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34 Unique Christmas Tree Alternatives That Will Make a Statement in Any Space
“I find tinsel distracting,” Frank Costanza explained to Kramer as he detailed his gloriously bare-bones yuletide alternative, Festivus, on Seinfeld. Maybe—after years of lugging your holiday decor out of the crawlspace, and after years of hosting less-than-grateful relatives around your dinner table—you also are ready to give up the ornaments, the Christmas tree, and the wreaths, for a galvanized metal pole and feats of strength. Or, maybe you feel that you lack the space (not to mention the paycheck) to invest in a towering Tannenbaum.
Never fear—there are plenty of Christmas tree alternatives out there that can make your apartment merry and bright, without the hassle, environmental impact, or living room real estate. One easy route to a unique Christmas tree? Switch things up, suggests party-planning guru Bronson van Wyck: “Mount your tree on the wall, or hang it upside down to free up space and surprise your guests.”
You can also take a holiday decor shortcut by investing in space-saving, pre-lit mini trees, suggests Martin Cooper, who runs Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co. with his wife, Karen Suen-Cooper. “We don’t believe in cutting down trees for Christmas, so we use two Restoration Hardware lighted trees on either side of the console in the living room,” Martin tells us. “It looks a bit Charlie Brown during the day but it’s beautiful at night.” The rest of their farmhouse, meanwhile, is festooned with ribbons, lush greenery, and other opulent-yet-easy touches.
Still stumped? We’re here to help. Before you bust out that Festivus pole, be sure to check out these 34 dashingly different Christmas tree alternatives. We’ll spare you the airing of grievances.
Outline Everything in Garlands
Lacey Sombar
Skipping a traditional tree this year? Try real or faux garlands instead. Not only do they bring that cozy, winter vibe to your rooms, but they can also serve as verdant framing devices for the most curated corners of your home, without sacrificing square footage. Try draping garlands over your mantel, doorframe, bookcase, or bar cart, like designer Bradley Odom did here.
Elevate Your Greenery
Lindsey Shorter Photography
We get it: not all of us live in a cool climate where fresh Christmas trees are readily available (here’s looking at you, Floridians). Instead, try taking festive regional foliage and displaying it on a plinth. In this chic scheme, designer and event planner Gregory Blake Sams arranged unusual specimens in a towering array and warped the pedestal in luxurious, tasseled braid.
The Minimal Christmas Tree
In a world that is constantly pushing that more is more, sometimes it feels good to keep things simple. A minimalist tree is not only a wonderful way to simplify your holiday decor, but it can also save you time and money when decorating. Adding minimalist Christmas decorations is wonderful if you live in a small space too.
The key to decorating a minimalist-style Christmas tree is to highlight the tree in a way that it is the biggest design element! Make the tree have a big impact, rather than featuring all the added decorations or “stuff” on it. Simplify the decor and let the tree be the star of the show!
How To Decorate a Minimal Christmas Tree
There are a few simple steps to follow when adding Christmas tree decor to in a minimalist style:
Decide On The Type Of Christmas Tree You Want To Have.
Will you go with a fresh evergreen tree or will you have a faux Christmas tree? Will it be pre-lit or will you need to add everything to it yourself?
Determine The Base Of Your Tree
Will your tree stand be a traditional stand with a tree skirt or will you go with an interesting container instead? The base of your tree can really change the look of your minimal Christmas tree.
Choose A Color Scheme
Adding your favorite things in minimal ways with a simple color scheme is the perfect way to decorate your tree.
Add Decorations If Desired
Once you have the tree in place, it is time to decide if you want to add any decorative pieces or if you will keep it sparse or naked.
Now that you have the steps in mind, here are a few ways to decorate your minimal tree.
Natural Christmas Tree Decorations
Natural materials and elements are one of the oldest and most traditional ways to decorate a Christmas tree. Try using simple items such as cinnamon sticks, pine cones, dried orange slices, mountain ash berries and more.
A classic but beautiful popcorn garland is another option that can be added on its own or with other natural elements to give a nostalgic feel to your minimal tree. If you are wanting to take on a wonderful Christmas craft, try this DIY tutorial on how to make dried orange slices. These can be made into a garland or hung individually on the tree with twine or ribbon.
There are so many natural accents to decorate your tree, simply go for a walk outdoors and let your imagination do the work for you.
