Christmas trees are a holiday staple. They're a pillar of festivity and are always at the center of happy holiday memories.
Each year brings new styles to try too. This year we are seeing the return of retro decorations, kitschy styles that hark back to the 90s and beyond. And if that's not your style, and you prefer a more neutral and sophisticated look for the holidays, the quiet luxury style that reigned last year is back again for 2024.
We know that Christmas decor is personal, and everyone has traditions they like to follow but that's not to say you can't be inspired by new ideas. We've rounded up all our favorite Christmas tree ideas for 2024 right here, from bold and beautiful, to subtle and serene, to even a tree made totally of dried flowers.
1. Go retro with vintage-style glass baubles
Glass baubles are nothing new when it comes to Christmas decor trends, but it's recently been hard to ignore the resurgence of loud, playful, and shiny ornaments dominating Christmas collections for 2024 and popping up across social media.
Gisela Graham is the founder of a world-renowned Christmas line (which includes beautiful glass baubles), so she's a true expert in decorating with this style. She tells H&G 'Make sure you don’t just hang them on the ends of the branches – putting some further into the tree gives depth and is a top tip from interior stylists.' Glass ornaments are delicate so give this tip a try to avoid any heartbreaking breakages.
John Derian instantly springs to mind when we think of fun, retro ornaments. Every little bauble in this year's holiday collection is individual and charming in character.
These adorable decorations are undoubtedly edible art. Ordinary household objects make the cutest ornaments, they're kitsch and fun.
Anthropologie has a range of retro glass baubles. The US city range is sweet, as they work well as gifts too for friends across the country.
2. Ensure the base of your tree looks its best
The often neglected part of the tree is the base, so don't forget you can accessorize the bottom with fun skirts, baskets, and pots. If you neglect the base it can detract from all the lovely decor going on on the tree itself.
Gisela recommends to, 'Firstly, position the tree in the right place and make sure it’s firm in its pot or on its base. If it’s faux, now is the time to cover the feet of the stand with a skirt or to put the whole tree in a large pot or basket.'
Instead of the traditional go-to Christmas tree skirt, this year's Christmas trend is all about the pot or the basket. Creating that clear space around the base of your tree really elevates it, making it appear taller and fuller.
3. Be sustainable with handmade decor
It's never been more important to be sustainable and by opting for handmade decor you are doing just that whilst giving your tree a rustic and elegant feel.
‘Small changes can make a big difference so enjoy an environmentally friendly Christmas this year with sustainable, hand-crafted, wood, recycled glass, and paper-mâché decorations,’ says Daisy Coombes, marketing manager of Sass and Belle.
A tip for nailing that bespoke look is going for hand-crafted homewares or if you are crafty, making your own decorations. A delicate and rustic style can be achieved with fabric baubles. Felt and embroidery techniques recall long-established styles whilst being eco-friendly.
This beautifully embroidered ornament is charmingly crafted by hand. Coral and Tusk has a selection of unique fabric baubles like this little deer with lights ornament.
Paper decorations are great for mixing and matching as they look great and varied in size and color. These ones have a subtle touch of glitter to add some sparkle to a rustic-style tree.
If you couldn't already tell, I'm a fan of quirky Christmas decor, like these Felt Fruit Ornaments designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel. Whilst not traditionally festive, their warm tones and personality make them a delicious choice.
4. Embrace the trend for tinsel
We've noticed a resurgence of this icicle-like tinsel this year. This string tinsel, also known as lametta, can be elegantly layered on a Christmas tree to create a glorious, shimmering effect.
Whether you decide to cover the whole tree for maximum effect or hang a few strands for a glistening finishing touch, this style of tinsel can create a magnificent, magical design. To help the environment, remember to reuse your tinsel year after year or opt for eco-friendly tinsel made from recycled PVC plastic.
6. Bows are always a good idea
Bows have been a huge interior design trend this year, and it looks like holiday decor will be following suit.
Interior designer Mary Patton says ‘Each year, I like to approach my Christmas decorations with fresh eyes. I choose a theme or a dominant color and mix it with pieces I already have. This year, I’m incorporating velvet bows in various colors throughout my décor.’
Mary's not the only one opting for the popular ribbon look. Gisela Graham says, 'If you’re a fan of one of this season’s big trends, bows, cut some lengths of ribbon in your chosen color theme and tie them neatly at various intervals around the tree.' This is such a simple DIY Christmas decor idea and a speedy option if you're pushed for time approaching the holidays.
Target's Christmas line is filled with fun and easy pieces like this Faux Velvet Bow. These work great tied onto a tree or placed on the top of a wreath.
If you want to go beyond fabric ribbon, McGee & Co. has a suitable alternative. This Brass Bow Clip is rustic and antique-looking. An added bonus is it's easy to fasten on your tree!
The classic red bow- can you really go wrong? These ones come in a set of six and characterize true Christmas spirit.
5. Keep it simple with just one type of ornament
It’s already a pretty big deal to have an actual tree inside your home, so sometimes keeping Christmas tree ideas simple is best.
A pared-back look can be incredibly elegant, especially if you invest in quality decorations. ‘I love mixing delicate, clear, hand-blown glass ornaments collected over years which add some sparkle, adding freshly cut winter foliage to layer the tree decoration, and not forgetting a few white accents,’ says Henry Miller-Robinson, co-founder of K&H Design.
This simple tree design needs only three decor elements to create a stylish look: shimmering glass baubles, a garland of lights, and a statement tree topper.
7. Make Christmas lights and garlands the star of the show
Johnathan Adler says 'Whatever you do, don’t skimp. Nothing’s sadder than an under-accessorized tree.’
Christmas tree lights can take your Christmas tree from merry to bright in an instant. Helping to create a cozy and warming atmosphere, they are one of the main indoor Christmas lighting ideas and come in so many different styles and varieties.
From warm white string lights to colorful LEDs and twinkling garlands, Christmas tree lights can not only beautifully illuminate your tree, but there are many tips, tricks, and Christmas tree lighting hacks that can help to make your tree look fuller and professionally lit.
Christmas garlands can be incorporated with lights or solo. They make a textural addition to a tree and sometimes bring color or shine. There are so many varieties out there, but metallic or glittery garlands are great if you want to bring shine to your tree. Or go old school using paper, a cheap and simple way of making a garland for any area of your home.
Radiating vibrancy and color, this Swirl Garland gives a nostalgic nod to Christmas decor from the '80s.
These little bells add charm and character to any surface. The rustic choice of yarn and the antique quality of the bells are the perfect combination.
This ornate botanical garland is delicate and catches the light. Wrap this around your tree for extra shine and finesse.
8. Immerse the senses with scented decor
‘For me, Christmas is hugely about fragrance,’ says florist Philippa Craddock. ‘It’s the evocative scent of fresh spruce from the tree brought indoors, bundles of cinnamon, dried oranges, and the richness from cloves placed together in decorative bowls, their fragrance released with the warmth of the room.’
Take note of your Christmas wreath ideas and build on the scent of your pine branches with tree decorations that conjure Christmassy aromas. This tree is decorated with the likes of both dried orange and apple slices, as well as pine cones and bunches of cinnamon sticks, a great way to make your home smell good for Christmas.
9. Create a unique, faux flower tree
Forgo tradition and choose a Christmas tree idea styled with beautiful blooms. Rob Copsey from Atlas Flowers who provided the beautiful stems for this unique set up explains, 'Dried flowers are strikingly effective when used to decorate for Christmas. With so many different products available they are perfect for matching to your chosen seasonal color theme and style, adding an eye-catching difference to any design.'
If you're unsure how to embrace florals and combine them with your Christmas tree, Rob explains exactly how. 'For Christmas trees, we would recommend the simple use of floristry wire, as you can cut stems to the lengths required and attach them to fixed branches deeper inside the tree. This way the flowers extend out beyond the foliage for maximum visual impact.'
10. Create a 'tree' for when space is tight
If you're tight for space or would rather have a no-fuss alternative, creating an arrangement of branches can replace a Christmas tree and provide the same overall effect. We are big fans of using fir or pine as they're reminiscent of a real tree and release that wonderful wintery scent.
Dan Mazzarini, Principal and Creative Director of BHDM Design also takes this approach, explaining, 'In situations where I don't have space to do a traditional tree, I opt for a big arrangement of pine branches in a vase. It’s just as dramatic but also easier to buy, style, and then dispose of at the end of the season. A wreath over a bookcase surrounded by a collection of silver platters and vases also adds a nice sparkle and feels cozy but festive.'
Nicola Harding likes gathering foliage too. 'We trawl the garden and country lanes for our favorite old man’s beard – a type of clematis that romps through the hedgerows and forms beautiful white wispy seed heads that give it its name. We drape it around the house and place it in vases with sprigs of holly and ivy.'
Christmas tree ideas are infinite, but the key to a well-decorated tree is to adorn it with ornaments you love and that bring you joy. Much like with interior styles, it's nice to be influenced by new ideas every year and bring in new touches to your Christmas tree to mix with your comes-out-every-year-decor.
