You know, every year I tell myself, “Keep it simple this Christmas.” And then—bam—three tangled strings of lights, a wobbly ladder, and sequins in my socks for a month. Decorating the tree might be my favorite holiday tradition, mostly because even when it’s a total mess, you end up laughing (usually at yourself). One year my dog ran off with the tree topper. Another time my nephew tried to “help” and we had five ornaments clustered on a single branch, like a tiny, overloaded disco club. I love it.
Anyway, here are some totally fun, sometimes a bit odd, Christmas tree ideas that might just shake up your usual routine. Picture us sitting at my kitchen table, cocoa in hand, laughing about the time the garland ended up as a scarf.
1. Bold and Bright
Ever tried throwing every color on the tree? I say, don’t hold back—pile on bright baubles, handmade stuff, maybe even some of those popsicle-stick ornaments the kids made. The more glitter, the better. Sure, you’ll probably find confetti in your hair later, but that’s half the fun.
2. Rich Colors
One year I swapped out the classic reds for deep charcoals, gold, and black ribbon bows. Suddenly, the living room felt all glamorous, like I should’ve been drinking champagne while hanging ornaments. Spoiler: I was drinking cocoa, but hey, no judgment.
3. Old Meets New
Candles (the not-on-fire kind, please), a few velvet ribbons from Grandma’s sewing box, add in sparkly new baubles—talk about mixing the past and present. It’s hard not to feel all warm and fuzzy when turning on the lights.
4. Prize Ribbons
Skipped the garland and used all the old prize ribbons from school science fairs and random 5k races. It looked… surprisingly awesome! Bonus: your family gets to relive your “Best Potato Costume, 1998” glory.
5. Chic Coastal
For some reason, I once decided to do a beachy tree—sand dollars, blue baubles, even a bit of pampas grass up top. Think sea breeze, even if there’s slush outside. Careful with real shells, though—stepping on one hurts like Legos.
6. Dark and Cozy
Didn’t feel like digging out the old ornaments? Grabbed a ribbon or two, tied on a bunch of bows, and called it “minimalist.” The tree ended up looking suspiciously “designer,” and it took, like, twenty minutes. Why do we overcomplicate things?
7. Dried Citrus
Once, on a rare responsible day, I sliced oranges and cranberries, dried them in the oven, and strung them up. The kitchen smelled like a fancy candle, and the tree looked good enough to eat. (No one ate it… that year.)
8. Woodland Wonder
Channeled my inner lumberjack and loaded the tree with huge pinecones, plaid ribbon, and those wooden beads the cat loves to chase. If you have a fireplace, the woodsy vibe is even cozier, but honestly, even a faux tree can rock it.
9. Mixed Metals
Gold, rose gold, silver—all together on a snow-dusted tree. At first, it looked too shiny, but then—I dunno—it just glowed. Try it, especially if you love collecting ornaments in every finish known to mankind.
10. Moody Hues
Sometimes I get tired of red and green. Ever tried burgundy, burnt orange, and deep green baubles? Super dramatic—like your tree just got back from a winter fashion show.
11. Tinsel Time
Oh, the tinsel tree. It’s shiny, retro, and unapologetically loud. Mine once reflected the light so well the room looked like a party even on a Tuesday morning. Add neon-colored ornaments for bonus points.
12. Shades of Green
Yes, you can layer your greens—a little army, a little emerald, a tad lime. Add in black or plaid accents for depth. It ends up looking so wintry, you might need an extra sweater just to look at it.
13. Disco Balls
Okay. Imagine your Christmas tree, but make it Studio 54. Mini disco balls everywhere, bigger ones at the bottom in case you feel like an impromptu dance party. (Which, honestly, you should.)
14. Silver and Gold
The “grown up” tree—shimmering mercury glass, metallic ornaments, a handful of tiny gold bells. There’s something about this combination that makes you want to whistle “Silver Bells” while you work.
15. Vertical Ribbons
Who says ribbon has to wind around? Just drape it straight down in strips like a waterfall and call it intentional. Fuzzy throw blankets as a tree skirt? Genius. It’s like your presents are tucked into bed.
So, what wild idea are you itching to try this year? Don’t worry if the cat attacks the ribbon or the popcorn garland ends up half-eaten—Christmas decorating is all about the stories you’ll tell next December. Ever tried something totally bonkers? Let’s swap stories.
