82 DIY Christmas Tree Ideas to Make the Holiday More Magical
Simple, elegant and unique Christmas tree decorations to fit any style in 2023.
You've found the perfect Christmas tree, whether real or faux, and now it's time to decorate. Gather your cherished homemade ornaments, gorgeous garlands and your favorite tree topper as you begin to brainstorm this year's creative Christmas tree theme. You may decide to go simple and choose a design that pairs perfectly with your modern home style, or you may be plotting a maximalist display that becomes a living room centerpiece. No matter where you land, we've rounded up beautiful Christmas tree ideas that will spread holiday cheer at home.
As you scroll, you'll find ways to decorate a Christmas tree for every style and space — including plenty of inspiration for your small Christmas trees (think: tabletop displays). We've included plenty of classic Christmas tree themes, like red and green, green and gold, white and silver or black and white — all paired with pretty, twinkling light. If you prefer a unique style, we've included less traditional ideas that your kids will adore — like a pink Christmas tree adorned with balloons and a white Christmas tree decorated with candy.
You'll also find a ton crafty ideas that include tinsel, ribbon and faux snow — turns out, not all Christmas trees need ornaments to appear well-decorated. Rest assured, these holiday decor ideas work well if you've got a real Christmas tree or you've purchased one of the best artificial trees (choose a realistic style, and no will know the difference).
Colorful Snowflake Christmas Tree
Pair large, white snowflake ornaments with glass baubles in varying shades of pink and turquoise. Top it off with a shimmery paper-maché star for a touch of glam.
Vertical Ribbons
For a unique look, swap traditional garland for vertical ribbons. If you're decorating an artificial tree, try plush throw blankets and pillows in place of a tree skirt.
Blue Ribbon Christmas Tree
Mimicking a waterfall, this cascading blue ribbon serves as the focal point of a classic Christmas tree. Use any color ribbon and if you recreate this look, feel free to skip the ornaments this year.
Glitz and Glam
This snow-covered Christmas tree is full of texture — from the frosted net ribbon to the combination of matte, glittery and shiny ornaments.
Tons of Tinsel
If you don't feel like unpacking your ornament collection this year, simply cover your Christmas tree in tinsel. Anastasia Casey of IDCO Studio uses warm white string lights to elevate the glow.
Balloon Christmas Tree
Kids will have a blast swapping traditional ornaments for small balloons — they can even help blow them up. Just note this look won't last all season and works better as a last-minute party trick.
Sophisticated and Neutral
You can't go wrong with an elegant gold and white display. Go for tiny warm white lights and layer in a ton of ornaments, using a mix of heirloom pieces and classic baubles.
Nutcracker Christmas Tree
Give your children a say in this year's Christmas tree theme by decorating it with their favorite holiday figure — namely, nutcrackers. For a bit more cheer, add in a rainbow garland.
Flocked Christmas Tree
If you've got an old artificial Christmas tree lying around, it's surprisingly simple to cover it in faux snow. Add finishing touches, AKA a few gold ornaments and a pretty star topper, to your snowy display.
Small and Simple
Real or faux, a tiny Christmas tree looks cozy and cute wrapped in a sheepskin throw and arranged in a wicker basket. No ornaments required for this minimalist look.
Classic Christmas Tree
From nostalgic ornaments to tinsel and a gold star topper, you can't go wrong with a traditional Christmas tree to fill your space with holiday cheer.
Inspired by Nature
Here, Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design packs in a ton of neutral, pinecone and plaid-inspired ornaments for an organic style. Then, adds a wicker tree collar and neutral ribbon garland.
Luxe Look
Create a grand holiday display with a tall, snow-covered Christmas tree decorated with warm white lights and adorned with elegant baubles. Let the assortment of small and large ornaments take center stage by skipping on a tree topper.
Less Is More
If you've taken the time to find the perfect Christmas tree, there's no need to cover every branch with decor. Let the natural beauty shine through by opting for a few vintage-inspired string lights and minimal ornaments.
Rustic Tree
All it takes to recreate this nature-inspired look are dried oranges, faux cranberries and pom-pom garland. Don't forget the straw basket, as opposed to a tree skirt.
RELATED: Rustic Christmas Decorations to Craft That Cozy Holiday Feel
Candy-Theme Tree
If you're feeling cheerful, go for a colorful candy theme. Start with a faux white Christmas tree and fill it with DIY candy cane ornaments, bright baubles and clear ornaments filled with small toys and candies. Complete the look with rainbow garland made of pom-poms and a straw tree topper.
Red and Green Plaid
Have some festive plaid ribbon left over from gift-wrapping? There's no reason why you shouldn't use it to bring some personality to your tree.
Cozy Lodge Tree
Fill your spruce tree with red and burgundy baubles, classic beaded garland and thick snowflake ribbon to give your home a cozy, warm feel.
Homemade Tree Collar
If you want to stick with ornaments that are a bit more traditional, why not get creative with your tree stand? You'll only need a few supplies to recreate this simple tree collar. Just use a cardboard box as a guide as you glue.
More is More
Put your love of maximalist decor on full display with a tree that's decked out in colorful ornaments, blue ribbons and loads of warm lights.
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