Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Decor 30 Decorative Christmas Tree Ideas For Every Style By Zoe Gowen Zoe Gowen After a notable obsession with yellow houses, historic homes, and glossy magazines as a child that lead to a degree in American Studies from Sewanee: University of the South followed by a jaunt through the Washington, DC art world, Zoë found her way as the Senior Home and Garden Editor with Southern Living. There she crisscrossed the region to produce inspiring interiors, entertaining, and holiday stories while also overseeing the Idea House franchise. After seeing more porches and Christmas trees than any other reasonable person can claim, she ventured out to pave new roads freelancing for various magazines and helping people bring magazine tearsheets to life inside private homes via interior decorating. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 14, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Emily J Followill When it comes to getting your home ready for the holidays, there is no aspect more important than the Christmas tree. From ribbon-adorned to retro ornaments, the options are endless when it comes to personalizing your Christmas tree. Match your décor or match your mood. Whether you're a true traditionalist or ready to shake things up, we've got ideas—from the topper and ornaments to gift wrap and homemade garland—for creating your best tree ever. 01 of 30 The Midas Touch Helen Norman Add a heavy dose of gold for a fresh update on the classic red-and-green holiday palette. These gleaming accents—in the form of ornaments, gift wrap, and a do-it-yourself garland—help make everything old seem new again this season. To make a magnolia garland: Using a limb trimmer, carefully cut several branches of magnolia that have 10-12 leaves per branch. Aim for about 20 small branches to begin.Separate half the magnolia branches and paint them with two coats of metallic gold spray paint. Let dry.Attach the magnolia bundles together by the stems with green fabric-covered floral wire to create a lengthy garland. 02 of 30 Gold Trimmings Helen Norman Red and gold ornaments in several shapes and sizes trim the tree, while tufts of neutral-colored feathers add dimension. Red tartan ribbon adds a festive finishing touch. 03 of 30 Vintage Christmas Jessica Ashley Feeling nostalgic this season? Give your tree a retro feel with trimmings—including ornaments, ribbon, garland, décor, and more. Inspired by an antique architectural finial, this tree's silver topper is a nod to the Southern cottages and historic homes that dot our rural landscape. 04 of 30 Bring Back Retro Ornaments Jessica Ashley Add a few of these cheery snowman ornaments, based on a vintage design, to give the entire tree an old-school tone. Coordinate the colors with classic ornaments for a unified look. 05 of 30 Classic Ornaments Jessica Ashley Glass balls, in delicate shades of silver, cranberry, and blue, add color and sparkle to the tree. 06 of 30 A Bright Idea Emily J Followill If you love the glitz and glamour of the holidays, this look is for you. Including all shades from chartreuse to moss, this look shimmers its way into the season with a beautiful palette of silver and green. You can't help but admire the well-placed pops of red, which add energy to this punchy, can't-miss-it-scheme. 07 of 30 A Fiery Surprise Emily J Followill Branches of red holly berries (either real or faux) make a grand statement when bundled at the top of the tree. The bright shade of red adds a modern pop. 08 of 30 A Ribbon-Wrapped Tree Emily J. Followill More is more in this case! Use not one, but three different ribbons (wide, wire-edged ribbon works best) to snake down the tree for ultimate effect. Weave the strands through one another to create a layered look rather than placing them in rows. 09 of 30 Garden Fresh Laurey W. Glenn A live Christmas tree brings joy to your home or porch now and to your garden later. Branch out by decorating an unexpected option. This "Hillside Upright" Norway spruce—with lights, pinecones, burlap, and feathers—grows up to 20 feet tall and is suited to the Upper and Middle South. 10 of 30 Fraser Fir Fragrance Hector M Sanchez You can't beat the look and smell of a real Fraser fir, which is native to the South. It boasts the ideal shape, is quite fragrant, and has soft needles. This look takes inspiration from its surrounding area to infuse local flavor. The setting is South Carolina, and that shows proudly with a profusion of palm fronds, oyster shell accents, and a palette of gold, orange, and green. 11 of 30 Mix up the Lighting Hector M Sanchez Choose lights in assorted shapes and sizes. This tree has a combo of classic white twinkle lights and larger round cafe lights to add extra brightness. 12 of 30 From Palm Tree to Christmas Tree Hector M Sanchez Palm fronds—found in the yard and spray-painted gold—are wired to the tree and anchored by two oversize bows with two different ribbons. Tuck additional fronds into the branches for a dramatic effect. 13 of 30 Elements & Ornaments Hector M Sanchez Create a mix of tree trimmings by hanging traditional ornaments alongside elements that add extra dimension, like gilded faux berry branches. 14 of 30 Neutral Territory Jean Allsopp If a red-and-green palette isn't your style, we've got an alternative for you. Our holiday collection at Dillard's (available at dillards.com) is full of subtle shades of silver, white, and gold that lend a sophisticated look to any holiday home's interior. 15 of 30 Harmonious Décor Jean Allsopp Create a vignette that matches your tree on other surfaces, like the top of a nearby chest. Add ribbons to extra ornaments from the tree to the display for pops of color. 16 of 30 Woodsy Style Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty Bring the outdoors in with this nature-inspired tree. Pinecones, birds, feathers, and leaves adorn the branches. Classic blue ornaments add color. Spray-paint leaves and pinecones gold and let dry before hanging. 17 of 30 Red-and-White Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty Emphasize the holiday buzz with a red-and-white-themed tree that’s just right for displaying Santa ornaments. Embellish a smaller tree with big red ball ornaments for color and whimsy. Hang candy canes on the branches for a sweet addition. 18 of 30 Whimsical Blue Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon; Styling: Kendra Surface There’s nothing boring about a colorful tree. Flip tradition and swap a standard green tree with a brightly colored one. Keep decorations simple. Neutral ornaments make a festive statement on a blue background. 19 of 30 Golden Christmas Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez If your style leans more formal, make a statement with an elegant tree that’s dressed to match your room. Ornaments in shades of light pink and sparkly gold hang from the branches. Wide gold ribbon tucks between branches to fill in spaces. 20 of 30 White and Blue Tree A palette of blues on the backdrop of a flocked tree complements the room’s décor. Pretty ribbons in shades of blue cascade down from a large bow topper. 21 of 30 Wrapped in Magnolia Laurey W. Glenn Glossy magnolia leaves add contrast to a faux or fir tree. Gather leaves and wire them together to create a garland. Gold ornaments and white bows create a classic Southern look. 22 of 30 Glitzy Flocked Christmas Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez Maximize the glamour with a color scheme of pale pink, mauve, and metallics. Ornaments fill every flocked branch, and foam flowers tuck into the gaps in the place of traditional garland. 23 of 30 Playful Flocked Christmas Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon; Styling: Kendra Surface A flocked tree provides a perfect winter setting for playful ornaments. Ornaments collected over time have special meanings, but may not complement each other. Glass balls and candle ornaments unify the look. 24 of 30 Flocked Christmas Tree Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Jan Showers Bring a winter wonderland right into your living room with a flocked Christmas tree. The snowy branches add an old-fashioned feel to the holidays. You can buy a pre-flocked tree or flock one yourself with spray or a flocking kit. Continue the icy theme with glass and metallic ornaments and sparkling snowflakes. 25 of 30 Blue Tabletop Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez; styling: Taylor Colson Horton Add Christmas cheer in even the smallest of spaces. A chinoiserie cachepot holds a small tree tied with small bows. Use battery-operated lights for a simple display. 26 of 30 Colorful Classic Christmas Tree Red and gold ornaments, bells, and holly create a classic Christmas look. Forgo the traditional topper and use large bells instead. 27 of 30 Citrus Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez Oranges may be the typical citrus of the holiday season, but this lemon tree sweetens a sunny room. Bright yellow lemons, lemon slices, and ribbon add cheer, while navy and green tie in the room’s decor. 28 of 30 Coastal Christmas Tree Helen Norman Continue a beach theme all year with a tree that celebrates the season and coastal treasures. A palette of aqua, white, and turquoise keep with the room's vibe while adding plenty of holiday spirit. 29 of 30 Plaid Christmas Ribbon Helen Norman Plaid ribbon adds a playful touch to a tree decked out in gold baubles. The red and green plaid pairs with red ribbon to wrap the tree, keeping with the gold, red, and green color scheme. 30 of 30 Family Tree PHOTO: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: PAIGE MULLINS Get the family in on the decor with a tree that displays their handmade creations. Add family favorites through the years that evoke memories of summer vacations and family events. Strands of simple garland finish things off. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit