15 Gorgeously Creative Christmas Trees that aren’t Actually Trees

I know Christmas is all about traditions, but breaking those age-old traditions or starting new ones is never a bad thing. Maybe you’re in between travelling or moving, and setting up a whole darn tree is just too much effort for what it’s worth; maybe your apartment just doesn’t have the kind of space that a big, bushy, messy tree requires; maybe your delightful yet destructive pets have changed your perspective on having a big tree in the house; or maybe you just feel like something different this year. Whatever your reasoning, if you’re keen to explore the world of a tree-less Christmas, then here’s some fine inspiration to get those wheels turning.

Jump to:

• How to DIY a Miniature Christmas Tree Decoration
• How to Make a Gorgeous Christmas Tree Out of Pinecones
• 1. Foam Core Tree
• 2. Floating Ornament Tree
• 3. Wrapping Paper Tree
• 4. Sustainable Christmas Tree
• 5. Mannequin Tree Dresses
• 6. Newspaper Tree
• 7. Tomato Cage Trees
• 8. Christmas Card Tree
• 9. Washi Tape Tree
• 10. Chalkboard Drawing
• 11. Felt Circle Tree
• 12. Wood Scrap Christmas Tree
• 13. String Lights Tree
• 14. Kiddies Felt Tree
• 15. Screen Door Ornament Tree
• Extra Tip: Wrapped Cones

How to DIY a Miniature Christmas Tree Decoration

Want to discover how you can make a miniature Christmas tree out of cheap supplies, following a few easy steps? Watch our exclusive video to learn how to create one of these lovely little trees for your own home. They make wonderful gifts as well, so plan to make one for yourself and one for a friend!

How to Make a Gorgeous Christmas Tree Out of Pinecones

Ready to make some rustic crafts to bring in the holiday season? This tutorial teaches you how to make a miniature Christmas tree using some pinecones from a real tree. Check out our video and written step-by-step instructions to get started making this project now.

1. Foam Core Tree

If you’re in the market for something sleek and modern, then this might just be the winner for you. The tutorial includes a really helpful template so that all you have to do is print and slice. Of course, you can use a different material and coloring, but to me, that wintery wonderland white is just perfect.

2. Floating Ornament Tree

This clever ornament mobile is ideal for those of you who have limited space, but still want something truly festive and beautiful. The floating effect is simply magical! This idea also makes room for your own bouts of creativity, for example, adding lights, mixing colors and ornament types, or placing items inside the clear ornaments.

3. Wrapping Paper Tree

I love this idea because it’s so simple yet so striking. If you want to make this on a much larger scale, don’t feel bound by wrapping paper – you can use practically any kind of paper (e.g., newspaper, old magazine pages) and paint it however you wish.

4. Sustainable Christmas Tree

I love this idea because it’s so simple, yet incredibly charming. The natural branches give it a rustic feel while being eco-friendly. If you want to take it a step further, you can add personal touches like hand-painted ornaments, twinkling lights, or even a unique homemade topper.

5. Mannequin Tree Dresses

This is a creatively unique concept coming from Grillo Designs. She collected these mannequin dresses from her upcycling Facebook group.

6. Newspaper Tree

I always tend to keep old newspapers because I can get a lot of use out of them, like wrapping my unripe avos or placing them down as a tarp when I know I’m going to make a creative mess. So I’m a big fan of this recycled tree, especially since it came out looking so luscious and bushy!

7. Tomato Cage Trees

I’m sure all you gardeners must have, at some point, noticed that upside-down tomato cages give you that tree-like triangular shape, right? So all that’s really left for you to do is to embellish it with lights, tinsel, ornaments, or whatever else you have around the house.

8. Christmas Card Tree

I know that for some of you, sending or receiving Christmas cards may be obsolete, but I have a rather sizeable stash of cards that have been given to me over the years, and I know I’m not alone. Arranging your cards in the typical tree shape is not only a novel idea that looks great, but it serves as a wonderful tree of memories, giving you the opportunity to read through them and reminisce.

9. Washi Tape Tree

Washi tape is fantastic to decorate with because it gives you a lot of freedom for creativity and is perfect for temporary designs. And with all the interesting colors and patterns, you can go all out, or keep it as simple as you want.

10. Chalkboard Drawing

Chalkboard paint has become extremely popular in the use of homes, so if you’re one of those lucky and clever homeowners who’s been wise enough to cover a wall, go ahead and use it as your blank canvas for a bit of free-hand drawing!

11. Felt Circle Tree

This tree may be a bit on the small side, but you can certainly just enlarge the whole thing if you want more of a show-stopper. I just love how the felt circles give such an interesting texture to the design, yet it still has that minimalist appeal.

12. Wood Scrap Christmas Tree

This wooden Christmas tree is such a charming and simple creation! The layered wooden pieces, painted in green with a rustic touch, give it a warm and cozy vibe. The addition of twine and a red bead at the top adds a cute finishing touch, while the natural wood base brings everything together.

13. String Lights Tree

This one is an oldie but a goodie; what’s more Christmassy than string lights, right? There’s no tutorial needed for this one, since it’s fairly obvious what you need to do just by looking at the picture. And thankfully, it won’t take too much time to set up.

14. Kiddies Felt Tree

This one is a lot of fun for the kids, since they can attach their own little ornaments as they wish. It’s not too much of a hassle to set up and decorate, either.

15. Screen Door Ornament Tree

Attaching ornaments to a screen door in a triangular shape? Genius! This brilliant creation gives you all the jolliness and color of a traditional tree, thanks to all the ornaments, just without the actual tree part.

Extra Tip: Wrapped Cones

We’re back to the minimalist approach, which I’m really enjoying, I must say. These specific examples are quite small, so I guess that they’re just to be used as little decorative pieces around the house, but there’s no reason why you can’t get bigger sheets of poster board to make a big ol’ tree for all the presents. I really love the freedom of this project – with a blank cone comes the opportunity to do pretty much whatever you want!