Four Ways to DIY a Christmas Tree

Photo: Tatyana Soares (Shutterstock)

Real Christmas trees don’t work for everyone. You might have destructive pets, toddlers, a small apartment, or a small budget. You might have allergies to trees or the mold spores they can bring in with them. You might just like to do things differently. Whatever the reason, there are lots of ways to craft your own tree and make it unique to you. Here are some ways to make a Christmas tree out of almost anything.

Make a floating ornament tree

To make a suspended tree out of ornaments and fishing line, you’ll need those and some removable hooks. If you have textured ceilings or a space that won’t accommodate temporary, stick-on hooks, you can use ceiling hooks and anchors for this project. (If you go that route, you’ll also need a drill.) Keep in mind that the stick-on hooks are designed to hold about half a pound and the screw-in type will hold up to 20, so if you plan to use heavier ornaments, the screw-in variety will work better. Then, plot out your hooks in a circular pattern on the ceiling with one hook for each ornament you like. Smaller “trees” will need less ornaments.

Once you have your circle plotted out, begin by hanging ornaments closest to the ceiling at the center of your circle and work your way out with longer threads of fishing line so that the outermost ornaments are hanging down the farthest from the ceiling. This will give you the classic tree shape. If you want to add lights, you can dangle strings of lights interspersed between the ornaments.

Make a tree from butcher paper

Using butcher paper hung from the ceiling on a plant hook can create your tree shape by using long pieces of paper off the roll towards the center of your tree shape and then adding shorter pieces of butcher paper toward the outside. Parchment paper or craft paper will also work for this project. Use a piece of ribbon or string to create a larger loop to string your paper up, and then you can use a paper scrap to cover the loop once your tree is complete. Here’s a visual tutorial to help you along:

Three No Mess DIY Christmas Trees

To dress up your paper tree, you can use a hole punch or shaped punch like a star pattern to add some designs to the paper. Add string lights to the tree for illumination but make sure to use LED lights because incandescent bulbs can get hot, which is dangerous with paper decorations.

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Make a tree from flowers or ferns

A floral or greenery arrangement can make an excellent tree in a pinch. The trick here is getting the shape right. Using a container with a wide opening, start with your tallest stems at the center of your arrangement and work outwards using shorter and shorter stems as you go. To help keep your stems organized and achieve the shape of a tree, you can use foam rings to hold your layers together. Begin by using your smallest ring on your longer, center stems and work your way outward up to your largest ring, covering over the foam with greenery or ornaments.

Use your out-of-season tomato cage

Gardeners will like that they can use out-of-season tomato cages to make a Christmas tree. This one is good for the yard as well as inside. All you need to do is flip your round tomato cage upside-down and bend the stakes together to make a point. You can use some floral wire to hold them in place if they’re hard to bend. Then, string some lights, garland, or whatever decorations you like around the outside to make it yours.

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