughly 1 to 3 hours the first time, depending on tree type, height, and shape. An extra pair of hands makes shaping and fluffing easier, so ask a friend or family member if you can.
- Assembly and light testing: There's no standard timeframe, as it depends on the type of mechanism of your Balsam Hill tree. For more information, refer to the setup guide for your specific tree.
What To Inspect After Delivery
Check the packaging and the tree for damage from shipping before you begin.
- Look for visible damage to the box, the sections, the stand, and the light bulbs.
- Photograph any concern and note your model name and order details. Having them ready makes contacting Customer Service faster.
- Confirm everything is in the box. Use the instructions included in your package as your checklist.
- Keep the box for now. Hold on to the packaging until you have confirmed your tree works as expected, just in case you need to send it back.
Before You Start
- Put on the fluffing gloves that came with your tree. Long sleeves help too, since the branches can scratch.
- Pick your spot. Choose a place near an outlet and away from heat sources such as vents and fireplaces.
- Protect the floor and plan for cleanup. Shed needles are normal during shaping. A surface that is easy to sweep makes cleanup quicker.
How To Set Up Your Christmas Tree
1. Choose Your Location and Secure the Stand
Unbox the tree base and move it to your display area.
2. Insert the Bottom Section
Set it into the stand and tighten the eyebolt if you have a non-Flip Tree. For Flip Trees®, flip the base toward you and secure it in place.
3. Add the Remaining Sections
Attach them in numbered order, working from the bottom up.
4. Check Stability
Make sure the tree stands straight and does not wobble before you go further.
Insider's Tip
For more details on your specific tree type, see our full artificial Christmas tree assembly instructions.
Testing Christmas Tree Lights
Before you add your decorations, test your Christmas tree lights to spot and address any dark sections while they’re easy to reach. Connections can loosen as you move and shape the branches, so check them as you go. Use the table below to guide your lighting checks.
| Light System | What To Check |
|---|---|
| Easy Plug® | Lights connect through the trunk and come on as sections go together. Make sure each section is properly connected. |
| Color+Clear® and select Flip Trees | Plug in the control box and check the remote batteries and settings. |
| Twinkly® | Use the Twinkly app to map and control the lights. |
| Foot pedal | Step on the pedal to switch the lights on and off. |
| Unlit trees with Simple String® | Outlets are built into the trunk so you can add your own lights. |
Also check any timer settings, remote batteries, and app controls that came with your model.
If a Strand or Section Stays Dark
Keep your replacement parts kit and a flat-head screwdriver nearby.
- Check that the strand is plugged in at both ends, to the pole and to the connecting strand.
- Make sure there aren't any wires pinched between branches or caught in a hinge.
- Look for loose, broken, or missing bulbs. Re-seat a loose bulb, or replace a damaged one using the bulb remover tool.
- If the bulbs are intact, replace the master bulb, which sits in a larger plastic casing.
- If it is still dark, swap the fuse in the male end of the plug. There are two: one active and one spare.
Insider's Tip
Still not working? Our pre-lit tree troubleshooting guide has more detail. If the problem continues, contact Customer Service. Have your model name, photos, and the faulty section ready.
How To Fluff Your Tree
Fluffing is what turns a compressed tree into a lovely full one. Shaping your artificial tree takes some time in the first year, but it gets easier in later seasons.
- Work one section at a time. Start from the bottom up. Finish each section before moving on.
- Shape tall top sections on the ground first. If your tree is taller than you, fluff the top section before attaching it. It's much easier than reaching overhead.
- Lift the inner branches. Raise them in an alternating pattern to hide the trunk and fill empty space.
- Spread the mid-branches. Near the ends you will find sturdier offshoots of different lengths. Fan them outward for fullness.
- Separate and angle the tips. Pull apart tips that are stuck together. The branches are sturdy, so you can do this firmly. Angle tips up or down to follow your package photo.
- Step back and check. Once every section is shaped, step back and look at the tree from a few angles, including the one you will see most. Look for gaps and uneven light. Take a photo with your smartphone so you can see thin spots more easily. Give those areas another pass, and use ornaments to cover any small gap that remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Properly Set Up an Artificial Christmas Tree?
Secure the stand, assemble the sections from the bottom up, and check that the tree is stable. Then, test the lights, shape each section from the bottom up, and check for gaps before you decorate.
How Long Does First-Time Christmas Tree Setup Take?
Shaping usually takes about 1 to 3 hours for the first setup, depending on your tree type, height, and shape. You also need to dedicate some time for assembly and light testing before decorating. Remember that your first-time setup takes the longest, but the setup takes less time in later years.
Do Pre-Fluffed Trees or Flip Trees Still Need Shaping?
Yes. Pre-fluffed trees need some branch adjustments after unpacking, while Flip Trees simplify assembly but still require fluffing and shaping. Spread and position the branches to achieve your tree's intended fullness before decorating.
What Should You Do if a Section of Lights Does Not Work?
Check the plugs at both ends, look for pinched wires, check the bulbs, then replace the master bulb and the fuse. If it is still dark, contact Customer Service with your model name and photos.
What Is the First Thing You Should Put on a Christmas Tree?
Lights go on first if you are adding your own. Then add garlands or ribbon, followed by ornaments and the topper. Pre-lit trees already have lights, so start with garlands or ribbon.
What Should You Avoid Doing Before Decorating?
Do not decorate before you finish shaping, skip the gap check, or leave lights untested. Fix any dark section first, since it is harder to reach once the tree is covered in ornaments.
What Is the Easiest Christmas Tree To Set Up?
A pre-lit artificial Christmas tree with built-in light connections and pre-shaped branches is one of the easiest options to set up. Balsam Hill Flip Trees also simplify assembly with a rolling stand and a base that flips into display position, though you'll still need to fluff and shape the branches before decorating.
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