The holidays are all about tradition but that doesn’t mean you can’t modernize your Christmas tree decorations. Make 2015 the year you spruce up your spruce and create a photo-worthy tree with flair. There are tons of simple and inexpensive Christmas tree decorating ideas that won’t eat into your gift budget.
One fantastic way kick off the season and get the whole family into the holiday spirit is by making a new tradition of spending an evening coming up with a theme for your tree. It can be a color scheme or a concept (like peace on earth). If you have a favorite Christmas movie — A Nightmare Before Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever, etc. — recreate that tree in your living room or design your tree as an homage to your favorite flick.
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DIY ornaments are another fun family bonding opportunity and you don’t need to be Martha Stewart to create stellar decorations. Felt is colorful, plush and super easy to work with — the possibilities are endless. Check out these awesome tutorials from Wonderful DIY; there’s something for every taste and skill level. Gimme Some Oven’s clear glass bulbs filled with candy sprinkles are even easier and so bright and pretty. If you’re a folding fan, spend a snowy afternoon making origami ornaments.
If you don’t want to give up Christmas tree decorations that have been in the family for years, breathe new life into them by mixing in a touch of modern vintage with a few strings of easy DIY floral bulb reflectors.
For a more low-key look, skip the bling and make your tree an ode to nature with ornaments made from dried fruit, seeds, nuts and berries. Then wrap it in a garland of Paper Bark Ribbon. Of course, to make it truly green you’ll have to get a live tree to plant in the new year. When you’re short on space or don’t want the hassle of lugging a tree home and setting it up, wall trees are the perfect combo of festive, whimsical and eco-friendly. Take minimal and green to the next level with one of Demelzahill’s handmade wooden trees.
For one of the most show stopping Christmas decorating ideas, head to Feather Place where they sell wispy feather pom poms, feather wreaths and garlands, birds — even a 24-inch feather Christmas tree. You can also use color in dramatic ways. Get an ombre effect with Christmas tree balls in different shades of the same color. Hang them starting with the lightest on top, then gradually getting darker as you go down. You can also make stripes or use lights for the same effect.
