Artificial Christmas trees are one of the greatest achievements of modern man. Stored in a box somewhere for most of the year, they come out as green and fresh as ever (with a little cleaning) without sticky sap, unwanted pests, or the need for regular watering. But an artificial tree can often look a little, well, fake. If you want your not-so-real tree to give the illusion that you went outside on a snowy night and chopped it down (or bought it in the parking lot of your local church), there are a few steps you’ll need to take.

The most impactful thing you can do with your fake tree is to fluff up those branches. After sitting in a box in your basement or attic for the better part of a year, it’s going to look pretty flat and mangled. Spend some time shaping the wire branches, either by gently bending them upward (to mimic a real tree seeking the sun) or by following the “two out, one up” method of alternating between branches to eliminate gaps. It’s best to work in sections from the bottom up and go for a subtle, soft look—no 90-degree angles.

If your tree still looks bare and Charlie Brown-ish after a good freshening up, fill in the gaps to hide the metal core. You can use different materials to give it a more realistic fullness:

Pine Wreath. Find a wreath that matches the needle style of your artificial tree. It doesn't have to be perfect, because you'll be tucking it into the empty spaces of your tree.