99 Merry & Joyful Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas for 2024

If you're looking for Christmas tree decorating ideas that will help keep your spirits bright this holiday season, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up the best decorations for your Christmas tree, so there'll be something here that will fit your style, budget and decor preferences. 

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most cherished and traditional Christmas activities. Christmas trees themselves have been around for a long time, but they became most popular in England and spread around the world during the Victorian period. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert “made Christmas trees a prominent part of the holiday’s festivities, and in 1848 an illustration of the Royal Family around a decorated tree appeared in a London newspaper. Christmas trees soon became common in English homes.” Let’s explore some of the most unique and creative Christmas tree decorating ideas to help you get started enjoying the holiday season.

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• Traditional Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Elegant Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Simple Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Fun Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• DIY Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Unique Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Themed Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Out-The-Box Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

Traditional Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

With such a long-standing history and so much tradition wrapped around the decorating process, you might have some lingering questions. What is the secret to decorating a Christmas tree? How do you decorate a Christmas tree nicely? The good news is that there’s no wrong way to decorate your Christmas tree! In fact, there’s no better time to let your personal style and tastes shine than during the holiday season. Then check out our Christmas ornament storage ideas for when it's time to pack things up.

1. Include Heirloom Ornaments

For one of the most traditional Christmas tree decorating ideas, unbox your heirloom ornaments from the attic. Special objects or artwork that were made by children in your family or passed down from your parents or grandparents make for a special way to honor your family ties during the holidays. If you don't have any yet, why not try to create a few? This makes for great Christmas crafts for kids as you are creating something together for generations.

2. Try Tinsel

For a little sparkle on your traditional Christmas tree decorating ideas, add tinsel. You can buy tinsel in just about any color to match your color scheme. Go all out and cover the tree in the shiny strands, or use just a little bit for some extra brightness.

3. Drape Your Tree in Ribbons

Curling ribbons in luxurious swirls around your Christmas tree decorating ideas can be a great way to fill in any gaps between the ornaments. Save money and reuse the ribbon yearly, or buy a new spool that represents your current decor theme for the year. Do you put ribbons or ornaments first on a tree? It really is up to you! However, if you put the ribbons on first, you can more easily arrange them how you’d like and then fill in the tree with ornaments. 

4. Make Cranberry and Popcorn Garland

Cranberry and popcorn garlands may be old-fashioned, but they are some of the best DIY Christmas decorations. They also make a great activity for the kids. String popcorn and cranberries on thread and use to decorate your tree inside or put it outside for the birds. 

5. Include Candy Canes

For a simple and traditional addition to your tree, hang candy canes throughout the branches for a sweet surprise on Christmas morning.

6. Add Sparkling Snowflakes

If you want your traditional Christmas tree decorating ideas to have an elegant touch, add crystal or white glittery snowflakes to the branches. Be sure to hang near the lights on your tree so that they truly will sparkle.

7. Create Photo Ornaments

Ornaments featuring your family photos through the years are a great way to showcase your growing family or simply remember years past. You can order personalized ornaments, or create your own. Whichever you choose, DIY photo ornaments are also excellent Christmas gifts for mom.

8. Use a Traditional Topper

No tree is complete without something on the very top! Opt for the most traditional tree topper options, a star or an angel, to complete your classic Christmas tree decorating ideas.

9. Use Strings of Beads

Another way to add some traditional luxury to your Christmas tree decorating ideas is by using long strands of beads. Opt for silver or gold to match your ornaments, or even add a strand made to look like pearls.

10. Keep Things Red and Gold

Perhaps the most traditional color scheme for Christmas tree decorating ideas is red and gold. The dark green of your tree’s branches will make red and gold ornaments, tinsel and ribbon truly pop.

11. Add Dried Citrus Garland

Make an old-fashioned garland of thinly sliced citrus to adorn your tree this year. Slice oranges thinly and bake on a low heat until they are completely dried. Then use a needle and thread to join the slices into a beautiful garland.

12. Incorporate Plaid Elements

Nothing says Christmas tree decorating ideas quite like a beautiful red, white and green tartan. Use plaid elements like ribbon or ornaments to add some patterns into your Christmas decorating scheme.

13. Choose Twinkling Lights

Add some visual interest to your tree by opting for lights with variable settings that allow you to choose a twinkle option. Instead of steady light from the tree, you’ll have a tree that stands out and truly shines.

Elegant Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

14. Use a Monogrammed Tree Collar

Tree skirts are the most traditional Christmas tree decorating ideas, but a metal collar with your family’s monogram creates a more luxe look around the base of the tree.

15. Create a Monochrome Effect

For an elegant Christmas tree decorating idea, keep everything in one hue. Choose something traditional like red, or keep everything metallic with all gold or all silver elements.

16. Incorporate Flocked Tree Branches

One way to add dimension and make your tree seem more full is to add branches. Add even more variety with flocked branches to really fill out the shape and look of your Christmas tree decorating ideas.

17. Add Varied Lights

How do you make Christmas tree decorating ideas look luxurious? Adding strings of lights with different-sized bulbs, from tiny fairy lights to larger bulbs, adds visual interest to your tree, as well as a touch of elegance.

18. Include Floral Elements

Silk flowers make for beautiful Christmas tree decorations, and they can be used to fill the gaps between ornaments so that the entire tree looks full. Pick Christmas-inspired flowers like poinsettias and roses, or use flowers that match your theme and color scheme.

19. Use Magnolia Leaves

Adding different types of foliage into your tree can also make it look expensive and elegant. Magnolia branches are a perfect choice. Their dark green color goes well with Christmas decor items, but their wide, waxy leaves also provide a lovely contrast to the needles of the Christmas tree.

20. Nestle Pine Cones

Bring a woodsy element into your home by nestling pine cones back in branches of your tree. For an extra DIY step, use white glue and glitter to make them shine in the lights of your tree.

21. Have a White Christmas

Really embrace the traditional Christmas song “White Christmas” by using a snowy white tree, white ornaments and white garland and ribbons. This will be a cool and classic element to your Christmas decor.

22. Cover Your Tree in Crystal 

Instead of using brightly colored ornaments and baubles, cover your tree in crystal droplets of varying lengths and sizes. If you add enough, you’ll create a shimmering tree that you’ll want to repeat year after year.

23. Use a Faux Fur Tree Skirt

Add a touch of luxury at the base of your tree with a snowy white faux fir tree skirt. It will add some fullness around the tree stand, and your presents will really pop against the white background.

24. Find Mercury Glass Ornaments

Mercury glass ornaments, whether old or made to look old, can add an element of vintage charm to your Christmas tree. 

25. Opt for Vintage Elements

Some of the best Christmas tree decorating ideas are the most traditional. Use vintage ornaments and decorations from your family or search for them at antique shops to add a touch of class to your tree.

26. Add Candlesticks

Traditional Christmas trees of the past didn’t have electric lights, they had candless. While we now know that is a fire hazard, you can still find battery-operated candlesticks to place on your tree for a luxurious, vintage feel. 

27. Use Blue and Silver Elements

Instead of the typical red, green, and gold color scheme, why not try a snowy winter look with white, silver and light blue ornaments and ribbon on the tree? You can even use long strips of blue tulle instead of ribbon to create an icy effect on the tree.

28. Opt for a Black and White Theme

Another color scheme you can go with for your tree is a simple black and white option. But don’t worry, black and white doesn’t mean basic! Look for ornaments in black and white with mismatched patterns like stripes, polka dots and buffalo check to add some visual interest to your black and white tree.

29. Use Vertical Ribbon Stripes

You’ll often see ribbon cascading down a tree in beautiful spirals, but you can also use vertical stripes of ribbon to draw the eye up to your tree topper.

Simple Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

30. Have a Naked Christmas Tree

If you want to try a truly simple Christmas tree decorating idea, don’t decorate! Let the tree speak for itself. Adding lights and keeping all of the other decorations off of the tree allows the tree to truly shine. This is the perfect idea if your tree has a unique shape.

31. Stick to Clear Glass Ornaments

Purchase inexpensive glass ornaments from your local craft store and use those as your primary decoration. The glass baubles will shine on the tree without adding too many distracting colors and patterns.

32. Choose a Flocked Tree

If you’re never quite sure how to decorate your tree, why not choose a tree that is a decoration in and of itself? A beautiful white flocked tree stands alone as a statement piece in any room.

33. Use Velvet Bows

Instead of covering your tree in ornaments and ribbons, use a narrow red velvet ribbon to tie long, drapey bows on different branches of your tree.

34. Decorate with Elements from Nature

These Christmas tree decorating ideas are great for any lovers of the great outdoors. Use pinecones, branches and berries from your yard to add dimension to the tree. Just be sure to check for bugs, first! One easy way to make sure they are pest free is to place twigs and sticks in freezer-safe bags and freeze overnight.

35. Focus on One Element

Another trick for simplifying your tree is to only focus on one thing. For example, only add ribbon or only add tinsel to create a unique, one-element tree.

36. Make a Gift Tag Tree

Tie gift tags in different shapes and sizes of kraft paper to the tree with twine for a natural, simple look that is also quite unique.

37. Create a Minimalist Effect

For simple Christmas tree decorating ideas that use what you already have, simply pare down your decorations and only add your favorite or sentimental items to the tree. This will eliminate clutter without removing all of your emotional ties to the holiday.

38. Use Gold Stars

Strip down your Christmas tree to just lights and gold stars for twinkly, sparkly Christmas tree decorating ideas.

39. Include Simple Wooden Garlands

If your goal this Christmas is to streamline the decorating process, pairing a few ornaments with simple garland made of wooden beads is a great way to minimize without removing all of the personality from your decor.

Fun Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

40. Hang Gifts on the Tree

One way to surprise your family and friends on Christmas day is to hide their gifts on the tree. You can do this with Christmas gifts for women or Christmas gifts for men by hiding smaller gift boxes on the back branches of the tree. Or, opt for a fun surprise by hanging an unwrapped item, like jewelry or a new tie on the tree in place of stocking stuffers.

41. Add a Fun Scavenger Hunt

If you’re looking for an easy way to make Christmas gifts for teens even more exciting, try using the tree as a clue in a gift scavenger hunt. They’ll have to scour the branches for a clue or hint to their next stop along the way as they search for their gift.

42. Make a Candy-Themed Tree

Since the holidays are so full of sweet treats, why not make your Christmas tree themed around gingerbread houses and candy? Find a beaded garland shaped like peppermints and use candy-shaped ornaments in bright colors for these sweet Christmas tree decorating ideas.

43. Have a Pink Tree

Who says Christmas trees have to be red and green? Opt for a sweet and girly take on a Christmas tradition by having a tree decked out in pink ornaments, garlands and even lights. Take these Christmas tree decorating ideas even further by purchasing a pink tree!

44. Go Totally Maximalist

Minimalism in decorating is great for some people, but others prefer to pull out all the stops when they decorate for the holidays. A tree covered head to toe in ornaments, whether themed or traditional, is a great way to showcase your collection and make a holiday showstopper.

45. Use a Brightly Colored Tree

If you’re putting a tree in your kids’ bedrooms or playrooms, try purchasing a shiny foil tree in their favorite color. You can even find miniature tabletop trees in every color of the rainbow at your local craft store.

46. Decorate your Houseplant

No space for an actual Christmas tree in your apartment? Decorate what you have! Put lights on your fiddle leaf fig or tinsel on your ficus to add some holiday cheer even without an evergreen tree.

47. Include Animal Print Decorations

Take a walk on the wild side this Christmas by decking your tree out in safari-themed ornaments with leopard print, zebra print and more.

48. Make a Hair Bow Tree

Use your daughter’s hair bow collection as sweet Christmas tree decorating ideas for her bedroom. Use a mini or tabletop tree and decorate with her Christmas bows. She’ll have a blast choosing her bow each day by picking it off of the tree.

49. Use Feather Boas

One fun way to add variety to your Christmas tree is to replace the ribbon or beaded garland with a feather boa. Purchase one in a bright, fun color to add a little bit of spice to your tree.

50. Add Woodland Creatures

If your decor for Christmas is more woodsy and rustic, add some of those elements to your tree. Nestle tiny squirrels or bird figurines in the branches to bring the outdoors in.

51. Incorporate Cinnamon Sticks

Real Christmas trees already smell amazing, but you can amp up the holiday aromas even more by creating little bundles of cinnamon sticks and nestling them in your tree. You can even fashion the cinnamon sticks into cute ornaments and use as gifts for your friends.

52. Decorate with Scarves

Don’t let your vintage silk or wool scarves go to waste. Use a beautiful silk scarf tied in a bow as a tree topper, or use long plaid scarves like ribbon to add depth and dimension to your tree.

DIY Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

53. Turn Christmas Cards into Ornaments

Each year, the mailbox fills up with cards from friends and family members. Take their cards and reuse them by adding them to the tree in their entirety or cutting out the decorative elements and adding to homemade ornaments. 

54. Cut Paper Snowflakes

Making lacy paper snowflakes from folded-up paper is a classic Christmas DIY project. Get your kids involved and be sure to proudly display your snowflakes on the tree.

55. Make Swirled Ornaments

For a fun craft project everyone will love, buy plain glass ornaments and remove the tops. Then, start painting Christmas ornaments by adding acrylic paints in different colors. Swirl the ornaments around to create a beautiful marble effect. Let the excess paint drain out and dry fully before adding the top back onto the ornament and hanging it on the tree.

56. Create Decoupage Decor

Use bits of wrapping paper, old Christmas cards and magazine photos to create old-fashioned decoupage ornaments. You can find cardboard or chipboard ornaments at your craft store. Use glue or Mod Podge to paste the scraps onto the ornament and let dry. These ornaments also make unique Christmas gifts.

57. Use Handmade Paper Chains

Using basic construction paper or patterned scrapbooking paper, cut long strips and fashion them into traditional paper chains. Use them to decorate the tree or to help your kids count down to Christmas day.

58. Crochet a Tree Skirt

If you are skilled with a crochet hook, do some online research to find a pattern for a unique tree skirt. You will be able to customize every detail, from the weight of the yarn to the color scheme.

59. Make a Rag Garland

Tear up old bed sheets or Christmas-colored fabric and make a rag garland to wrap around your tree. This is a great DIY Christmas decoration idea that you can do while you are watching your favorite show. 

60. Create Crafty Toy Soldiers

Use old-fashioned clothespins (the kind without the spring) and black pom-poms to make toy soldiers for your tree. Glue the pom-poms to the round tops of the pins to act as a hat, then draw a face and uniform on your tiny toy soldiers.

61. Use Polymer Clay

Craft stores sell all different types of clay that you can shape into ornaments and bake right in your oven. Make Christmas-cookie-shaped ornaments, clay candy canes or any other Christmas item you can think of, and add them to your tree. Don’t forget to punch a hole in the ornament before baking so you can tie a ribbon through it when it is hardened.

62. Make a Lego Christmas Tree

For those of us who’d rather build something out of Legos than decorate the house, why not combine the two? Make a Lego Christmas tree to sit on a tabletop or function as a centerpiece on your Christmas table. This is a great activity for kids, and their Lego tree could be the star of the playroom.

63. Build a Book Tree

If your book collection is growing by the minute, put all those volumes to use by stacking your books up to create a tree shape. Drape with lights and top with a star for a festive, and literary, DIY project. 

64. Sew Simple Felt Ornaments

A few sheets of felt, some stuffing and some embroidery thread are all you need to create simple ornaments. Make basic shapes like stars, trees and gingerbread men for a homey touch on your tree.

65. Decorate with Mementos and Heirlooms

DIY Christmas gifts often include children’s handprints and footprints as a keepsake. Turn that same idea into decorations for your Christmas tree and create fun ornaments as great Christmas crafts for kids. Turn a footprint and two handprints into a reindeer, or use thumbprints to create a Christmas wreath.

Unique Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

66. Incorporate Thrifted Finds

Each year after the holidays are over, families often declutter in preparation for the new year. You can often find their gently loved ornaments and decorations at your local thrift stores near the beginning of the new year. Save all your best-thrifted ornaments and make a tree-full.

67. Have a Blue Tree

Make Elvis’ hit “Blue Christmas” come true in your house this year by purchasing a blue tree. You can still do these Christmas tree decorating ideas with regular trees; simply buy blue ornaments, ribbons and more to deck the halls. Don’t forget your blue suede shoes when it comes time to decorate the tree!

68. Make a Rainbow Tree

Another fun and creative way to decorate your tree this year involves making a rainbow. You can either use all the colors of the rainbow in a fun jumble on your tree, or arrange them in rainbow order.

69. Use Balloons

Balloons are often reserved for parties and celebrations, but they can be great Christmas decorations, too. Make a balloon arch that spreads from the wall behind your tree and wraps around the tree for a fun take on Christmas tree decorating ideas. 

70. Create a Memory Tree

Instead of decorating with ornaments and trinkets, start a new family tradition. When Christmas is over, ask everyone to write down their favorite memory along with the date. Next Christmas, add all of those memories to your tree and repeat the process. In a few years, you’ll have a tree covered in sweet memories.

71. Use Key Chains as Ornaments

Would you like to start an ornament collection when you travel but don’t always have room in your luggage for large or delicate ornaments? Find a cute keychain instead. This is often a cheaper alternative to ornaments, and the ring on the keychain is the perfect size for a Christmas tree branch. You’ll be able to look back over all of your fond travel memories each year at Christmas. 

72. Decorate with Toys

These Christmas tree decorating ideas are perfect for kids’ bedrooms, playrooms or classrooms. Use stuffed animals, dolls decked in their holiday best or even miniature cars and Lego figurines as ornaments to make a toy tree worthy of Santa’s workshop.

73. Make a Hat Tree

If you have teenagers (or anyone else) with a large baseball cap collection, make a special tree by nestling their favorite caps in the branches. These are great Christmas tree decorating ideas for a guy’s room or for a “man cave,” if they have one. Or you can take everyone's beanies and use the tree as a hat rack for the winter season. 

74. Use Ties and Bow Ties

Ties and bow ties are often some of the most popular Christmas gifts for dad, but they can make unique and quirky decorations, too. Make a tabletop tree covered in bow ties for your dad as a special gift that will keep him in ties for the rest of the year.

75. Add Jingle Bells

Nothing says Christmas spirit quite like the sound of jingling bells. Tie bells on your tree for a festive look. Any time someone brushes against the tree, your home will be filled with jingle bells.

Themed Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

76. Go Tropical

Christmas songs and movies often feature lots and lots of snow, but that doesn’t mean your tree has to. Opt for a tropical or Hawaiian-themed tree with fish, leis and pineapples.

77. Cheer for your Favorite Team

Great Christmas tree decorating ideas for die-hard sports fans include decking out the tree in your team colors and team ornaments. Use this as your main tree if your family is all in, or put it in the media room or man cave to enjoy when you watch the games. 

78. Find a Charlie Brown Tree

Replicate Charlie Brown’s iconic Christmas tree in your own living room this year. For this idea, you can either find the smallest tree on the lot and give it some love, or you can purchase an actual figurine of Charlie Brown’s tree. Either way, you’ll be giving a nod to the classic Peanuts film.

79. Have a Costal Tree

If you’re spending Christmas by the sea this year, why not opt for a tree that features cool, coastal colors, shells and sand dollars? Add some sandy brown ribbon for a truly beachy feel. Looking for a coastal take on a tree topper? A dried starfish, of course!

80. Feature Your Pets

Make your pets their very own tree this Christmas. Find ornaments shaped like bones, fish or your pet’s favorite treat and display with pictures of them near their crate or kennel.

81. Salute America

You might have heard of “Christmas in July,” but what about Independence Day in December? Decorate your tree with red, white and blue in honor of America. Don’t forget to hang plenty of white star ornaments to complete the look.

82. Decorate a Grinch Tree

Draw inspiration from Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by decorating a special Grinch tree that is curved at the top. Use brightly colored ornaments to mimic the bright colors of the classic movie and film.

83 Make a Peppermint Tree

Red and white are already classic Christmas colors, but give them a swirl and you have a sweet and minty theme idea for your tree. Use peppermint-shaped ornaments, red and white ribbon and, of course, some candy canes, for a deliciously themed tree.

84. Have a Wild West Theme

For a cowboy and cowgirl Christmas, decorate your tree with bandannas, lassos and Western-themed ornaments. You can even use a cowboy hat as a tree topper for an extra Western kick.

85. Create an Angel Tree

Angels are another traditional Christmas element that can be turned into pretty Christmas tree decorating ideas. Collect angel figurines and tree toppers and fill your tree with them for a heavenly atmosphere this Christmas.

86. Indulge your Inner Foodie

If you’re looking for an unconventional Christmas tree theme, why not use ornaments shaped like food? You can find these at many craft stores or you can make your own. You can even decorate with kitchen utensils for a fun option. This would be a great idea for a mini tree in the kitchen.

87. Go Neon

Add brightly colored neon ornaments and flashing lights to your tree for an exciting theme that many would overlook! 

88. Get Musical

If your home is full of musicians, why not have a music-themed tree? Use ribbon with musical notes as a backdrop, then find ornaments shaped like tiny instruments to fill in the branches. 

89. Explore Outer Space

For kids (or grownups) who are interested in space, why not create a Christmas tree that shows off the cosmos? Use stars, galaxy-themed ribbon and ornaments shaped like rockets and astronauts to accomplish this. 

90. Make a Halloween Tree

For anyone who loves all things spooky, a Halloween tree is a completely unconventional take on the traditional Christmas tree. Find a black or orange foil tree and decorate with all of your jack-o-lanterns and witchy ornaments.

Out-The-Box Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

91. Make a Knitted Tree

If you’re handy with knitting needles and yarn, make a knitted tree and hang it from the wall to display all holiday season.

92. Embrace the Chaos

Instead of picking one theme or decorating style, why not go completely chaotic? Use mismatched ornaments, garlands and more to create a wonderfully wacky tree.

93. Go Green

Use recycled bottles and other materials to make a Christmas tree that is environmentally friendly. You can repurpose old household items into unique ornaments for these Christmas tree decorating ideas.

94. Create a Wall Tree

If you don’t have room for an actual tree, use lights to create the outline of a tree on the wall in your house or apartment. 

95. Showcase your Collectibles

If you collect anything special, like figurines or trading pins, why not display them on your tree? Then all of your guests will have a chance to see your collection.

96. Have an Upside-Down Tree

Do you want a tree that’s truly out of the box? Hang your tree upside down or use a special upside down tree stand to turn Christmas on its head.

97. Use Unconventional Materials

Instead of purchasing a real or artificial tree, make one yourself out of unconventional materials like driftwood, beer cans or even building blocks.

98. Make a Chalkboard Tree

If you’d like to get crafty and save space in your apartment, make a flat outline of a tree on plywood and coat it with primer and chalkboard paint. Then, stand it up in your apartment and decorate it with chalk or chalk markers for a fun, completely customizable tree.

99. Create a Hanging Tree 

You can create the illusion of a Christmas tree by tying ornaments to clear fishing lines and suspending them from the ceiling at different heights. These are fun Christmas tree decorating ideas for anyone looking for a unique take on the traditional tree.

We hope this list of 99 Merry and Joyful Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas has given you plenty of inspiration for the holiday season.

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