Rustic Earth Tone Color Christmas Decorating Ideas

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree: 20 Inspiring Ideas

Dress (your Christmas tree) to impress.

While plenty of holiday enthusiasts have displayed perfectly decorated Christmas trees for weeks now, I'd like to believe there are also plenty of well-meaning holiday lovers who fall into my camp — that is the camp of slight procrastination. If you're with me, I have just the thing to get you started: inspiration. Scroll through 20 of our best Christmas tree decorating ideas, and you won't be able to put it off any longer. (Really, though, I'm buying my tree tonight!)

COLOR PALETTES TO TRY:

Your tree's color palette may be the most important decision you make, because it sets the tone for the design style and overall feel of the tree. Color combinations involving red, white, silver or gold typically feel more classic, while unexpected colors like teal or pink feel more contemporary. When selecting your color scheme, think about the decor that will surround the tree, and shoot for a cohesive look.

White + Silver

Multicolor

Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design

Black + White

Teal Ombre

Black, White + Red

Pink, Red, Silver + Gold

Benjamin Lowy, HGTV/Scripps Networks

Earth Tones

Rich Browns, Crisp Whites + Warm Metallics

INTERESTING MATERIALS TO TRY:

Classic ball ornaments and standard tree skirts are lovely — but it's also OK to think outside the box when dressing your tree. Fresh flowers create a feminine feel, and all-natural trimmings like orange slices will waft mouthwatering scents throughout your living space. Tinsel makes for major sparkle, and cutlery is adorable on a dining room tree. And why not secure your masterpiece in a vintage wagon so it can light up any room of your home on a moment's notice?

Fresh Flowers

All-Natural Trimmings

Tons of Tinsel

Cutlery

Vintage Wagon

GARLANDS TO TRY:

A gift's ribbons and bows are a Christmas tree's garlands. Without them, the final product is a little less spectacular. Don't worry, though — there are countless options for garland if you're not a fan of classic ribbon. Think yarn, jingle bells, twigs or beads. If you're feeling crafty, consider making the vintage garland advent calendar pictured below.

Vintage Garland Advent Calendar

Bunny Tail Yarn

Picasa, ten22 studio | Rennai Hoefer

Jingle Bell Rope

Flynnside Out Productions

Twigs

Beads

TOPPERS TO TRY:

While most designers agree a tree topper isn't a must, most homeowners like one anyway. Consider a monogram or a cluster of stars to switch things up this year.

Monogram

Photography by David A. Land; styling by Matthew Gleason

Clustered Stars

Flynnside Out Productions

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