Food and Recipes Holiday and Occasion Food 45 Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas For a Gorgeous Holiday By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 16, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez Christmas trees are the centerpiece of the home and the holiday season. A beautifully decorated tree will evoke memories of the holidays for years to come. The first rule is to pick the best tree for your space, whether that be shorter and wider or taller and slimmer, and then the decorating fun begins. Fill it from top to bottom with colorful lights and ornaments, wrap in ribbon, or display a beautiful tabletop tree. No matter how big or small or how it is decorated, the tree should always reflect the personality of you and your family. Bring out the garland, wreath, and Christmas trinkets, and create a festive space with your Christmas tree as the star of your decorations. Whether you're celebrating the holidays on the coast, in a cabin, or right at home, let the decorations around the room and outside the window inspire you to create a picture-perfect, unique Christmas tree display. These inspiring Christmas tree decor ideas will refresh your holiday look this year and bring new cheer into your home. 01 of 45 Let Sparkles Fly Hector Manuel Sanchez This 12-foot Fraser fir displays ornaments made by the homeowner's children. Glittery gold, light pink, and rose gold baubles with a sumptuous 4-inch gold ribbon polish off the look while also carefully camouflaging any gaps between the branches. The train circling the tree skirt is led by the engine from The Polar Express. 02 of 45 Vintage Christmas Jessica Ashley Feeling nostalgic this season? Give your tree a retro feel with red, green, and gold trimmings–including ornaments, ribbon, garland, décor, and more. 03 of 45 Natural Wonder Hector Manuel Sanchez; styling: Taylor Colson Horton A rust planter takes this gumdrop-shaped cypress to new heights. A strand of flameless candles nestled in adds an old-school effect while clove-studded oranges, dried-orange slices, and pinecones give the tree maintain an authentic, rustic look. 04 of 45 Sentimental Selection Hector Manuel Sanchez Texans Sara and Billy Jack adorn their Christmas tree with mostly handmade and sentimental decorations. Each year, they present each of their children with a new ornament specifically chosen for them and share the backstory of why it was picked. 05 of 45 Midwinter Magic Hector Manuel Sanchez Icy white and pale pink filler ornaments set a backdrop for statement-making metallic textured balls and geometric spindles. Modern-day steel magnolias will flip for blush-and-bashful accents like mauve plastic foam flowers. Beneath the tree, blue floral wrapping paper completes the wintry scene. 06 of 45 Blue Christmas Hector Manuel Sanchez; styling: Taylor Colson Horton Spread Christmas cheer in any room with this tabletop setup. Use a small blue spruce with battery operated light in a chinoiserie cachepot to achieve the look. Top your tree with a velvet bow that creates a garland as it cascades down the side. 07 of 45 Think in Multiples Photo: Brittany Ambridge; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Instead of placing one large Christmas tree in the living room of this Baton Rouge home, designer Colleen Waguespack gathered a trio of smaller ones and accented them with flocks of white dove ornaments from her decor line, Fig & Dove 08 of 45 Whimsical Wonder Hector Manuel Sanchez Colorful paper flowers are a great addition if you are running low on ornaments. Homeowner Cristina Lynch also added light all the way around the top of this extra tall tree for added emphasis. 09 of 45 Plaid Ribbon Helen Norman Unexpected details like antlers and bits of greenery provide contrast to the traditional plaid and red ribbon garland. 10 of 45 Just Add Sunshine Hector Manuel Sanchez When it comes to decorating her tree, Natasha Lawler looks to her room for inspiration. She chose yellows, greens, and navy for her tree to complement her sectional is covered in Schumacher's Citrus Garden. With an abundance of decorative lemons, sparkly sliced citrus, and a yellow ribbon topper, this tree stands out. She had a tree skirt made to match her sofa and even filled holes in the tree with styrofoam balls covered in the same fabric. 11 of 45 Holiday Decorations to Match the Décor Shades of purple and green found in the living room's fabrics inspired this homeowner's gift wrapping color scheme. 12 of 45 Local Flavor Photo: Hector Sanchez Take inspiration from the surrounding landscape to infuse your tree with festive spirit and local flavor. The setting for this tree is Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, and that proudly displays a profusion of palm fronds, oyster shell accents, and a palette of gold, burnt orange, and chartreuse to match the interiors. Tweak the look to suit your own home with local touches. 13 of 45 Neutral Territory Jean Allsopp If a red-and-green palette isn't your style, here's an alternative. This tree full of subtle shades of silver, white, and gold lend a sophisticated look to any interior. 14 of 45 Greenbrier Inspiration Ball & Albanese This glorious tree takes shape at The Greenbrier every December. You can easily incorporate the wide ribbon garland and sparkle to your own tree. Wrapping your Christmas tree in garland can seam intimidating, but if you take your time it will look great. 15 of 45 Red and White Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty When decorating a smaller tree, keep things simple with limited colors. For this cheery tree, we chose bright red and classic white. 16 of 45 Frosted Charm Hector Manuel Sanchez If you come across a stash of vintage ornaments, a frosted tabletop tree is the perfect way to use them. Stick with a pretty palette of teal and pink to really enhance the pastel hues against the white tree. 17 of 45 Wrapped in Magnolia Laurey W. Glenn If you have magnolia leaves on hand, create a garland and adorn your tree with it. Keep the rest of your decorations simple with silver or gold. 18 of 45 Branch Out When Hanging Lights Laurey W. Glenn Birmingham designer Iris Thorpe has tried all manner of light-stringing techniques and has determined that nothing compares to wrapping individual branches from trunk to tip. "It's time-consuming," she says, "but when I've taken shortcuts and used nets, someone in the family is inevitably disappointed with the way it looks." 19 of 45 The Midas Touch Helen Norman The classic red-and-green holiday palette gets a fresh update with a heavy dose of gold. These gleaming accents–in the form of ornaments, gift wrap, and a do-it-yourself garland–help make everything old seem new again this season. 20 of 45 Whimsical in White Photo: Laurey W. Glenn "Once, I painted my living room pink to match my pink-and-red tree," says Lindsey. "This year, I let the white walls direct my motif. I found a tree that looks like it's been dusted with fresh snow." To coordinate with the peachy pink curtains, she used candy-colored ornaments and garlands that look like jewelry. In lieu of a traditional skirt or stand, the tree is placed in a sculptural garden urn. 21 of 45 Brighten up the Holidays Emily J Followill If you love the glitz and glamour of the holidays, this look is for you. Make a statement with the shimmer of an ornament garland in a palette of silver and green, including all shades from chartreuse to moss. Well-placed pops of red add energy to this punchy, can't-miss-it-scheme. 22 of 45 Simple Christmas Tree Ngoc Minh Ngo This simple Christmas tree complements the casual and chic decor of the living room in a beautiful way. Let the tree do the talking. 23 of 45 Blue Christmas Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Many of us love to decorate with blue, so why not incorporate it into a holiday palette? "The gorgeous shade of this wallpaper inspired this shimmery tree," says the homeowner. "To offset the rich colors with plenty of sparkle, I piled on the silver—glass ornaments, disco ball-esque garlands, and a quirky topper." 24 of 45 Magnolia Garland Photo: Hector Sanchez Wrap your tree in a garland formed from magnolia leaves stapled together with their backs facing out. It's a great way to add a natural and neutral color to your tree without overpowering your ornaments. 25 of 45 Tinsel Town Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty If you're not afraid of a little sparkle, go for a super fun tinsel tree and some shiny pink and silver ornaments. Throw in a few mini pineapples (or an unexpected touch) for an extra splash of joy. 26 of 45 Colorful & Coastal Photo: Helen Norman; Design: Seleta Hayes Howard; Styling: Elizabeth Demos Shades of aqua, turquoise, and white create a crisp, festive holiday vibe for this beach-side tree. Glass pinecone ornaments reflect the area's indigenous conifers and bring a traditional holiday motif to the decor. The unconventional color scheme extends to the giftwrap papers, none of which are Christmas patterns but were chosen to reflect the cottage's fresh palette. 27 of 45 Bring Nature Inside Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper When it came to decorating a tree for this formal living room, interior designer Charlotte Lucas, chose colors in rich jewel tones that complimented the room. With turquoise, lime green, and a hint of coral, Lucas was able to achieve a sophisticated tree. She added a whimsy touch with her ornament choices, including feathered birds and paper butterflies to adorn the tree. Instead of a traditional star, Lucas found two gold starbursts that she wired together. 28 of 45 Suited for the South Laurey W. Glenn This "Hillside Upright" Norway spruce—with lights, pinecones, burlap, and feathers—grows up to 20 feet tall and is suited to the Upper and Middle South. Here, the tabletop size is the finishing touch for a festive porch. 29 of 45 Fashionable Fresh Greens Photo: Laurey W. Glenn The trick to keeping this graphic look punchy, not ho-hum, is choosing the right shade of green. "This crisp apple hue pops perfectly—anything darker or lighter would fade into the tree," the designer says. To keep the holiday look fresh and bright, she chose all-white ornaments for their modern feel and bold contrast. A playful paper lantern tops the tree, and the trailing garland and ribbons echo the colors of the rug's chevron stripes. 30 of 45 Metallic Sparkler Photo by Laurey W. Glenn Create an opulent feel without overwhelming the space by decorating your Christmas tree with a limited color scheme of silver, gold, and bronze. 31 of 45 Out of the Woods Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty If you think a woodland themed tree has to be dark, think again. We've covered this small Christmas tree in just enough sparkle to keep things lively. 32 of 45 Refined Rustic The grasscloth wallpaper and cool slate fireplace in this living room dictated a natural holiday palette with warm colors and nubby textures. Burlap unifies the look, with homespun stockings on the mantel, an oversize bow topping the tree, and gifts wrapped in the woven material. Cool mercury glass ornaments add a touch of shimmer. 33 of 45 Colorful Classic A Fraser fir, with its symmetrical shape, coordinates nicely with this room's classic architecture. A Southern magnolia wreath hangs in the window by strips of a fabric that is used throughout the room, and the red and gold ornaments play up a traditional bells and holly theme. Strands of large, clear glass bulbs, usually used to light a patio, give this tree an ethereal glow at night. 34 of 45 Bold and Bright Dancing in lively green and robust red ribbons, this larger-than-life tree doesn't shy away from bringing holiday cheer to the living room. 35 of 45 Cascading Ribbon Tree Photo by Robbie Caponetto Decorate your Christmas tree with long, cascading tendrils of colorful ribbon, rickrack, and pom-pom fringe. Search the remnants section of a fabric-and-trim store for good deals on pieces that are at the end of a roll or odd-sized, and collect throughout the year. Attach ribbon directly to an embroidery hoop and then simply slide over the top of your tree. 36 of 45 Classic Red & Silver Lucas Allen The common color of old and new silver ornaments makes this Fraser fir elegant while different shapes and sheens keep it interesting. Red beads mimic a classic cranberry garland without the mess and white bulbs cast a calming glow. See all of this Lowcountry Holiday Home. 37 of 45 Colorful Tabletop Display If you're tight on space, try a tabletop tree planted in a sculptural garden urn. Dripping with antique glass ornaments and beaded garland, it's a festive way to display your treasures. 38 of 45 Golden Glow Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Complement a colorful living room with an all-gold tree. Pair antique ornaments with modern ones for a more collected and less "designed" look. 39 of 45 Organic & Shimmery Skip the ubiquitous metal tree stand, and give your tree a unique base by anchoring it in a large container. Here a half barrel makes the perfect fit. Adjust the vessel to your style: fancy urns for an elegant look and rustic baskets for a casual one. 40 of 45 Beachy Casual Sand dollars, sea stars, and shells make ideal ornaments if you live by the coast. Collect them all summer to bring a warm smile to the holidays. 41 of 45 Winter Wonderland Photo: Helen Norman The theme of this tree radiates the shine of silver and gold, almost neutral but with a little bling. Glittered ornaments and mercury glass balls lend a glimmering, glamorous feeling. Skip the tree skirt for a clean and simple look, and to let the lower limbs of the tree brush the floor. Place packages around the outside of the tree to make it look larger. 42 of 45 Twinkling Delight For the ultimate twinkling tree, dress each branch with white lights. It can be tedious, but the glow is worth it. Minimal ornaments in a limited color scheme let the tree really shine. 43 of 45 Nostalgic Red & Gold Photo: Helen Norman Nothing is more traditional than a red and green holiday palette. Give it a twist by using only red and gold ornaments on the tree, so that the pine needles, gift ribbons, and threads of green in the tartan blanket are the only green elements. This look proves that a nostalgic color scheme can be updated for a fresh, modern look. 44 of 45 Green & Gold Tabletop Tree Photo: Laurey W. Glenn If you have small kids, try a tabletop tree to keep fragile ornaments and alluring packages out of reach. A wide burlap ribbon festoons this tree, cascading down the branches with casual elegance. 45 of 45 Cascading Velvet Ribbons Alison Gootee; Styling: Elizabeth Demos Add a pop of color and texture to your Christmas decor with vertical, velvet ribbons. Here, the vibrant look pairs with a family ornament collection that grows each year. Was this page helpful? 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