The tree is the centerpiece of Christmas decor. They bring a warm glow and cozy feeling to any room they’re in.
There are many ways to decorate a tree, and everyone has a different approach. But if you want to try something different this year, why not give a themed tree a try?
If that sounds fun, but you aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, you’ll learn how to decorate a themed Christmas tree from start to finish. We’ve also included fifteen theme ideas to get you started.
Why Theme Your Tree?
If you’ve never tried doing a themed tree before, you might wonder why you should even bother. There are a few reasons you might want to give it a try.
1) Cohesion
Eclectic ornaments are fun. But if you want to create something more pulled together, a themed tree is the way to go.
2) Professional
Themed trees have a polished look. It will look even more professionally done if you match the rest of your decor to the theme.
3) Creative
Creating a themed tree takes a certain amount of creativity. Every choice has to be thoughtful, from the tree to the topper.
How to Decorate a Themed Christmas Tree
Step 1: Maximalist or Minimalist?
Before you pick a theme, decide how much decoration you actually want. There’s no right answer here, just whatever works best with your style or vision.
Maybe you’d prefer a minimalist tree with a few thoughtfully chosen ornaments. Maybe you like seeing more decoration than tree. Or maybe you’re somewhere in the middle, with enough ornaments to make the tree feel full without going overboard.
Step 2: Pick a Theme
The most important step of the process is picking what theme you’re going for. The ideas are endless, but if you need help getting started, keep reading. The next section has fifteen theme ideas for you to try.
Step 3: Assemble the Tree
The tree you choose to go with your theme has a big impact on the overall impression. Green is a classic, but you could also go with:
- White
- Pink
- Silver
- Blue
- Flocked
- Pre-lit
Once you’ve selected your tree, it’s time to set it up. Don’t forget to fluff it! That’s how you’ll achieve the full, natural look everybody wants.
Step 4: Put On the Lights
With your fully fluffed tree in place, it’s time to add the lights. Again, the color and type you choose will heavily depend on your theme.
Consider trying different ways of wrapping the tree, as well. Going around clockwise is classic, but you could drape the lights or wrap them vertically instead.
Step 5: Add Ribbons and Garlands
Before you add any ornaments, add any other items you plan to wrap around the tree, like garlands or ribbons. These will help fill in any empty spaces and make your tree look fuller.
You don’t have to do a traditional clockwise wrap with these, either. Garlands can be draped from the top of the tree. You can loop ribbons in and out of the branches for a professional look.
Step 6: Fill in With Ornaments
It’s finally time to pull out your ornaments. The general rule here is to start with your biggest ornaments. Disperse them around the tree so they don’t overwhelm any areas.
Then, fill in the gaps with smaller ornaments. Don’t be afraid to keep rearranging until you get that perfect arrangement, either. It takes a little trial and error to achieve the perfect balance.
Step 7: Additional Add-Ons
At this point, you could stop, but there are a few more decorations you can add if you want even more on your tree. Consider:
- Bows
- LED candles
- Greenery picks
- Tinsel
- Train sets
- Figurines
Step 8: Finishing Touches
You’re in the home stretch! There are only two things left to add: the tree topper and something to finish off the base of the tree.
Stars, angels, and bows are all classic tree toppers. But if you look on Pinterest or TikTok, you can find hundreds of unique ideas if you’re looking for something that matches your theme better.
Lastly, add something around the bottom of your tree to pull everything together. A tree skirt is traditional, but you could also try a blanket, a box, a basket, or even a sleigh.
Christmas Tree Theme Ideas
Classic Holiday
Exactly what you picture when someone says “classic Christmas tree”. All red, white, and green, with traditional ornaments and simple lights.
All White
Going all white can be classy and lean into a snowy aesthetic. It’s the perfect option for displaying in your entryway or formal living room.
Silver and Gold
Lean into metalics with silver and gold ornaments, ribbons, and tree toppers. You could even get warm and cool white lights to add to the look.
Pink and White
The most feminine combo ever. You can either have a pink tree with white ornaments or a white tree with pink ornaments.
Nutcracker
Find miniature nutcracker ornaments and ballerinas to display on this tree. Don’t forget gauzy ribbons!
Winter Woodland
Start this theme with a flocked tree (aka, one with fake snow on it). Then, cover it with holly berries, woodland creature ornaments, and other rustic touches.
Retro
Take inspiration from Christmas trees from the 50s, 60s, or 70s. Really lean into the look with tinsel and midcentury style ornaments.
Beachy
A coastal Christmas tree is always fun. Rather than go for red and green, cover it with blue and beachy ornaments, like shells, sea glass, and starfish.
Purple and Blue
This color scheme is gorgeous, but not used very often, which makes it stand out. Go for rich, jewel tones to contrast with the greenery.
Natural
Rather than using glass or plastic decor, cover the tree with cranberry garlands, orange slices, and dried flowers for a rustic, country look. This is the perfect opportunity to DIY your ornaments.
Ombre
A simple way to make old ornaments feel new is to arrange them in an ombre pattern down the tree. It looks cool and feels very fun.
Black and White
Feeling a bit moodier this year? Go all out with black and white decorations, maybe even with a white or black Christmas tree as a base.
Floral
Flowers can be a great way to add color and life to your Christmas tree. Look for floral garlands or picks, then fill the tree in with even more floral ornaments.
Candy Canes
Children of all ages love candy canes. Use real or fake ones to decorate the tree, along with striped ribbon and red and white lights.
Candy
What’s Christmas without some sweets? Pick pastel candy ornaments for this theme, maybe even pairing them with faux gumdrop garlands and a candy tree topper.
Your Christmas tree will be the highlight of the house once you decorate it with one of these themes (or one of your own creation). It’s time to get creative!
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