Who doesn’t love decorating a Christmas tree? It’s a fun festive activity that will really get you in the mood for the holidays.
You can give your tree a colour scheme to tie in with the rest of your decorations or simply make it a wild collection of all of your favourite family ornaments.
Decorating the tree is a great seasonal activity that the whole family can get involved with, and it’ll help to build excitement and anticipation for the big day.
Not sure where to begin? We’ve found a whole host of Christmas tree ideas to make your spruce look extra special this December.
If you don't have much room for a full-sized Christmas tree in your home, check out our DIY Christmas tree alternatives.
50 best Christmas tree decorating ideas
1. Pretty pink Christmas tree
With the popularity of the Barbie movie in 2023, it’s perhaps unsurprising to find that we’ve fallen in love with all things pink!
Recreate the look by buying your own perfect pink tree and covering it in shimmering decorations, or simply choosing pink ornaments for a traditional green tree.
Buy the artificial pink Christmas tree from Wayfair
2. Frosty white Christmas tree
Create a winter wonderland by turning your entire tree white – including the decorations!
This Christmas tree theme is ideal for minimalist homes and looks pristine. It’s an elegant style that’s guaranteed to impress your visitors.
3. Warm metallic Christmas
Combine copper, bronze and gold to give your tree a cosy glow. These warm metallic shades look luxurious and will make your Christmas tree shine bright.
4. Ocean colours Christmas tree
Cover your tree in blues and greens to achieve a beautiful marine vibe. If you’re feeling creative, try mixing the baubles to give your tree a stunning ombre effect.
5. Rainbow bright Christmas tree
If you’re looking for a burst of colour this winter, you’ll love this gorgeous rainbow Christmas tree from inspiredbycharm.com.
Achieving this look will take time and planning, but it’s well worth the effort.
6. Fabulous floral Christmas tree
Looking for more unusual Christmas tree ideas? We love this fantastic floral Christmas tree from abeautifulmess.com.
It’s recommended to use fake flowers for this Christmas tree theme as real ones are unlikely to last throughout the holidays. You can pack them away and reuse them next year.
Make your own Christmas tree topper
Shine bright this December by making your own DIY tree topper using wire!
7. Emerald Christmas tree
This magical Christmas tree idea wouldn’t look out of place in the Emerald City! Find out how to make your own Wizard of Oz-inspired emerald Christmas tree with inspiredbycharm.com.
8. Christmas tree train
All aboard the Santa Express! Give your Christmas tree some extra charm this festive season by setting up your own circular train track.
Head over to abeautifulmess.com to find out how to customise your Christmas tree train.
9. Fragrant Christmas tree
Fill home with festive scents by decorating your tree with dried oranges and bundles of cinnamon sticks.
Make your own dried orange decorations with abeautifulmess.com.
10. Advent tree
This is more than just a Christmas tree – it’s an advent calendar too! You’ll love counting down to the big day with this clever Christmas tree theme.
Recreate the advent calendar Christmas tree with lovelyindeed.com.
11. Pom pom Christmas tree
Do you have some spare yarn lying around? Make this colourful pom pom Christmas tree from sugarandcloth.com.
It’s bright, beautiful and guaranteed to raise a smile. If you’d like to have a go at making your own pom pom tree, take a look at Gathered’s how to make pom poms guide.
12. Red and white Christmas tree
Red and white is a classic colour combo for your Christmas tree. Think candy canes, ribbons and glittering snowflakes!
Check out this wonderful red and white Christmas tree by inspiredbycharm to pick up some expert tips.
13. California dreaming Christmas tree
Looking for a more unusual Christmas tree theme? This Cali Christmas tree from sisoo.com will bring some sunshine into your home for the holidays.
14. Tinsel tree
Create a vintage vibe with this shimmering tinsel Christmas tree from lifelovelarson.com.
The silver tinsel strands look amazing when you turn on the fairy lights at night.
15. Seaside tree
If you’re dreaming of the seaside or you live in a coastal cottage, opt for a maritime theme with this inspiring coastal Christmas tree from marthastewart.com.
16. Inspired by nature
Natural decorations can give your Christmas tree a rustic and harmonious style. Cover your tree in pine cones and swathe it in handmade paper chains.
Look at this Christmas tree idea from inspiredbycharm.com to learn how to style your tree.
17. Festive flocking
Use the humble duster to give your Christmas tree a stylish makeover! Learn how to make a flocked Christmas tree and a matching garland with craftberrybush.com.
18. Soft pastel Christmas tree
Give your tree a touch of colour in an understated way by opting for pastel decorations in ice cream shades. You can even coordinate your wrapping paper to match.
19. Simple ribbons
Christmas trees don’t necessarily need elaborate decorations, sometimes simplicity is best. Ribbons are a great alternative to tinsel and give your tree a professional finish.
Learn how to put ribbon on a Christmas tree with blesserhouse.com.
20. Gingerbread Christmas tree
These tasty Christmas tree decorations look good enough to eat! While you can make homemade gingerbread decorations, these will only stay fresh for a few days if you hang them on your tree.
The good news is that you can buy decorations that look just like the real thing or fashion your own using air dry clay.
Discover how to style a gingerbread Christmas tree with inspiredbycharm.com.
21. Balloons
Make your Christmas tree really pop by covering it in multicoloured balloons. Imitate this fun balloon Christmas tree idea from thehousethatlarsbuilt.com to brighten your living room this December.
22. Winter woodland Christmas tree
The woodland theme has been surging in popularity in recent years and it’s easy to see why. There are plenty of quirky decorations available to give your tree a forest-inspired look.
Find woodland Christmas tree decorating ideas with partieswithacause.com.
23. Yarn Christmas tree
Children will adore this incredible yarn Christmas tree idea from marthastewart.com.
Decorate your tree with tassels and pom poms, then drape it with chunky yarn to create a garland effect. It’s cute and colourful!
24. Silver and gold Christmas tree
Give your Christmas tree a glitzy look with this silver and gold theme from apumpkinandaprincess.com.
Indulge your inner magpie and cover your tree with pretty shiny things.
25. Nutcracker Christmas tree idea
This old-fashioned Nutcracker Christmas tree by marthastewart.com is inspired by the famous Tschaikovsky ballet.
This beautiful Christmas tree theme has been brought up to date with sweet colours and candy decorations.
26. Blue, green and gold Christmas tree
Bring a touch of luxury into your festive decor with this pretty blue, green and gold Christmas tree theme by lifebyleanna.com.
27. Floral fantasy Christmas tree
You can always count on Martha Stewart to come up with inventive ways to celebrate the holidays!
This floral fantasy Christmas tree is a real show-stopper and everyone will want their photos taken next to it.
28. Rustic glamour
Give your decorations a handmade look with this gorgeous rustic glamour Christmas tree idea from thediymommy.com.
Hand-painted baubles are teamed up with shop-bought ornaments, the tree is decorated with faux foliage and ribbons.
29. Paper snowflakes
Make memories with your kids by allowing them to create their own Christmas tree decorations this year.
Martha Stewart demonstrates how you can use simple paper snowflakes to make an elegant Christmas tree. This is a cheap and easy way to decorate your tree this December.
30. Kid’s Christmas tree
Christmas is a magical time for children and you can make it feel even more special with this Christmas tree idea for kids from lovelyindeed.com.
Keep it cute and colourful for kids and avoid adding too many fragile decorations.
31. Black and white coral tree
If you’re not a fan of traditional Christmas tree themes, mix it up with this black and white coral Christmas tree idea from persialou.com.
The contrasting black and white is really eye-catching and the absence of other colours makes the coral decorations stand out.
32. Christmas tree in a basket
Keep it simple this festive season with this elegant Christmas tree in a basket idea from themerrythought.com.
Buy a mini tree and place it in a woven basket, then add a sprinkle of fairy lights to make it sparkle.
33. Burlap ribbon Christmas tree
Ditch the tinsel and wrap your Christmas tree in lengths of burlap ribbon using this idea from itallstartedwithpaint.com. This is ideal for anyone who wants a more understated tree this festive season.
Complete the look with snowflakes, white baubles and snow-dusted pine cones.
34. Crochet Christmas tree
Crochet Christmas tree decorations are a great way to show off your crafting skills! This crochet Christmas tree theme from skiptomylou.org is bright, bold and beautiful.
As crochet Christmas ornaments are often very small, it’s a brilliant way to use up leftover scraps of yarn in your stash.
The best bit? You’re making decorations that can be reused every year and even passed on to your kids.
If you’re looking for festive yarn decorations to make, check out Gathered’s crochet Christmas decorations for everything from crochet snowflakes to amigurumi snowmen.
35. Lego tree
Delight the Lego fans in your household with this fun Lego-themed Christmas tree idea from happinessishomemade.net.
Kids will love making the paper chains with you too.
36. Vintage
Indulge in some festive nostalgia with this 1950s-inspired Christmas tree idea from clubcrafted.com.
You can sometimes pick up original vintage decorations online or in secondhand shops, but there are plenty of great imitations available to buy too.
37. Minimal Christmas tree
Team up wooden ball garlands and clay ornaments to create this minimal Christmas tree idea from themerrythought.com.
This is a great option if you want a more neutral colour scheme and you can have lots of fun making the decorations!
38. Grey, white and red Christmas tree theme
Grey and white can look cold by themselves, but the addition of red to this Christmas tree colour scheme from itallstartedwithpaint.com adds a touch of warmth.
This is a beautiful colour scheme that would really suit a house in the countryside.
39. Rainbow Christmas tree
This rainbow Christmas tree from lovelyindeed.com might be small, but it makes up for its size with bright and bold decorations!
If you’re looking for Christmas tree decorating ideas with real impact, you won’t go wrong with this maximalist approach.
40. Christmas tree branch
If you’re not a fan of Christmas tree needles dropping onto your carpet, keep it simple with this tree branch idea from themerrythought.com.
All you need is a tree branch and a few plain decorations to recreate this look. If you’re not able to find a branch, you can often buy decorative twig trees in craft stores.
41. Paper candles
The earliest Christmas trees were decorated with candles but obviously, these were a massive fire hazard!
If you’d like a traditional Christmas tree that won’t burn your house down, try this paper candle Christmas tree ornament idea from thehousethatlarsbuilt.com.
How to decorate your Christmas tree like a pro
Want to make your tree look truly spectacular this year? We asked the experts how to decorate a Christmas tree.
42. Noel Christmas tree
Celebrate the season in style with this Noel Christmas tree idea from craftaholicsanonymous.net.
It’s decked out in tartan ribbons, wooden decorations and letters spelling out the word “Noel”.
43. Countdown Christmas tree
Countdown to Christmas day with this clever Advent tree idea from tatertotsandjello.com. Use giant letters to show the number of days left to go and let the excitement build!
44. Blue and gold Christmas tree
Take your festive decorating to the next level with this luxurious blue and gold Christmas tree theme from jenwoodhouse.com.
While this theatrical design may take some time to put together, we think it’s worth it!
45. Golden bows
Make ribbons the star of the show with this impressive golden bows design from studiodiy.com.
It’s a great substitute for tinsel and the end result is very dramatic!
46. Colourful tree
Lift your spirits by imitating this colourful Christmas tree look from tatertotsandjello.com.
Forget less is more, don’t hold back when recreating this vibrant Christmas tree theme. We like the creative use of picture frames and chalkboards in this design. What would you put in your frames?
47. Candy canes
Christmas tree decorating ideas don’t come much sweeter than this candy cane theme from athoughtfulplaceblog.com.
Cover your tree in oversized candy canes, giant poinsettias, red and white baubles and little gingerbread men.
48. Forest-themed Christmas tree
This gorgeous forest-themed Christmas tree idea from liagriffith.com wouldn’t look out of place in a grand Scottish castle!
Lia has chosen a traditional red and gold theme with ornaments in neutral tones, all tied together with a wide ribbon garland. This tree would look so cosy and inviting in your home this Christmas.
49. Letters to Santa
This whimsical Letters to Santa Christmas tree idea from thecraftpatchblog.com combines handmade ornaments with shop-bought decorations.
They’ve provided a free download for the vintage airmail letters so you can copy the look of this tree at home.
50. Mid-century modern
Jazz up your home with this glistening mid-century Christmas tree decorating idea from awwsam.com.
It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits on dark December evenings!
Get in the festive spirit with our Christmas tree decorating ideas
Whether you choose to deck your tree with tinsel or stick to a more minimal look, there are so many Christmas tree decorating ideas to explore.
You can give your tree a theme so it matches your Christmas decor and tie everything together with a festive colour scheme.
However you choose to decorate your tree, you’ll definitely feel festive after making it look its best!
How to make a Christmas wreath
Welcome guests into your home by hanging a beautiful handmade wreath on your door.
Learn how to make a Christmas wreath with Gathered.
