15 Chic and Surprising Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

From a denim-inspired palette to ornament-free elegance, get inspired by these fresh designer takes on the holidayPhoto: Brian BiederNothing says the holidays have arrived like a glowing pine strung with tinsel. If you’re looking for fresh inspiration, this collection of designer-approved Christmas tree decorating ideas has it all. From playful color palettes to chic lighting ideas and nostalgic personalization, designers are sharing their best tips for decorating full-sized, pencil, and even tabletop trees. Like a freshly pruned fir, their ideas are lush and abundant: oversized bows, classic red ornaments, blue Christmas trees, and velvet ribbon turned into handmade ornaments are just a few of their favorite festive touches. Whether you prefer a real tree, artificial Christmas tree, or even a flocked Christmas tree, lean minimalist or fully embrace maximalist holiday decor, we’ve rounded up our favorite Christmas decorating ideas to help you deck your halls in style.Photo: Chanel Sansregret of Studio Miles DesignPersonalize a tree with frame ornamentsTo personalize your tree, take inspiration from Chanel Sansregret of the Charleston-based Studio Miles Design who purchases frame ornaments with the year to fill with photos of her children every holiday season. “For me, there’s something especially moving about hanging those memories on the branches and seeing so many stages of their childhood together in one place,” she shares. “As a designer, I love a beautifully considered tree, but the sentimental details are what give it soul,” Sansregret states.Photo: Nathan Schroder PhotographyDecorate a pencil tree to add a festive touch to bedrooms“There’s something so special about turning a corner and finding another beautifully decorated tree,” says Emily Hewett of A Well Dressed Home based in Dallas and Kansas City. In her son’s bedroom, she opted for a slender pencil tree given the room’s space constraints. “My son’s tree sits directly in front of his bedroom window, which faces the street; one of my favorite details is seeing it all lit up from the front of our home at night,” Hewett says. A pencil tree has a small footprint, yet Hewett notes it brings a little extra Christmas magic to both the inside and outside of the home.Take inspiration from the room’s design elementsTo make a Christmas tree feel like an integral part of a room, take design cues from the room itself. Here, Hewett adorned her tree with a collection of glass bauble Christmas ornaments that she’s curated over the years. “The color palette features varying shades of blue, green, and pink, along with clear iridescent ornaments that almost resemble delicate bath bubbles,” she says. The Christmas theme was inspired by her living room palette. “Every color was intentionally pulled from the wallpapers and fabrics in my living room, creating a Christmas tree that feels like a natural extension of the space,” Hewett says.Photo: Park & OakUse lots of lights to make a Christmas tree pop against dark wallsWhen decorating your Christmas tree in a room with dark walls, Renee DiSanto of the Chicago area–based Park & Oak recommends using lots of twinkle lights and weaving them into the tree in a zigzag pattern. “I tend to opt for a warm white light rather than a cool blue tone for a more cozy, inviting look,” she shares. Here, the designer used bright colored decorations, a bead garland, a simple tree skirt—and plenty of twinkle lights. “A well-lit tree will always pop against dark walls,” DiSanto says.Photo: Alison GooteeUse oversized bows for a dramatic effect“Bows are such a classic, but including them on a tree in a dramatic scale is what makes something traditional feel unexpected and even a bit whimsical,” says Amy Studebaker of Amy Studebaker Design. She approaches Christmas tree decorating the same way she approaches designing a home: ”With a fresh take on traditional, layers and layers of charm, and a little sprinkle of the unexpected.” For a fun and festive look, replace a traditional tree topper with a large bow and adorn branches with smaller, coordinating bows.Photo: Madeline HarperLean into unexpected yet sophisticated brownsBrown has become the neutral this season, adding cozy sophistication to interiors and now, to holiday decor. Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective loves the color for its warmth and versatility, and used it as the primary color on this tree. “I layered matte and metallic brown ornaments with neutrals—think muddy hues of bone, chocolate, and champagne—to create depth and avoid a flat look,” Casey shares. While the metallics catch light, the browns ground the palette, resulting in a tree that Casey says is both elevated and inviting.Photo: Madeline HarperAdd charm with whimsical Christmas ornamentsTo add charm and a touch of whimsy to a Christmas tree, Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective looks for ornaments that feel collected and tell a story, whether they’re vintage finds, handmade pieces, or unique shapes. “In order to make it feel cohesive, I recommend mixing textures and scales, like pairing glass baubles with fabric or wood. It brings a sense of personality and keeps the tree from feeling too uniform,” she shares. Casey also loves incorporating dynamic elements like ribbon or bells to add movement and playfulness.Photo: Brian BiederLet the Christmas tree echo the room’s color paletteFor her family study, Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design, knew a cozy tree would fit the bill. “The room's color palette is warm and cozy with a little bit of moodiness, and I wanted the tree to reflect that tone,” Griffin shares. It’s decorated with rustic wood ornaments, white twinkle lights, and shiny metallic baubles to add sparkle without introducing too much color. As for the wrapped gifts, Griffin says, “To coordinate with the space, I chose more masculine wrapping paper in earthy tones of green, brown, and umber.”Photo: Caroline SharpnackDecorate a tabletop tree with nostalgic ribbon and candlelightFor designer Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design, decorating a tabletop tree is all about restraint— focusing on texture, proportion, and light rather than excess. “I wanted this one to feel nostalgic but quietly elevated, so I kept to a simple palette of red velvet ribbon and candlelight,” Sullivan shares. The traditional Christmas ribbons add movement and a classic feel, while the candles create a soft, romantic glow. “The effect is warm and familiar—festive, but not fussy,” Sullivan concludes.Photo: Buff StricklandPair a white Christmas tree with soft pastelsInterior designer Bambi A’Lynn Bratton of Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design loves decorating a white Christmas tree with soft pastels. “My go-to ornaments are midcentury satin balls with bows and ribbons for softness, and Christopher Radko or German glass ornaments for sparkle,” she shares. The designer suggests tucking large glass ornaments into the branches to add depth and scattering matching ones throughout the tree to tie everything together.Photo: Mary Pat CollinsPut a modern spin on a classic Christmas color schemeThis beautiful tree designed by Kristen Bonney-James of KBJ Interiors puts an updated spin on classic red. “I wanted something richer, so I opted for a deep burgundy color story mixed with silver, gold, and white,” the designer says. When decorating with ribbons, she recommends letting ribbons cascade diagonally from top to bottom instead of tightly circling the tree. “This method creates movement and feels more elegant,” she says. Another pro tip? “Select a ribbon that is wrapped in wire so it keeps its shape.”Photo: Caitlin LeysAdd a pop of classic holiday red to a flocked Christmas treeNothing says Merry Christmas like classic red accents. To decorate this playroom for the holidays, Shelby Van Daley of Daley Home went with a festive “more is more” tree design. “We selected a flocked pine—a tree with an artificial snow dusting—that is very soft and added cream antique sleigh bells, three-inch gingham ribbon in red and white, mercury glass ornaments, and berries that are flocked,” Van Daley says. To emphasize the tree’s softness, she tucked in extra flocked stems and sprigs, using larger ornaments for the base layer, then added textured ornaments and decorative sprigs in a circular spiral down the tree.Photo: Caitlin LeysIncorporate pale denim blues for softnessVan Daley also loves incorporating blues during the holidays. “Using blue on a Christmas tree is a wonderful way to add a visually appealing twist to your holiday decor,” she shares. Here, a denim blue-toned Christmas tree skirt and ribbon echo the furnishings and textiles in the room. “I love how the pale blues and greens make for a soft and inviting tree design,” Van Daley says.Photo: Caroline SharpnackSkip the ornamentsIf you’re looking for Christmas tree decorating ideas where atmosphere rather than adornment is the goal, Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design suggests using lights only. “A tree dressed solely in lights feels architectural—it celebrates shape and proportion instead of decoration,” Sullivan explains. When skipping ornaments, the designer recommends doubling or even tripling the number of light strands. “The extra depth of lighting adds dimension and a quiet, glowing presence that feels both minimal and luxurious.”Frequently asked questionsWhat is the correct order to decorate a Christmas tree?The first thing in Griffin’s step-by-step approach is adding twinkle lights to the tree, then tucking in larger ornaments. “Next, I add the smaller decorative ornaments, and finally, I add the tinsel or bows on the edges of the tree limbs,” Griffin shares. Studebaker says you should have fun with decorating and not take the process too seriously; “It can still be sophisticated, but it should absolutely be a happy and playful process along the way,” the designer says.From super realistic to designs that spread unconventional holiday cheerWhat are the most popular Christmas tree decorations?Designers say German glass ornaments, Christopher Radko ornaments, cascading ribbon, festive bows, and warm white lights are among the most popular Christmas tree decorations. Metallic decorations, whether gold, silver, or copper, are another favorite. “I love decorating with metallic ornaments because they reflect the light so beautifully,” Bonney-James shares.What is a timeless Christmas theme?For Bonney-James, a timeless Christmas theme includes a fresh tree. “I’ll trade messy needles for an aromatic, nostalgic experience any day,” she says. Another must-have are warm white lights, which is why she recommends checking the temperature of LED lights to make sure they don’t appear blue. The addition of silver, gold, and white decorations completes the timeless look and adds festive shine.