Stylish Christmas Tree Ideas: Different ways to Decorate your Tree
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
As the stores begin to overflow with Christmas trees and decorations, I thought now was the time to explore Christmas tree trends for 2026, along with the many other different ways you can dress your tree. You may already have a collection of decorations you’re fond of, but just fancy reinventing the scheme so it feels fresh for this year. Simply swapping the star at the top for an oversized bow can give the tree a whole new look. From nostalgic decorations, metallics and deep red ribbons, to dried fruit, gingerbread figures and botanical schemes, there are plenty of ideas to help you transform your Christmas tree.
If you’re decorating a tree for the first time or want a completely new look, your interior style might be a good starting point. For example, natural decorations suit a rustic country home, while luxurious glass or monochrome baubles might look more at home in a contemporary apartment. In my previous house, which had a Dutch country feel with rustic and Scandinavian touches, my Christmas tree, pictured here, reflected that style. I chose a real fir tree and kept the decoration sparse, with a mixture of brown paper decorations, ornaments in white and gunmetal and a few wooden wintry shapes to complement the tree stand. At the end of this article, you can see how I decorated another tree, this time an artificial one, in an all-white scheme.
A Christmas tree is also the ideal place to express your personality and display family treasures, such as a special bauble brought back from a family holiday, a snowman handmade by your children, or a decoration passed down through the generations which has become a family heirloom. When my children were young, our next-door neighbour made them a handcrafted felt elf each. No matter how stylish the tree or which scheme I choose, the elves take their place on the tree every year. It’s become a family tradition, and the boys still look forward to seeing them, even though they are now in their twenties!
Whether you favour hand-made figures, swathes of tinsel or metallic baubles, there’s no single way to decorate a Christmas tree. In this article, I’ve gathered a range of ideas and inspiration to help you find a look you’ll love, starting with the tree below with its oversized tartan bow from Pottery Barn. I’ll share a quick guide to different decorating schemes followed by images of some of my favourite trees. But first, let’s look at how a few celebrities have decorated their trees at Christmases past.
Kendall Jenner – Vintage Christmas
Classic Christmas trees with nostalgic ornaments and surrounding pinecone garlands creating a welcoming, more traditional setting.
Nicole Kidman – Candy Cane Christmas
Red and white baubles, candy cane ornaments and striped red-and-white ribbon - a playful twist to a classic Christmas palette.
Victoria Beckham – Warm Metallic Glamour
Bronze, rose gold and yellow accents - a warm, opulent scheme.
Reese Witherspoon – Festive Nostalgia
A silver tree decorated with red and white ornaments and finished with a velvet bow topper - a cheerful, nostalgic look.
Amanda Holden – Dramatic Elegance
Black baubles mixed with gold and white topped with a large black bow - a striking alternative to more traditional Christmas colours.
Different trends and themes for decorating your Christmas tree in 2026
Photo credit: Pottery Barn UK
Statement bows: From oversized bows at the top of the tree, to ribbons and tartan tails, bows can set the tone for the whole tree. Use one on top, and/or repeat smaller bows among the branches.
Natural and rustic touches: Wooden decorations, brown paper and woven baskets, bring warmth and texture.
Dried fruit: Dried orange slices, cranberries and cinnamon sticks are also natural looking, traditional decorations.
Novelty decorations: Gingerbread figures, colourful painted birds and patterned baubles bring personality and a nostalgic feel, with plenty of room for treasured family favourites.
Cherry cola shades and candy sticks: Striped candy sticks and ribbons in this popular shade bring a cheerful look to the tree.
Hand-made decorations: Hand crafted fairies, hearts and stars in fabric with trims bring that artisan touch to a tree.
Metallic shine: Gold and white create a sense of regal opulence, while peach, blush and champagne offer a softer glow. Mixing shiny, matt and textured baubles adds depth to a limited colour palette.
Tassels and fabric hanging details: Fringed tassels, slim ribbons and open stars introduce different textures and shapes.
Wintry accents: Little white houses, snowflakes and silver decorations create a storybook feel.
All white: Croched and all-white baubles really stand out against the green of the tree and can look striking.
Flowers and botanical details: Oversized faux blooms give a tree instant drama, while small bunches of white flowers and greenery dotted around the tree create a natural botanical look.
Coordinating presents: Gifts wrapped in wrapping paper and ribbons that coordinate with the tree decorations.
Create festive fun with novelty decorations
Photo credit: Oliver Bonas
Crafted with tiny beads in brown tones, these gingerbread characters make an interesting addition nestled among lights and other ornaments. Complete with white icing-style features and red buttons, these playful figures from Oliver Bonas give the tree a nostalgic feel. The brand also has other whimsical shapes in its beaded collection, including Christmas puddings, sausage dogs and cherries, all ideal for a family Christmas tree. You could also hang real gingerbread characters from the branches with tied with red ribbon.
Make a statement with oversized faux flowers on your Christmas tree
Photo credit: Covet House
If you want your tree to be rather different and have the wow factor, oversized flowers certainly make an impression. Here, enormous pale blooms with pink centres turn the tree in this living room by Covet House into a sculptural centrepiece, with smaller decorations filling the branches around them. The tree echoes the interior, from the intricate floral illustration on the rug to the glamorous sun-burst etched on top of the cocktail table. You could adapt the idea on a smaller scale with a few faux flowers attached to the branches, choosing colours that complement your scheme and spacing the blooms at varying heights mixed among your baubles.
Hand-painted tree decoration ideas with colourful bauble and bird motifs
Photo credit: Annie Sloan
Colourful hand-painted bird motifs and patterned baubles give this tree an artisanal feel. These decorations are from Annie Sloan’s Woodland Christmas palette, which brings together rich, warm and joyful colours inspired by the natural world. The pink, turquoise and red details add plenty of personality, with each painted design bringing its own charm. I like how these hand-painted decorations are the key feature, while the rest of the tree is kept simple with a sprinkling of fairy lights.
Decorate your tree with bows and open stars
Photo credit: Atkin & Thyme
Topped with a gold star, this slender pre-lit tree by Atkin & Thyme has been decorated with bows, metallic baubles and star shapes, giving it an understated elegance. The extra-long ribbon tails of the bows add movement, while the topper echoes the stars hanging from the branches in an unexpected way. What I like about this scheme is that the ribbons, in three different colourways, are a standout feature in their own right, needing only a few baubles and twinkling lights to complete the look.
Illuminate your tree with bauble lights and faux candles
Photo credit: Light4fun.co.uk Image Shot by Oliver Perrott
This green and silver tree has a blue, bronze and white decorating scheme, but what stands out is the string of illuminated baubles draped across the branches. A mix of pale and deeper-toned baubles adds depth, and you can extend the scheme beneath the tree by wrapping gifts in coordinating colours. What makes this tree particularly special is the layering of light: LED candles, lanterns and strings of lights, all from Lights4fun, create warmth both on and around the base, giving a warm glow to the whole display. Once your presents are under the tree, you can also get this look by dotting a few LED candles in-between the presents.
Add glamour to your tree with diamond shapes
Photo credit: Covet House
A sophisticated interior calls for an equally elegant tree, as shown in this seating area by Covet House, where the sofa has an antique gilded branch frame. White and gold are a classic pairing, but the diamond-shaped ornaments on this tree bring a touch of glamour and, alongside the soft gold baubles, echo the glinting sofa frame. Little white houses stand out against the branches, adding a charming detail to the scheme. If you have a favourite type of decoration, repeat it throughout the tree and team with plain baubles to let it shine.
Aqua bows paired with red baubles
It’s the aqua bows that are the standout feature of this tree by Cox & Cox, which would work well in a coastal home, a sunny setting or a room with aqua accents. They have been paired with soft pink decorations and red and green baubles in striped and checked designs, showing how patterned baubles bring a playful twist to a tree. Aqua would also work well combined with metallics alone; the gold garland woven through the branches gives a hint of this lovely combination.
Decorating with bunches of flowers and foliage
Photo Credit: The Dressed Tree
The decorations on this tree by The Dressed Tree are a mix of delicate stars, soft bows and baubles, but what I particularly like are the little clusters of berries in three different colourways, tucked into the branches to give the tree a botanical feel. The dark woven tree skirt adds to the natural country look, as does the foliage on the mantelpiece interspersed with more berries. If you want to hide your tree stand, a woven skirt is a simple way to conceal it while adding a natural texture to the scheme.
Oversized white bow paired with metallic baubles
Photo credit: Sofa.com
The fashionably large white bow with long trailing tails draped either side, gives this tree a striking finishing touch. The rest of the decorations are pared back, with a mix of warm bronze, gold and copper baubles echoed in the garland on the shelf. If you want to use a large bow as your tree topper, choose white or a neutral colour and keep the decorations understated for a more contemporary feel, as shown here in this living room next to Sofa.com’s sculptural sofa.
Citrus fruit and cinnamon decorations teamed with red and bronze.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Here is a rather traditional-looking real tree that I photographed at Chewton Glen Hotel. There’s something lovely about this natural scheme featuring dried oranges and orange slices suspended from red bows, alongside little bundles of cinnamon sticks. Rich red velvet baubles echo the ribbons and add a classic festive touch. If you would like to try drying oranges for your own tree decorations, head over to my article Natural Festive Decorations by the Pros: How to Get the Look at Home, to find out how the professionals do it.
Christmas Shimmer and copper leaves
Photo credit: Covet House
For the Christmas season, Covet House has created a cosy Art Deco-style living room with a blush pink leather chair, patterned rug and a coordinating Christmas tree. The shimmering silver tree is dressed in a sophisticated way with ornate copper finials and luxurious white baubles in a mixture of textured and decorative finishes. Copper-toned leaves are tucked between the branches, bringing in a touch of nature. The overall effect is a soft blend of champagne and blush tones that complement the rest of the room beautifully. Choose baubles that tie in with your interior, or pick out an accent colour from your soft furnishings or home decor for a cohesive scheme.
Natural, understated tree decorated with velvet ribbons
Photo credit: Nkuku
This naturally decorated tree in the festive living room by Nkuku features decorations from this year’s collection with their Taara star at the top. What I like most is how the ribbons, in beautiful velvet finishes, have been loosely draped over the branches - simple yet so effective. Muted greens and pinks keep the look understated, while the ribbons add texture and movement. Notice how the natural theme continues with an abundance of fir foliage on the mantelpiece decorated with more stars and baubles, a lovely example of how you can extend your tree styling to other areas of the room.
White, silver and glass decorations
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
Pictured here is another tree in my previous home, this time an artificial one, with our gorgeous family friend Bella dressed as a fairy for a photoshoot. For an all-white scheme, I dressed the tree with a mix of white crocheted baubles and handmade fairies, combined with silver and glass ornaments. Of course, the collection of presents underneath is part of the appeal, something that I haven’t touched on yet. If, like me, you want your tree to look even more beautiful throughout December, wrap a few empty boxes in different shapes and sizes, choosing paper and ribbons in similar tones to your tree decorations. You can swap them for the real thing on Christmas Eve and save the empty ones as props to bring out again next year.
LET’S SUM UP
I hope this article has given you lots of ideas of different ways to decorate your Christmas tree this year. If you’d like to read more of my Christmas decoration articles do head over to the following:
Natural, Rustic Christmas Decorating Ideas for Every Room
FESTIVE TABLESCAPES - a mix of unusual ideas and inspiration to create your own
FESTIVE MANTELPIECES - a mix of unusual ideas and inspiration to create your own Yuletide mantel masterpiece
Festive Candles and Candle Holders: How to Decorate with Candlelight in the festive season
I'm Sandra, an interior stylist, writer, photographer and Sunday Times bestselling author. Having worked freelance for magazines including Elle Decoration and House Beautiful, in my blog posts I share inspiration from the interior shows, practical styling ideas and decorating tips to help you create a home that feels beautiful, personal and pulled together.
I also take you on tours of beautifully styled homes from around the world, offering inspiration and styling ideas to steal for your own space. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level.
If you’d like to find out more about me click here
