20 Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas (Themes, Colors + Ribbon Tips)

The tree is the center of Christmas decorating, and also the part people overthink the most. The good news is that almost any tree looks great with enough lights, a clear color palette and ornaments hung at different depths.

Here are 20 Christmas tree decorating ideas, from classic red and gold to ribbon, bows, fruit, gingerbread and woodland themes, plus small trees for apartments. There's also a quick guide to how many lights and ornaments you need. For the rest of the room, see our Christmas mantel decor ideas.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

• Lights first. Plan on about 100 lights per foot of tree for a full glow, so 700 to 800 for a 7.5-foot tree. Start at the bottom near the outlet and wrap each large branch from the trunk out to the tip and back, instead of just circling the outside.
• Then the topper. Put it on right after the lights, while you can reach the top without knocking ornaments off.
• Ribbon or garland next. Add it before the ornaments so you can tuck the ends into the branches.
• Big ornaments, then small. Hang the largest ornaments first and push some deep into the branches near the trunk, then fill the tips with smaller ones. Ornaments inside the tree add depth and make it glow from within.
• How many ornaments. Around 10 to 20 per foot of tree, depending on how full you like it. A 7.5-foot tree takes roughly 75 to 150.
• Shatterproof at the bottom. With kids or pets around, keep glass ornaments on the upper half.

1. Classic Red and Gold

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Red and gold never goes out of style. Glass balls in both colors, gold ribbon, warm white lights and a gold star make a tree that feels like Christmas to everyone.

Use two or three sizes of ball ornaments in each color and mix shiny, matte and glitter finishes so the tree doesn't look flat. Presents wrapped in the same colors finish the look.

2. Ribbon Cascading Down the Tree

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Vertical ribbon is one of the most popular ways to decorate a tree right now. Instead of wrapping ribbon around the tree, let several streams fall from a big bow at the top down to the bottom.

Use 2.5- to 4-inch wired ribbon so it holds its shape, and pinch it into the branches every foot or so to make soft waves. A 7.5-foot tree looks full with five to seven streams, roughly three to four rolls of 10-yard ribbon including the bow.

3. Velvet Bows Instead of Ornaments

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A tree decorated with nothing but bows looks simple and charming. Dozens of small red velvet bows spread evenly over the branches, plus warm white lights, is all it needs.

Ready-made bows come in packs of 12 or 24, or you can tie your own from 1.5-inch velvet ribbon. Plan on 40 to 60 for a full-size tree, and attach them with their wire or a twist tie so they don't slide.

4. Fruit and Berries

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Fruit is one of the big Christmas trends this year. Glass pears and apples, dried orange slices, sugared fruit and red berry picks make a tree that looks abundant and a little old-fashioned.

Dry your own orange slices in the oven at 200°F for three to four hours, flipping them a few times, then hang them with twine. A woven basket collar at the base suits the look.

5. Gingerbread Christmas Tree

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A gingerbread tree in cream, caramel and soft brown, with gingerbread men, little gingerbread houses and a few candy details, feels warm and sweet without being loud.

Keep the colors neutral: cream ribbon, white lights and caramel glass balls tie the cookie ornaments together. Real baked gingerbread ornaments can last for years if you bake them hard and seal them, but hang them out of reach of pets.

6. Flocked Tree in White and Silver

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A flocked tree looks like it was brought in from a snowy forest. Silver and clear glass ornaments, white ribbon and a silver star keep it bright and wintry.

Flocking sheds a little, especially in the first days, so lay a sheet under the tree while you decorate. Clear and mercury glass catch the light without hiding the white branches.

7. Magnolia Leaves and Gold

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Tuck magnolia leaves into the branches for a Southern Christmas tree. The glossy green fronts and velvety brown backs look rich next to gold ornaments and ribbon.

Use faux magnolia picks, or cut fresh leaves into small sprays. Fresh magnolia dries in place on the tree and still looks good weeks later.

8. Tartan Plaid Ribbon

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Tartan ribbon wrapped around the tree, red and green glass balls, small wooden ornaments and a tartan tree skirt make a cozy, classic tree for a cabin or a traditional living room.

Wrap the ribbon loosely in a spiral from top to bottom, tucking it into the branches every 12 to 18 inches. Tartan is back in a big way this season, so matching ribbon, skirts and stockings are easy to find.

9. Scandinavian Straw and Wood

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A Scandinavian tree is sparse and natural: straw stars, a wooden bead garland, little red woven hearts and plenty of small white lights. Less is the whole point.

It works best on a tree with open, layered branches, like a noble fir, so each ornament hangs freely and can be seen.

10. Layered Paper Stars

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Layered paper stars look like big snowflakes on the tree, and they're cheap and easy to make. Mix white and kraft paper in different sizes and top the tree with a large one.

Paper ornaments are light, so they're perfect for the thin branch tips that can't hold glass. Make extras: they flatten for storage and last for years.

11. Pink and Red

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Pink and red together look fresh and fun. Pink and red balls, pink velvet bows and red berry picks keep it bright, and pink trees have become a holiday favorite.

Choose one pink (bubblegum, blush or hot pink) and stick to it, then add red and a little gold. Presents wrapped in the same colors make the tree look even fuller.

12. Farmhouse Wood Beads and Burlap

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A farmhouse tree with a wood bead garland, cream knit ornaments, small burlap bows and a galvanized tree collar feels homey and relaxed.

Drape the bead garland in loose swags from branch to branch rather than wrapping it tight. A tree collar hides the stand and looks neater than a skirt in a small space.

13. Woodland with Pinecones and Mushrooms

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A woodland tree with pinecones, felt mushrooms, little birds, twig stars and a bit of faux snow looks like it grew in the forest.

Wire small pinecones to the branches with florist wire and dust the tips with faux snow. Clip-on birds are an easy way to finish it.

14. Jewel Tones and Velvet

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For a dramatic tree, go for jewel tones: emerald, sapphire, amethyst and gold ornaments with wide emerald velvet ribbon. It's especially good in a dark room.

Deep colors absorb light, so use more lights than usual (around 150 per foot) and choose shiny ornaments over matte ones.

15. Champagne and Gold Glam

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An elegant champagne and gold tree with metallic glass ornaments, glittering picks and champagne ribbon looks like a grand hotel lobby at Christmas, in the best way.

Tuck gold picks deep into the branches to fill gaps, and keep the palette to two or three metallic shades so it looks rich, not busy.

16. Blue and White Chinoiserie

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Blue and white porcelain-style ornaments, little ginger jars and white bows make a tree that fits a traditional or grandmillennial home.

Look for blue and white ornaments in several shapes (balls, jars, teardrops), and set a real ginger jar or two near the tree to tie the room together.

17. Dried Hydrangeas

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Dried hydrangea blooms tucked among the branches make a tree look full and soft, with antique green and dusty pink tones.

Cut hydrangeas in late summer or fall once the flowers feel papery, then stand them in a vase with a little water and let it evaporate. Dried and faux hydrangeas are also easy to find at craft stores.

18. Handmade Ornaments for Kids

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A family tree full of handmade ornaments (salt dough, felt, paper chains and popsicle stick stars) is the one everyone remembers.

For salt dough, mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt and about 1/2 cup water, cut out shapes and bake at 250°F until hard, usually two to three hours. Write the year on the back of each ornament so they become a timeline.

19. Slim Pencil Tree for Small Spaces

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In a small apartment, a slim pencil tree gives you the full height of a Christmas tree without taking over the room. Many are only 2 to 3 feet wide at the base.

Keep the decor simple, with lights and two colors of ornaments, and use a basket or tree collar instead of a wide skirt.

20. A Tabletop Tree in a Basket

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No room for a full tree? A tabletop tree in a woven basket on a console or side table still feels like Christmas, especially with tiny lights and small ornaments.

Look for trees 2 to 4 feet tall with battery-powered lights, so you don't need an outlet nearby. Small trees are also nice in bedrooms, kids' rooms and the kitchen; see our Christmas kitchen decor ideas.

Christmas Tree FAQ

How many lights do I need for a Christmas tree?

About 100 lights per foot of tree height, which is 700 to 800 for a 7.5-foot tree. For a very bright tree, go up to 150 per foot.

What order do you decorate a Christmas tree in?

Lights, then the topper, then ribbon or garland, then large ornaments, then small ornaments and picks.

How do I keep a real Christmas tree fresh?

Cut about half an inch off the bottom of the trunk right before you set it up, and keep the stand full of water. A tree can drink about a quart of water a day for each inch of trunk diameter, so check it daily, especially in the first week. Keep it away from heat vents and the fireplace.

When should I put up my Christmas tree?

Many people decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. A fresh-cut tree that is watered every day usually lasts four to five weeks, which takes it through New Year's.

The photos in this post were created with AI to illustrate each idea.