Arguably, the most popular artificial tree is the Christmas tree. Although the artificial Christmas tree is not the only artificial tree on the market, it might be the oldest one. Dating back to the 19th century and invented in Germany, the artificial tree allows you to bring a little bit of the outdoors indoors without the fear of the tree dying. Artificial trees come with instructions but there are fine nuances to shaping an artificial tree that require practice and a decorative eye to accomplish. Even if the artificial tree you want to shape is not a Christmas tree, the basic principles of shaping are the same.
Install the bottom row of branches first. Installing and shaping one row at a time ensures that you do not miss any branches.
Pull each individual twig connected to the branches out away from the branch so that the twigs rest at a 45-degree angle to the branch. Keep the twigs level with the branch at this time; both the twigs and the branch should remain flat. Do this with each twig on each branch as you work your way around the tree on the first row.
Pull the first row of twigs closest to the trunk on one branch upward approximately 2 inches and the next row of twigs on the same branch downward 2 inches. Alternate this pattern until you reach the end of the branch.
Repeat with each additional branch on the first row. This adds fullness to the first row of branches and will fill in gaps between the first and second row.
Install each additional row of branch sets onto the trunk, repeating steps two through four for each.
Stand back from the tree and look for gaps between branches and branch rows.
Bend individual branches so that they fill in any gaps in the tree. When complete, your tree should mimic a real tree.