You've set up your Christmas tree and gathered the family around, Clark Griswold-style. You plug in the lights and voilà! A second goes by before you hear a collective groan. Your tree is so gnarled and lopsided it looks like it's being slowly eaten away by moths. Half of the lights don't work, and the other half only flicker. In short, your Christmas tree doesn't look anything like the picture on the box.

Professional interior designers know setting up an artificial Christmas tree isn't as easy as it looks. They know just how to adjust, test, and tweak until a Christmas tree looks bright and full, virtually oozing holiday cheer. Fortunately, you can do the same. Use these 4 professional tips for a problem-free tree this year!

Tip #1: Set Up the Stand the Right Way

First, set up your tree stand. Though this may not require the touch of an interior designer, it is literally the foundation to everything that comes after.

For two-piece steel or plastic stands, simply slide the two pieces together and apply slight pressure to the center hub until it clicks. For one-piece fold-up stands, open the legs to their locking position and tighten the bottom thumbscrew to secure. If you have a one-piece stand, no assembly is required.

If your stand is wobbly or flimsy, throw it away and get a real Christmas tree stand made with sturdy materials, superior craftsmanship, and wheels to make the tree easier to move and store.