Did you know that Christmas trees have pagan roots? The Druids used evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life to spruce up their temples. Christmas trees as we know them today got their start in 16th century Germany. In the 18th century, immigrants brought this tradition over with them to America. When England’s Queen Victoria released a sketch of her family around a tree during the holidays, the tradition really took off.
Today, one of the joys of the holiday season is decorating a tree. Although it’s fun, it can also be stressful to try to come up with unique Christmas tree decoration ideas. Here are 10 suggestions to kickstart your imagination and open the idea floodgates. Your home will be the most creative on the block with these beautiful Christmas decorations.
Large Christmas Ornaments
Don’t be afraid to go big. It’s more than OK to embrace your inner maximalist. Use large Christmas ornaments in bright, bold colors. These hues don’t have to be the traditional red and green, either. Try purple, pink, or blue to really spruce things up.
Dried Fruit
Produce isn’t just for eating — it can be decorative as well. Lean into the flavors of the season with dried cranberries, oranges, and apples. Add some pinecones and popcorn garlands for extra flair. This will be a feast for the eyes.
More from CafeMom: How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Glass Christmas Trees
The big tree in the living room gets all the attention, but it doesn’t have to be the only one. You can practice evergreen ethical non-monogamy. Expand the number of trees in your home by adding some glass Christmas trees to your arsenal. These are cute and festive — and, as an added bonus, they don’t die before the season is over either.
Personalized Christmas Tree
This is the most unique Christmas tree decoration idea on this list because it is all centered around you and your family. Use your tree to celebrate life’s milestones! You can get personalized ornaments made by artisans with pictures of big life events like births, marriages, and firsts. You can add homemade ornaments as well. Use your tree as a journal to document all your family’s wins and keep adding to it each year.
Tinsel Time
Your Christmas tree doesn’t have to be real. It doesn’t even need to be green! Go retro with a tinsel tree. Your ornaments will be the pop of color. Continue the nontraditional theme by choosing colorful ornaments.
Cascading Ribbons
Who needs Christmas ornaments? Not you if you go for a cascading ribbon design instead. You will need new 2- to 3-inch-wide wired ribbon in the color of your choice. Cut it in 2 ½-foot strips. Start at the top and hook the end to a branch. Weave it down the tree, stopping halfway to pinch the ribbon in half and tuck it behind a branch. Continue your descent and secure it at the bottom. The result should look like a ribbon waterfall.
Rainbow Tree
Why choose just one color when you can use the whole rainbow? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple ornaments grouped together make a glorious multicolored display for the holidays. Perhaps you want to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community or you just love a bright palette. Either way, it’s a unique look.
Tiny Christmas Tree
You don’t have to go all Clark Griswold with your tree during the holidays. Tiny Christmas trees can be practical in small spaces — and they’re adorable. Don’t get us started on the cuteness of mini ornaments! Sometimes less is more, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put a tiny tree in every room in the house.
Lego Tree
Lego bricks are both a mom’s greatest tool and the bane of her existence — the colorful bricks are a great way to keep your kids occupied when you need to get something done uninterrupted, but nothing hurts more than stepping on a Lego with a bare foot.
If your family is Lego crazy, consider theming your tree around the iconic bricks. Craft small ornaments out of Lego bricks, then hot glue a hook to the top!
Christmas Cards Tree
Christmas cards are works of art and take a ton of time to design. It really is a shame that most of them end up in the trash (with a brief stop on the fridge or mantle). Put a stop to this madness by using them to decorate your tree! String brown twine around your tree and use clothespins to attach the seasons greetings as they come in. While you wait, you can fill the empty spaces with vintage cards purchased from antique stores or even last year’s cards (if you held onto them).
