There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by dreaming up and planning out your Christmas tree decorations. While there’s really no way to go wrong when decorating your tree, there are a few tips and tricks that the pros (and Santa’s little helpers) use to create a picture-perfect Christmas tree.
Their biggest secret? Pick an overarching theme to your tree and plan out the rest of your decorations from there. Having a theme will help your entire tree feel cohesive — even if you do sneak in a few family heirlooms or keepsake ornaments into the branches.
Here, we’ve gathered up 25 of our favorite Christmas tree theme ideas. So, grab a mug of hot cocoa and prepare to get inspired.
Christmas Classics & Nostalgia
1. Classic Red
If you’re searching for a Christmas tree idea that will never go out of style, look no further. A lush green tree adorned with tons of red ornaments is a classic for a reason — it looks good in any era and in any home! We love the idea of collecting red ornaments in various shapes to add some variation to your tree. You’ll earn bonus points in our book for skipping metal ornament hangers and using pretty ribbons in contrasting colors to hang the ornaments from your tree’s branches.
2. Retro Chrome
If Christmas brings out your nostalgic side, go for retro-inspired decor to match! Top your tree with a chrome mid-century modern-inspired star, and use silver baubles as the foundation for your tree decorations. Then, make things feel a little bit more personal (and playful!) by layering in vintage ornaments, pretty white Christmas lights, and peace-sign stockings inspired by the 1960s.
3. Candy Cane
Getting inspired by swirling peppermint sticks is another classic Christmas tree theme that has just the right amount of nostalgia. We love the idea of wrapping warm white lights around your tree and then winding a few strings of this pastel and peppermint garland through the branches. (This garland would also look great hung from a mantel or sideboard!) Finish off the look with ornaments in corresponding colors and by tucking a few edible candy canes into the branches for your family to snack on come Christmas morning.
4. Gingerbread
A gingerbread-themed Christmas tree is a fun idea if you love a traditional vibe and have a penchant for baking and DIY. To get the look, bake a big batch of gingerbread cookies in various shapes and gather your family around for an afternoon of decorating — then, hang them on a tree full of colorful lights and classic baubles with festive red ribbon. For a version of this theme that is more kid- and curious pet-friendly, opt for non-edible ornaments in classic gingerbread cookie shapes like this sweet felt and wood set.
5. Felt Garland
Anchoring your Christmas tree decorations around a felt garland is another theme that has the perfect festive-meets-retro vibe. These garlands can serve as the foundation for multiple decor aesthetics — use them to add a bit of color to a Scandinavian-inspired tree or go more-is-more by pairing red felt garlands with plenty of playful ornaments in a variety of shapes.
Modern & Minimal
6. Rustic Elegance
If you’re a lover of all things modern farmhouse, this is the perfect Christmas tree idea for you. Start by decorating your tree in classic cream, white, and green ornaments. Then add warmth and personality to your tree by using rustic raw-edged ribbon to layer on keepsakes like this tiny frame — which holds a small piece of art hand-made by one of our talented independent artists.
7. Beautiful Blue
This isn’t the kind of blue Christmas that Elvis croons about in his holiday classic. A blue Christmas tree theme is perfect if your interior decor style leans a little bit more neutral. You could up the drama by picking ornaments in primarily deep blues like navy, or get inspired by clear, frosty mornings by choosing lighter blue shades. Add gold accents if you’re going for a darker color scheme or silver accents (like a bit of tinsel!) to highlight icy cool blues.
8. Nordic Inspired
Nordic and Scandinavian inspired trees are perfect for minimalists looking for Christmas decorations with plenty of that special hygge feeling. The key here is to pick out just a few thoughtful pieces of decor — as these trees tend to be more sparsely decorated than their American counterparts. Stick with handmade tree toppers and ornaments made of natural materials like wood and paper. Be sure to also leave plenty of space for tall tapered LED tree candles, which the Scandis use to illuminate their trees instead of strings of Christmas lights.
9. Minimalist
A minimalist tree is a lovely option for those who prefer to steer clear of clutter, no matter the season. To ensure your minimalist tree feels intentional (and not just un-decorated!) opt for a tree that has sparse branches. A potted tree works great for this look, and is something you’ll be able to keep in your yard long after the holiday season. Once you’ve picked the perfect tree, wind a few strands of small white Christmas lights around the branches. If you want, you can leave the decorations there, or add an unornamented star at the top and a luxe tree skirt at the bottom.
Source: Pinterest
10. Wooden Accents
There are a few directions you can go with this versatile Christmas tree idea. Most obviously, you can lean into the nostalgia of handmade wooden ornaments by using them as a focal point in classic red and green Christmas decor. Wooden accents also work well if your style leans more minimalist or Scandinavian-inspired — just be sure to look for ornaments like this one that combine light wood tones with creamy white accents. Finally, wooden accents also work well for a coastal Christmas celebration. Pair driftwood ornaments with starfish, fish, and even a mermaid or two on your tree to nail the beachy look.
11. Blush
To give your Christmas decorations a soft, romantic feel go for a Christmas tree with a blush pink color palette. Hang ornaments that pair various pink tones with deep burgundies, blues, and vibrant reds — and tie blush satin ribbon into a few well-placed bows throughout the branches. Don’t forget to complete the romantic look by hanging up a few boughs of mistletoe throughout your home!
12. White Christmas
If you’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas, bring it to life with an all-white Christmas tree. The key to keeping this Christmas tree theme feeling cozy and not cold is to use ornaments and garlands in creamy white shades and opt for just a few frosty white accents. Then, add in a little bit more visual interest by incorporating a few ornaments that feature pops of red and plenty of pretty warm white Christmas lights.
Kid-Approved
13. Safari
For something completely unexpected, go with a safari-themed Christmas tree this year. Deck your tree out with all of the cute animal ornaments you can find and then fill in any gaps with classic baubles in safari-inspired colors like bronze and gold. A canvas or neutral-colored tree skirt will also provide the perfect place to nestle presents wrapped in safari-inspired prints under the tree.
14. Dinosaur
Your kiddo’s obsession with dinosaurs doesn’t have to stop just because it’s Christmas! Lean into what sparks joy by decking your tree out in all things dinosaur — think super-cute felt dinosaur ornaments, DIY dinosaur paper garlands, and more. To keep things feeling just a little bit grown up, we recommend filling out your tree with classic ornaments in a smaller color palette of red, green, and blue.
15. Unicorns & Rainbows
If you have a kiddo who is obsessed with all things unicorns, rainbows, and sugar-coated fantasy, use that as your inspiration for this year’s tree! Go all out with the theme by layering rainbow- and unicorn-shaped ornaments over a base of round baubles in every color under the sun. Or, lean into the pastel color palette often associated with unicorns by pairing white christmas lights and soft pink, blue, and purple ornaments with plenty of sparkly and playful novelty ornaments.
Bold & Unique
16. Modern Lines
Seeing our independent designers and artists play with bold geometric shapes and intricate linework has been one of our favorite Christmas card trends over the last few years. So it’s no surprise that we love this funky Christmas tree theme. The key to pulling this look off is to stick to a tightly edited color palette of two or three colors. Put down a layer of solid ornaments in your chosen colors, and then add on boldly patterned ornaments like the ones here as pops of visual interest.
17. Touches of Orange
Have a home full of 1970s and bohemian-inspired furniture? Go with a Christmas decor palette that combines vibrant green with creamy whites, pinks, and rich burnt orange. Lean into the vintage vibes by decking your tree out in quirky ornaments with a hand-made touch, like these hand-painted baubles and tiny pieces of art. We also love the idea of adding some real oranges to an orange-themed tree by stringing up a few garlands of dried citrus slices in addition to your ornaments.
18. Sweet Succulents
If you’re celebrating Christmas in a warm climate, decorating your tree with succulent-inspired ornaments is a fun way to blend classic evergreens with your local environment. These woven ornaments are perfect for a surprisingly sophisticated take on the theme, as their colors and textures give the impression of looking at a succulent from above. And, to earn your spot on Santa’s nice list, make sure to tuck a small live succulent into your stockings to complete your Christmas-in-the-desert celebration!
19. Ribbons and Bows
Bows and ribbons are one of the biggest trends of the year, popping up everywhere from fashion to interiors and even our latest collection of holiday cards. So why not deck out your tree in pretty ribbons and bows? To get the look, start by selecting two or three luxe ribbons (Minted has a great selection of ribbons to choose from) in coordinating colors and textures. Then, get to tying! You can use the ribbon to create bow ornaments or tie the bows directly into the branches of your tree — either way, be sure to create bows of various sizes and lengths to add dimension to your tree.
20. Artsy
Carry your love of beautiful watercolor art onto your Christmas tree this year with a theme that leans into a painterly vibe. The key to pulling this off is to gather a few special hand-painted ornaments — or, in the case of the stained-glass style ornament below, handmade — and build the rest of your tree’s decorations around them. We recommend hanging baubles in colors that complement the miniature pieces of art (you can’t go wrong with pastels) and making a few of your own DIY watercolor-inspired ornaments.
21. Glamorous Gold
The Holidays are one of the most glamorous times of the year, so why leave your Christmas tree out of the glitzy fun? For a sophisticated way to pull off a gold-themed Christmas tree, keep your ornaments simple by grabbing a pack of metallic baubles in various sizes. Then, get creative by weaving unexpected gold accents into your tree. Tuck a few springs of metallic gold berry sprays in with the branches and tie a few small bows using gold ribbon — go for a sparkly ribbon to add a bit of extra fun, or opt for more muted satin for a subtle hint of luxury.
Sentimental
22. Heritage-inspired
Is Christmas at your home a multicultural affair? Celebrate your heritage by incorporating it into your Christmas tree decor! Start by finding a few ornaments that represent your culture — the ones shown here are in the style of intricate Kashmiri paper mache crafts from India — and use them as a jumping-off point for the rest of your tree. If we were building a tree around these Kashmiri-painted ornaments, we’d pick out baubles in vibrant reds, deep blues, and punchy pinks to really bring out the beautiful colors in their designs.
23. Pet Lovers
Get your four-legged friends in on the festive fun by making them the focal point of your Christmas tree. Minted’s sweet pet ornaments are custom-painted with your pet’s portrait (and make for excellent gifts for a fellow pet lover in your life) — they’ll look great paired with playful cat or dog-shaped ornaments, as well as classic baubles in colors inspired by your pet’s coat, collar, or favorite toys.
24. Cross-Stitched Christmas
It doesn’t get sweeter than a Christmas tree full of decor inspired by embroidered crafts. The key to this look is sentimentality, so pack your tree with plenty of DIY embroidered ornaments — which you could do by embroidering your own designs or recycling vintage embroidered textiles into fun fabric ornaments. Then, fill out your tree with an even mix of plain baubles and keepsake ornaments, and be sure to leave room for traditions like small Bauble Stockings packed with thoughtful gifts.
25. Tree of Loved Ones
Christmas is always a sentimental time of year, so lean into all the warm and fuzzy vibes by dedicating your Christmas tree to all of your loved ones! Minted’s collective of independent artists has designed a huge variety of ornaments that can be customized with the names of your loved ones or to mark special occasions like a first Christmas as a family or a married couple. These ornaments also make for super sweet gifts that are sure to become treasured holiday heirlooms.
We hope these Christmas tree ideas have helped get you into the festive spirit. Once you’ve picked out the theme for your Christmas tree, be sure to take a look at Minted’s full selection of Christmas decorations, stockings, and wrapping paper to find the perfect accessories to tie your holiday decor together. Happy decorating!