Real Christmas trees make for a beautiful and traditional holiday decoration. The only downside to natural conifers is that they don’t last as long as faux iterations. Slowly, throughout the month of December, the tannenbaum will shed needles and begin to dry out. However, you can extend the longevity of your real tree during the holiday season with some persistent care—and a good solid base.
14 alternative Christmas tree ideas
We agree, Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a tree, but that doesn’t mean we all require a traditional pine. If you’d just rather avoid the mess of ten thousand pine needles on December 26, or simply don’t have the space for a live tree, there are plenty of alternative Christmas tree options for the festive season.
From potted indoor trees to tapestries and large foliage displays, we’ve found 14 unique Christmas tree ideas for your home.
1 / 0
Weather permitting, Christmas lunch is always better enjoyed outdoors. Bring a sense of festive cheer outdoors by creating a hanging Christmas tree. This arrangement, created by Three Birds Renovations was made using eucalyptus leaves and two hanging lanterns. Photo: Chris Warnes
2 / 0
A painted or printed canvas Christmas tree like this one in a secluded beach shack north of Sydney is a clever solution for compact spaces – it can easily be folded away into a drawer when the silly season is over. You can even make your own with a sheet of canvas (in a size appropriate for your space), a thick paintbrush and a selection of paints to complement your interior. Mark out your design with masking tape, then paint away. To hang, a few tacks will do the trick. Photographer: Maree Homer | Story: Real Living
3 / 0
Nothing says Christmas in Australia like greenery displays, so why not go bold and create a magnificent foliage installation as a surrogate Christmas tree above the table setting like this display in Lynda Gardener’s Federation era cottage. Photographer: Marnie Hawson | Story: House & Garden
4 / 0
This inventive washi tape tree with dried flowers turns a blank wall into a beautifully creative neutral-hued Christmas tree.
5 / 0
If you’re short on space and need to use the limited room to host a fabulous Christmas dinner, just great a large greenery display in a vase and hang your baubles from it’s branches! For extra points, top with a sparkly star so no one will wonder where the Christmas tree is. Photographer: Lisa Cohen
6 / 0
Who doesn’t love the idea of an edible Christmas tree, and this Christmas tree tastes as good as it looks. Using a simple shortbread recipe, cut the biscuit dough into stars and affix to the wall in a tree shape. The best part? You’ll actually look forward to cleaning this tree up!
7 / 0
If you adore the smell of pine but don’t have the space for large tree, consider hanging a fragrant pine-tree branch on a blank wall, upside-down or not, hang some light baubles or ribbons on it and pile up the presents underneath to create the perfect mini Christmas tree! Photographer: Marnie Hawson | Design: Lynda Gardener | Story: House & Garden
8 / 0
For a truly low maintenance simple and stylish Christmas decorations, just fashion a ‘tree’ from fairy lights, simply shape and tape to the wall and surround the illuminated tree with presents! Photographer: Chris Warnes | Styling: Natalie Walton | Story: House & Garden
9 / 0
Who says Christmas trees need to be large? This chic and creative mini Christmas tree alternative is made of rattan cones and it’s neutral scheme make it perfect for Christmas in a Scandi-style or minimal home.
10 / 0
If you can’t bear the thought of cutting down a tree just to use as a decoration, why not use a live potted Christmas tree or plant.A potted plant or tree may be a Christmas tree’s low-maintenance cousin: demure, well-kept and a tidier guest in your home. Here, a long-leaf fig feels festive while still blending in with the existing decor. Photographer: Maree Homer, Chris Warnes
11 / 0
If you’re after an eco-friendly Christmas tree, let this jenga-themed design from One Two Tree, a company that supplies trees made from sustainable and surplus wood, could inspire your own creation at home. Photographer: Guy Bailey
12 / 0
Simple, organic styling and DIY Christmas tree branch made from foraged finds, and only a select few baubles and decorations is in keeping with this home’s natural, coastal vibe. Photographer: Mark Roper | Story: Country Style
13 / 0
Unsurprisingly, Christmas in artist and designer Rachel Castle’s home is a colourful and stylish affair. Her wall decal Christmas tree is a simple, removable solution to clearing out your decorations after Christmas passes. Use small hooks that feature an adhesive strip, and hang baubles and stockings off your wall. Photographer: Maree Homer | Story: Real Living
14 / 0
Repurpose tattered old books by turning them into mini Christmas tree ornaments. Great for apartments or homes where floor space is precious, but you still want to create a magical Christmas moment. If you like the idea of a mini tree, but don’t want to fold the pages of your beloved books, consider making a succulent Christmas tree instead! Story: Real Living
How Long a Real Christmas Tree Lasts
When cared for properly, a real Christmas tree lasts about a month, but with proper care it can stay fresh for as long as a month and a half. “Giving it fresh water daily will help the tree last longer,” says Sean Duffy of Stone Mill Gardens in Northern New Jersey. “Once the stand runs out of water it’s hard to get the tree to drink water again.”
Treat your holiday tree the same way you would any live plant. If you want to keep it fresh, it needs to have adequate water. “Water is the absolute most important thing you can do to preserve your tree for Christmas,” says Jane Neubauer, co-owner of Sugar Pines Farm in Chesterland, Ohio. “Get a tree stand with a built-in reservoir and check it regularly. People don’t always realize how much water their Christmas trees will drink up. You’ll need to replenish the water regularly.”
As a general rule, you should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Despite popular belief, neither a hole drilled in the bottom of the trunk nor the water temperature impact the tree’s longevity or its ability to retain water. You can buy additives to help water absorption and kill bacteria, but they aren’t as necessary as simply keeping the tree well-watered.
Trim the Trunk
When trees are first cut, sap rushes to close the wound, sealing the bottom. “When that happens, the tree isn’t as able to absorb water,” Neubauer says. “Add a fresh cut at the bottom right before you place it in water, and try to put up your Christmas tree the same day you bring it home.”
How to Trim the Trunk
Using a saw, trim 1/2 inch off the trunk before placing in a reservoir stand with water. Make the cut perpendicular to the axis of the stem, and avoid cutting the trunk at an angle or in a V-shape because it will make it harder to keep the tree upright in the stand.
Keep Your Tree Away From Heat
Direct sunlight or a furnace will quickly dry out the tree. “Your tree will become dry and brittle if it’s too close to a heat source,” says Neubauer. “Place the tree someplace where it isn’t facing direct heat, and that will help your tree not to dry out too fast.” You can also lower the temperature in the room where the tree is located to slow down the drying process. If your tree does dry out, though, you will need to remove it from the house and recycle it.
Lights can become very hot and cause a fire hazard if left on the tree unmonitored for hours at a time. Play it safe and turn off the lights before bed—or if you’re not going to be around to monitor the tree. Smaller lights on the tree might also help to slow the drying-out process, but you can still use large lights if you keep up on watering the tree.
Make sure that all of your bulbs are in good condition and that the cords for the lights are not worn or frayed. Real trees can catch fire, so follow general fire safety tips when keeping a real Christmas tree indoors. Turning off the lights occasionally will also slow down the drying-out process.
DIY Pink Tipped + Honeycomb Christmas Tree
It’s that time of year again! Every year, the Michaels Makers start holidaying just a little bit early, to help you get inspired when it comes to your Christmas tree. And this year, guys, I upped my game. Remember how we painted ombre ornaments last year? Well this year, I just painted the dang tree. Full disclosure: this is hands down the messiest project I’ve ever tackled. But also one of my favorite holiday DIYs ever, so don’t be afraid to try it out! It was so messy, in fact, that I wasn’t even able to get my hands on my camera to photo the step-by-step. But lucky for you it’s totally easy — you’ve just gotta be willing to get down and dirty.
Materials
- artificial Christmas tree (Michaels has an awesome selection)
- acrylic paint (in the paint section, Michaels has large 16 oz. canisters in great colors. We used about 3 of these on a 7-foot tree.)
- rubber gloves
- sawhorses
- dropcloths
Make Time: About 3 Hours (Plus Drying Time Overnight)
Step 1: Open your tree and arrange the separate sections so that they’re each suspended between two sawhorses. It helps to put the handle of a broom stick or other thin piece of wood into the center hole of the tree so that you can widen the sawhorse legs and have more space for the tree. Be sure you have dropcloths under the trees!
Step 2: Put on those rubber gloves. Here’s where you’re gonna get messy. Hold the paint jar in one hand and dip your other hand in the paint. Then use your hand to squeeze the tip of a branch and squish paint onto the needles of the tree. That’s it. Do that a million times, trying to get as many branch tips as you can. Eventually you’ll establish a rhythm. I recommend starting from the bottom center and working your way up and over the top on either side so you’re not underneath the tree while it’s dripping on you.
Step 3: Allow all the paint to drip dry overnight. Set up the tree the next day and high five yourself!
Because I love the pink tips so much I decided to go big and simple with decorations! Some of the Martha Stewart honeycombs and fringe were perfect. You just kind of nestle them into the tree and bend the branches around them so they don’t fall out. That’s it! Even Mr. Lovely approves (I like a dude who’s okay with pink). Whaddaya think? Would you try your own version of this? If you’re scared, just start with a mini tree and see how you like the process. I think it could look really fun in a bright yellow or aqua blue. Or maybe acid green! Ahhhh so many options! xoxo
