Clever decorating ideas for a showstopping Christmas tree

Here's how to add the right combination of holiday themes, one-of-a-kind ornaments and homemade crafts to turn an otherwise ordinary Christmas tree into a showstopper with heart.

Decorating a Christmas tree can be a lesson in the art of compromise as you pull out ornaments rife with sentimental value: On the one hand, thematic trees offer unique beauty but often leave out some of the most traditional family decorations. On the other hand, ancient ornaments with chips and dents rarely make the cut when decorating a stunning tree.

There are many popular themes to choose from when decorating your tree, including:

Blue and silver
All decorations and lights are white, silver or blue.

• You might include some crystal or glass ornaments to brighten up the display.

Tree of toys
A toy tree might include decorations in all colours, but each one should be a toy.

• Some toy soldiers, nutcrackers, rocking horses, teddy bears and other traditional Christmas toys make lovely ornaments.

White Christmas
Even though these kinds of Christmas trees are all in white, that doesn't mean there isn't any sparkle.

• Some silver or gold touches and shining, sparkling objects will add richness to this theme.

Candy pink
A candy pink tree might feature candy canes, pink kisses and tinsel that looks like cotton candy.

• This sweet display is perfect for girly-girls.

Family memories
For a picture-perfect theme, sepia-toned family photographs make an emotional and eye-catching display.

• This is one of the best ways to include family traditions in a thematic tree.
• When taking a trip down memory lane, pulling out the old family ornaments and looking through the attic is a must to help you develop this theme further.

Thematic Christmas trees are lovely, but you want to make sure they don't become too generic. Finding truly unique ornaments can be challenging, but they are a must when creating a tree that is completely unlike anything you've seen before.

• Online art stores are a great place to find artists' individual and limited-run ornaments.
• Select retailers often offer a range of hand-painted and limited-edition releases.

Shopping around for specific one-of-a-kind ornaments that you find meaningful will help to make your tree special.

Instead of searching for a niche ornament artist, you could try your hand at crafting your own decorations. Making your own ornaments adds a personal touch, but they don't have to make a tree look cheap.

• Crafting websites are full of projects that range from creating a miniature nativity scene in a clear glass bulb to baking the perfect cupcake ornament.
• These kinds of projects can add the finishing touch to a theme, while ensuring that your tree is the only one of its kind.
• DIY ornament projects are also a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your children and loved ones.

There are many tips for creating a unique Christmas tree, but the best carry a message of family, peace and love, regardless of their decorations. A theme might make choosing decorations easier, but it is not a necessity. Some of the most stunning holiday decorations are a thoughtful mix of generations of individually chosen ornaments. If you decorate with love, you can't go wrong.