Christmas tree ideas to inspire your festive decorating scheme this year

Want your Christmas tree ideas to (ahem) sleigh this year? We're here to help you do just that and light up your festive decor, one pine needle at a time.

Sitting pretty at the centre of all a festive display it's always a good idea to choose a tree scheme that will help you up the ante over the holidays. To branch out (sorry) and try something new, to keep things feeling fresh and festive. 

So, once you've chosen the best artificial Christmas tree, it's time to plan your seasonal decor. We promise that it only takes a few on-trend styling twists to create something truly tree-mendous...

The best Christmas tree ideas

Whether you choose a real Christmas tree or an artificial tree, be sure to take care of how you decorate your Christmas tree.

Honestly, a unique Christmas tree is a perfect tree – and it's also the easiest way to spruce up your home for the big festive countdown, too.

1. Put a ribbon on it

If you want your Christmas tree ideas to blend nostalgia and modern-day glam, try adding ribbons and bows to yours.

'Set against a richly dark background, the simple pairing of multi-coloured bows with retro inspired lights reminds us of more nostalgic times,' says Emma McCappin at Cox & Cox. 

'Pleasingly, the colours of the tree bows match the colour of the lights perfectly in turquoise, marigold, fuschia and fresh green.'

2. Say yes to colour

If you think your Christmas tree ideas have to revolved around the traditional reds, greens and whites of the season, think again! Colour is having a moment this year, so you can dress your tree up in all your favourite hues.

'I’m dreaming of a multicoloured Christmas!' says Aisha Cluitt, content marketing manager at Hobbycraft.

'The rise of craft and interior styling over the last few years has seen the nation get more creative with their Christmas decor, and we expect to see UK streets bursting with colour, whether it be the traditional red, green, and gold or a mix of bright and bold.'

Aisha adds that 'anyone who finds themselves yearning for summer colours long after the return of fallen leaves and full-length sleeves' will find that 'adding pops of colour to your Christmas collection is the perfect way to give your seasonal style a contemporary twist whilst helping bring the room to life on those dark winter evenings'. 

'A fun alternative to the traditional colour palette, there are numerous ways you can celebrate a merry and bright Christmas, from colourful pom-pom wreath to yarn ball baubles.'

3. Don't be afraid to go small

Christmas tree ideas don't have to be big to make an impact: you can have just as much of an effect with a teeny tabletop tree, too.

'The Christmas tree is often the heart of the home over the festive period, but not everyone has the space for a big fir fixture,' says Helen Armitage, head of design at Laura Ashley. 

'Opting for a tabletop design or LED finish that is smaller in size, will still offer that Christmassy look and feel without taking up so much room. And remember that the trick is finding ways to bring in that feeling of nostalgia from Christmases in times gone by with a variety of festive furnishings.'

Helen adds that 'adding decorations and light to other surfaces within the home will create a feeling of warmth that’ll feel festive, and cosy in equal measure!'

Personally, we're big fans of the teeny Starry Night Tree from Bloom & Wild: it would be oh-so-easy to incorporate that rich gold and zodiac-inspired into the rest of your home.

4. Lean into the disco ball trend

The Christmas disco trend is a VBD this year, as you've likely gathered from all the mirror-ball baubles available to buy in shops. So, why not incorporate this glitzy look into your Christmas tree ideas, too?

'Disco has certainly had a resurgence this year and shoppers are finding creative ways to incorporate the glamorous trend into their Christmas decor, in fact we've seen a 13% increase in searches for disco ball items on Etsy,' says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy trend expert.

'We're loving the ingenuity we're seeing from Etsy sellers when it comes to this trend,' she adds, noting that you could jazz up your own festive aesthetic with a Silver Disco Ball Christmas Tree Topper.

5. Keep it simple for a Scandi scheme

Snowy-effect trees are a key Christmas tree trend, and little wonder. 'Whilst a white Christmas is a rare sight in the UK, it does not mean you can’t turn your home into a winter wonderland,' says Aisha.

'Decorating your interior with a snowy, all-white and frosty look can help you truly embrace the spirit of the season and adds to the festive feel throughout the holidays'

From baubles to garlands, opt for whites and creams to deck your tree with a soft colour palette from head to toe: it's ever so Scandi chic, and perfect for a pared back interior that celebrates the subtle beauty of natural materials, such as wood and wicker, and muted tones.

6. Dress the tree with flowers

A growing trend, seen more and more in recent years, is the use of fresh flowers in people's Christmas tree ideas. In this elegant dining room the homeowner has used cut hydrangea heads throughout the decorating scheme to introduce real foliage and a welcome burst of contrasting pink.

If using real flowers we recommend placing them round the front so they are easily accessible, cut the ends every few days and dip them in warm water to allow them to drink – before drying them and placing them back on the tree.

Go one step further still and incorporate the real flowers into mantelpiece garlands and Christmas table centrepiece ideas and flower arrangements.

7. Coordinate the colour scheme

Make your Christmas tree idea blend seamlessly into your living room colour scheme by coordinating colours throughout. From baubles in the same striking shade as the walls to ornaments in bright hues that match the accessories, in this case the teal silk lampshade!

A well colour coordinated tree colour scheme creates a beautifully cohesive look, that feels both sophisticated and well styled.

8. Go for traditional colours

Celebrate the classic Christmas decorating scheme of red and green, to give your tree traditional appeal. Country-style checks and tartans are a fun way to add colour and pattern to a tree. Add warm fairy lights to enhance the cosy, country appeal of this look.

9. Mix white and pastels for an ethereal look

Combining softs shades of white, pastel pink, mint green and matt silver helps to create a dreamy colour scheme that feels ethereal. Paired with frosted foliage and muted eucalyptus green this style of decorating is ideal for those who want a softer look for their seasonal decorations.

A muted colour scheme suits all living room looks too, either blending in with a neutral colour palette or standing out against darker on-trend paint shades.

10. Dress every branch with lights

When it comes to lights on a Christmas tree, there are a wealth of looks you can achieve – depending how many lights you choose, that is. 

For a more impactful approach to lights opt for a higher number of bulbs: look for at least 200 lights, depending on the height of your tree. Twist the lights around each prominent branch, covering entirely from the centre to the outer tip.

This idea makes more of the lights for decorating the tree, leaving a gentle smattering of baubles to add a decorative finishing touch but allowing the lights to 'shine' as the star of the tree decorations.

11. Play with scale to balance one style of bauble

Create a stylish decorating scheme using simple but thoughtful bauble placements. Choose one style, whichever suits your personal tastes, and play with scale to keep the decorating scheme feeling fun and playful. Dress the tree from top to bottom with one style of bauble in two different sizes, medium and large.

Ensure you distribute the different sizes evenly throughout the tree. Top tip: step back often, to get a better overall perspective as you decorate the tree.

12. Hang floral stems

Another way to add a bloom of magic to your Christmas tree ideas is to hang single stems for a big statement. 

As seen above, this homeowner has used slim vases to hang roses on the tree. Either tend to the stems each day to recut the ends and dip in hot water to give them a drink each day, or keep them around the front of the tree with very minimal water in the vase.

Take extreme care not to allow water anywhere near electrics.

13. Stick to a combination

Choose to keep your Christmas tree limited by mixing just two decorations, to create a captivating combo. This homeowner has decide on a solid block rose decoration in a blush pink paired with crystal-like crown ornaments.

Both decorations are generous in size but thanks to the understated materials and colours they don't overwhelm the tree.

14. Add warmth with metallics

Incorporating metallic decorations and warm fairy lights into your Christmas tree ideas will set the scene for cosy ambience. 

The tone of the lights is so hugely important when it comes to how the tree decorations looks. Cold white or blue lights will make the tree feel more contemporary and vibrant, while the more copper tones will emit a warmer glow – changing the look entirely.

Adding bronze, gold and rose gold metallic decorations goes a long way to enhance the warmth of the Christmas decorating scheme to make the room feel cosy and inviting.

15. Up the scale to make a style statement

Last year saw a real trend for BIG baubles, and the bigger the better. We therefore predict a trend for upscaling decorations this year.

This tree use the same red, classic bauble design in a gradient of size from top to bottom – creating a style statement without having to be OTT with trimmings and multiple colours.

16. Create a nostalgic look with heirloom baubles

Even a modern frosted Norwegian spruce can feel timelessly classic thanks to a collection of heirloom baubles. Choose an eclectic mix of glass ornaments to add character to your Christmas tree ideas, and plain coloured baubles to inject accent shades to invigorate the scheme.

Mixing styles help to give this look a more nostalgic feel, where new treasured baubles are added to become future heirlooms.

17. Think pink

Want to add a calming twist to your Christmas tree ideas? It seems pinks, peaches and plums aplenty are going to be the standout hues for the Christmas trees of 2023.

'Muted colour palettes will win over the more traditional Christmas hues of red, green and gold as people look for a calm colour story to end the year on,' says internationally renowned floral designer and Interflora consultant, Karen Barnes.

'Expect to see soft pinks, lilacs and peaches across the UK, with warmer accents of greens, chocolate browns, plums and purples.'

FAQs

Now that we've given you plenty of Christmas tree ideas to kick off all your festive designs with, it's time to get out there and make them your own.

All together now? O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches...