Christmas trees are a staple when it comes to decorating for the holidays. You may like the traditional style or maybe you like a more modern look with a colorful palette. But this year, we’re empowering you to combine your love of crafting and decorating for holidays by making your own tree.
Whether you want to save space, need a budget-friendly option, or want something that’s one-of-a-kind, a DIY tree is something fun for the whole family to do during the holidays and something you can keep for years to come. We’ve gathered up our favorite alternative trees you can DIY in no time.
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01
of 43Yarn Trees
Credit: @liveoaknest / Instagram
If you love crafting, this DIY tree is an easy craft to do with the whole family. Start at the top of a cone-shaped floral foam piece, and wrap yarn around, securing with hot glue on the low setting. Embellish with a wooden star and a „trunk“ made from wood dowels and blocks.
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02
of 43Cedar Shim Trees
Credit: @wildrosecountryhome / Instagram
You can get everything you need at the local hardware store to make these cute DIY tress. The tree leaves and stands are made from cedar shims, and glued together and painted in a wintery green color to create beautiful abstract trees. Finish the look by wrapping LED string lights for a charming look.
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03
of 43DIY Alpine Trees
Credit: @paintingbythepenny / Instagram
If you love the look of a real tree, but don’t have the space or budget for one, you can create your own alpine tree with thick branches and faux stems.
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04
of 43Ornament Tree Luminary
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Ornament tree stands are an elegant decor idea for Christmas, and you can make it your own with a monochromatic color palette or a colorful one. This stand features gold baubles attached to an acrylic frame and lighted with fairy lights.
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05
of 43Rainbow Ornament Tree
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Not only is framed chicken wire a budget-friendly, but it’s a great way to display your favorite ornaments without them getting lost on your main Christmas tree. This ornament display features ornaments in rainbow colors arranged into a Christmas tree shape that makes a stunning mantel decor piece.
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06
of 43Spruce Wood Tree
Credit: @herrenbouteak / Instagram
This elaborate wooden tree may not be something everyone can make, but the wood design makes a stunning Christmas tree if you have woodworking skills. This tree required building at a 1:5 scale model.
The engineer used 2-3/8″ x 3/4″ spruce wood strips and built the strips surrounding a threaded steel rod on a wood base to make it easier to move the strips for a desired tree shape, as well as easier dismantling for storage.
He embedded tea lights in the strips using a Forstner drill and added ornaments by adding small screw sockets into drilled holes.
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07
of 43Space-Saving DIY Tree
Credit: @everydaywithmigs / Instagram
If your goal for this year is to save space in your home and go minimal, this festive tree is the perfect fit. You can find budget-friendly garland, lights and other Christmas decor at your local bargain store. Then, simply hang the lights in a Christmas tree shape and fill the tree with all your decor.
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08
of 43Ladder Tree and Lush Garden
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You can hardly tell the frame of this tree is a wood ladder. A ladder makes a perfect frame for an alternative tree, especially when you adorn it with lush garland and all-natural ornaments.
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09
of 43Twine-Wrapped Trees
Credit: @ourgrayhouse / Instagram
Neutral Christmas decor doesn’t have to mean you can’t be festive. These dollar store cones get a makeover with hot glued twine, mini pompoms, and wood star toppers.
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10
of 43Doorknob Tree
Credit: @liveoaknest / Instagram
Take a rosemary plant and another small plant and glue them to a crystal doorknob for a cute, easy, and budget-friendly decor idea. Embellish with ribbon or fabric that complements the rest of your home’s decor.
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of 43Wood Herringbone Christmas Tree
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The herringbone pattern of this DIY Christmas tree only looks complicated, but a stencil makes it a fairly easy project that will bring a high-end look to your Christmas decor.
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of 43Mudcloth Patterned Wood Trees
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African mud cloth is a handwoven cotton fabric that’s dyed using fermented mud. But, you can create the same look with acrylic paint and a paint marker.
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13
of 43Dried Palm Leaf Tree
Credit: @agirlandherglitter / Instagram
If you have an old tree, spruce it up this year with dried palm leaves and starburst lights. This is a tree you can keep up all season long and is a fitting tree for New Year’s Eve, too.
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of 43Twig Tree Ornament
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A hanging Christmas branch like this one takes only minutes to make and is a great addition to a bedroom door or even over the fireplace. To spruce it up, hang different baubles and greenery, including a DIY tree ornament made from twigs.
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15
of 43Elegant Pampas Grass Tree
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If a traditional tree isn’t your style, go with a more elegant look like this pampas grass tree. Use an old artificial tree as the base, and attach the pampas grass stems by twisting the artificial branches around them. The look is so stunning that you don’t need many ornaments to decorate.
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of 43Wood Tree Shelf Decor
Credit: @heritageoakhouse / Instagram
To create this beautiful Christmas tree shelf decor, cut tree shapes out of wood in a variety of sizes and drill holes in a few of them. Finish by painting the trees in your desired color palette.
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of 43All Natural Tree
Credit: Tetiana Soares / Getty Images
If you love using all-natural, sustainable items as your decor, this DIY Christmas tree is for you. Use tree branches to create each tier as well as the star topper. Decorate by hanging natural items from the branches like dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
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18
of 43Christmas Tree Porch Sign
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A little reclaimed wood, paint, and a stencil make an adorable and inviting Christmas tree porch sign. The base of the tree is a wooden crate that you can fill with gifts, treats, and small decor.
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19
of 43Wood Scrap Tree
Credit: @lady_stil / Instagram
This wood-scrap Christmas tree looks like a complex art project, but really it’s just a series of overlapping triangular shapes in varying sizes. The design creates a whimsical touch to any style home.
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20
of 43Plastic Spoon Tree
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You could make this DIY Christmas tree with items you have at home. All you need are plastic spoons, glitter, poster board, and glue.
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of 43Industrial-Style Trees
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This upcycled DIY tree only requires a few materials and supplies to make and adds a one-of-a-kind look to your Christmas decor. It requires an old fence post, rusty gears and some milk paint that is true to the chalky, rustic look.
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22
of 43Illuminated Christmas Tree Sign
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An old bulletin board is given new life as a lighted Christmas tree mantel sign. Here, the bulletin board is painted all black, then taped off a Christmas tree shape. Then the smaller Christmas trees are stenciled in white within the taped area. Drill small holes in each tree and thread string lights throughout to illuminate it.
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23
of 43DIY Chicken Wire Tree
Credit: Uma Shankar sharma / Getty Images
For an easy, almost-free tree idea, gather branches from your yard, poke the branches through chicken wire molded into a Christmas tree shape. Use scrap wood as the base to create a cute tabletop tree.
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24
of 43Pallet Christmas Tree Sign
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This is about as simple as it gets when it comes to crafting. A tree shape is easy to emulate, especially if you arrange reclaimed wood pallets.
To create this look, start with a small piece of wood and gradually cut longer ones to create the tiers of a Christmas tree. Then, stencil the planks with your favorite sayings and add branches and a rustic base like a galvanized bucket to complete the look.
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25
of 43Bottle Brush Tree Place Setting
Credit: @liveoaknest / Instagram
Doorknobs are fairly inexpensive and they make a cute base for your tree decor. This bottle brush tree with a doorknob base makes the perfect place setting for your Christmas dinner.
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26
of 43Fir Branch Decor
Credit: Tatiana Buzmakova / Getty Images
Is there anything more wintery than a fir tree? Hang a fir branch on the wall and adorn it with simple decor like miniature pinecones and small gifts wrapped in kraft paper.
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of 43String-Wrapped Wood Christmas Trees
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You can use several small items to create a base of a tree. Here, the maker used items from her stash like Mason jar lids and other vintage items as the base of these small reclaimed wood trees. For an extra vintage vibe, they wrapped them in a variety of twine, rope, and string.
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of 43Wood Christmas Tree Farm
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Not only is using reclaimed wood for craft projects almost free as well as sustainable, but it also brings a charming rustic look to your home. Use old fence posts, stencils, and paint to create this adorable Christmas tree farm for your indoor our outdoor decor.
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of 43Wood Ladder Tree
Credit: Westend61 / Getty Images
A ladder is a great alternative to a real Christmas tree because of its shape, and it adds a fun, unexpected touch to your DIY Christmas decor. Add a string of large bulb lights and a start-shaped mylar balloon as the tree topper.
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of 43Potted Branches
Credit: Alberto Suarez / Getty Images
Simple branches are a one-of-a-kind way to display a variety of Christmas decor and ornaments. Add the branches to a galvanized bucket filled with pinecones for a rustic look.
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of 43A Mossy Green Tree
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If you have mossy branches and sticks in your yard, use them to make a festive DIY tree. This tree features matching green and silver star ornaments for a cohesive look.
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of 43Reclaimed Wood Porch Tree
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Don’t forget about the porch when decorating for Christmas. This reclaimed wood tree is made with old fence posts.
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of 43A Winter Wonderland Bedroom
Credit: Maryna Terletska / Getty Images
This bedroom is the cutest winter wonderland with natural evergreen branches, including a large branch hanging above the bed. The small gifts hanging from the branch are a fun way to open a gift in the days leading up to Christmas.
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of 43A Simple DIY Tree
Credit: Albuquerque / Getty Images
If you don’t have the woodworking skills to make an elaborate tree, but love the natural look of wood, try this simple tree. Attach three wood strips together to the wall into a triangular shape, and adorn with faux floral garland. Add a wooden stool at the bottom as the tree trunk to complete the look.
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of 43Firewood Christmas Trees
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If you have a wood burning fireplace, you probably have firewood lying around. If you look at the ends of each log, you’ll notice some of them have a perfect Christmas tree shape. That’s exactly how Donna created these cute firewood trees.
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of 43Zigzag Hanging Christmas Tree
Credit: @tanabellecw / Instagram
If you can draw a zigzag pattern, you can create this hanging DIY Christmas tree within minutes. Hang string lights in a zigzag pattern starting from the bottom up, gradually making each line across smaller. Add greenery and a few simple ornaments to finish the look.
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of 43DIY Wood Trees
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Wood blocks at the base of these Christmas tree-shaped scrap wood pieces create a cute and easy tree skirt. They’re so fun and easy to make, you’ll want to create several of them. Place them all around your home, from the mantel to your kitchen countertop.
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of 43Stenciled Wood Trees
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Old fence posts or other reclaimed wood is easy to come by, and you can create nearly any craft out of it. Here, a fence post was cut into tree shapes then stenciled with winter themed images. Place them in vintage containers like a suitcase or toolbox for a rustic look.
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of 43Whimsical Tree
Credit: @saltandseed / Instagram
You don’t need any Christmas ornaments or decor to make this cute, hanging DIY tree. Gather branches and fairy lights to create the tree shape, and decorate using items you have around the house, like bows and tassels within the same color palette.
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of 43Edible Tree
Credit: Shana Novak / Getty Images
This broccoli tree will be the centerpiece of your next holiday gathering. Add the broccoli to a cone-shaped piece of foam using toothpicks, and decorate with cherry tomatoes and bell peppers. This broccoli tree may be too cute to eat.
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of 43Stenciled Plaid Wood Christmas Trees
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These handcut reclaimed wood trees get a winter makeover with a plaid stencil in black and white. Group them together and place them in a crate for a cute coffee table centerpiece.
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42
of 43Bottle Brush Tree Wreath
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In lieu of a DIY tree opt for an easy DIY wreath. All you need to make this wintery wreath is a grapevine wreath, velvet ribbon, a few bottle brush Christmas trees, and faux snow to complete the look.
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of 43A Hanging White Tree
Credit: @alinamarialara / Instagram
The bedroom is a great spot in the home to display a DIY Christmas tree. This hanging tree is made with white-painted branches and silver and black themed ornaments, as well as greenery. It looks stunning above this bed that matches the tree’s theme.