There’s a week in our kind of Christmas decorating when the tree is lit, the skirt is spread out, and the only thing underneath is the extension cord. An oversized sleigh bell looks right at home there. Its curved metal sides catch the tree lights, and the star cutouts give you something to look at down among the lowest branches. Once the wrapped gifts arrive, the bell can scoot over and make room.
Start with the view from the couch
Measure from the floor to your lowest branch where you want the bell to sit. The three sizes are 11¼, 15¾ and 20 inches tall. Leave room to see the handle. That little loop is what makes the silhouette read as a sleigh bell from across the room. If your branches nearly brush the floor, bring the bell just beyond the skirt on the side you see from your favorite chair.
Choose the first bell to suit your tree
For a tree dressed in cranberry garland, wood ornaments or warm white lights, we’d start with the red jumbo star bell. It picks up even the smallest bit of red in the branches. If your tree skirt is red plaid, try the distressed white sleigh bell instead. Against the busy fabric you can see the outline of every star. The green jumbo sleigh bell is our pick for a flocked tree or a cream knit skirt, where its deep color has room to stand out.
Arrange a trio that looks collected
Try the largest bell just to one side of the trunk, a medium bell a little farther forward and the smallest turned slightly toward the room. Leave a hand’s width between the two front bells so their outlines stay distinct. With one of each color, we like white nearest the branches, red toward the front and green beside a parcel wrapped in plain brown paper. The distressed finishes and touches of gold tie the three together.
Make room on Christmas Eve
As presents fill the tree skirt, move one bell to the end of a low bench and leave another beside the gift basket. Keep your favorite under the tree. It’s the piece that will still be there on Christmas morning when the wrapping paper is gone. When you pack up, unscrew each bell at the center and wrap the halves separately to make storage easier.