How to decorate a skinny tree
How to Decorate Thin Christmas Trees
A slim artificial Christmas tree is the best choice for small and narrow spaces or as a second tree in your home. With its slender profile, you can achieve a beautiful holiday look while taking up less floor area.
In this video, Courtney of French Country Cottage shows three elegant looks for slim Christmas trees to help get you started:
Courtney Allison: Hi, I’m Courtney from Balsam Hill. Today we’re going to talk about how to decorate slim Christmas trees. Slim Christmas trees are also called pencil Christmas trees and narrow Christmas trees because of their narrow shape.
Unlike a traditional Christmas tree which is a little chubbier on the bottom and gets narrow as it goes up, a slim Christmas tree is going to have a similar build from top to bottom. The size and shape makes these trees perfect for smaller homes and for smaller places like bedrooms and the end of the hallway to add a little Christmas magic all through the house.
Since you don’t have as much space to decorate here, this gives you an opportunity to bring out those beautiful heirloom ornaments or the ones you’ve been collecting all the years, maybe grandmother’s treasured childhood ornaments that she gave to you. When you put them on a tree like this it’s going to give them a really prominent position.
Something else that I’m asked all the time is, if you have a smaller tree like this can you still have all of that magic and beauty that a regular-sized Christmas tree brings? The answer is yes. This is the cathedral fur from Balsam Hill and it’s covered in these beautiful fairy lights. As you can see it’s absolutely glowing. You’re going to have all of that same beautiful look for your Christmas tree just in a smaller size.
Today we’re going to talk about three unique looks for this Christmas tree to show you just how versatile it is. Our first look is layers of beautiful blue. From frosty blue to icy blues to navy blues, we’re going to layer those blues on the tree and then bring in a bit of copper for a little bit of a glam element that’s going to add a beautiful elegant look.
Our second look is a traditional red and white with a Scandinavian theme. We’ve got some beautiful fairies and some Scandinavian-themed ornaments that have a childhood feel that are really going to make it feel like a traditional classic Christmas look. We’ve also got a little bit of a vintage inspired glass garland that I think adds a very special touch.
The third look is this one right here that’s a more neutral, but using blush as a neutral base. We’ve got beautiful tones of pink, a little bit of gold and also whites on this tree that really make it feel very elegant and traditional, but also very neutral. So it’s going to fit into any room of your home.
Then we’re going to do three simple DIY ornaments that you can do right at home with your own family to create a special ornament for your own tree this holiday season. Let’s get started.
For our blue tree we used 24 icy metallic plume picks, 48 blue ornaments in several shades, 8 copper color ornaments, 6 copper, gold and bronze egg ornaments, 24 icicle ornaments, 24 white ornaments, blue and gold glitter ribbon and a snowflake tree topper.
For our non-traditional look using layers of blue, I’m starting with this beautiful crystal covered picks. I love that these picks add another layer of shimmer and elegance to the tree and that they reflect the twinkle lights beautifully.
Up next we’re going to bring in shades of blue, white and copper ornaments to create a look that is elegant and welcoming and beautifully unique. A tip when using ribbon on a slim tree. Some of your ribbon is going to feel a little bit too large to use at the top of your slim tree which is a little bit more narrow than the regular-sized tree.
A tip is to actually take your ribbon and just cut it in half or fold it in half and create a smaller version of your ribbon and tuck these smaller ribbons up top in the smaller areas. Use your regular size ribbon down below. This will tie your whole tree together and make it feel very designed and elegant without overwhelming the top of your tree.
Slim trees also have more space underneath than a traditional tree and it’s a perfect place to add another layer of magic with pretty packages for a designer look.
To make our felt ball wreath you need 9 to 12 felt balls, a hot glue gun with glue, jute string, a needle and thread, ribbon and scissors. I’m going make a cute little wreath using these felt balls. What you need to do is start with your needle and thread and then simply start stringing your felt balls along to create a wreath.
You can make this as large or as small as you’d like. We’re going to do a small one for this demonstration, but you can always keep going, adding more of the felt balls to make the size that you’d like. When you’ve decided you’re done, simply tie the two ends together by putting your string through there and then creating a little bit of a neat knot.
Then you can simply cut the rest of your thread to loosen it. I like to leave a little space right here to be able to put the tie on. For this one we’re going to use jute, but you can use a wire if you’d like. Simply take your jute and string it through here. Then tie your loop to create the hanger. Once that’s tied you can clip the ends off or adjust it if you need it to be a different size.
Up next we’re going to add a cute little bow embellishment. For the bow we just want to take our hot glue and put it right onto the center of this already made bow. Then place the bow right where the jute is. Press it and hold it until it secures and there you have a charming little wreath for your Christmas tree.
For our red tree we used 12 red berry picks, 50 Nordic-themed ornaments, 15 porcelain star ornaments, 20 red ornaments, 20 white ornaments, 3 strands of red and green vintage-style glass garlands, a beaded tree topper and red striped ribbon. This tree has a more traditional color palette using reds and whites.
We’re starting with red berry picks which I love to use to add another layer of warmth to the tree. Then we’re going to bring in our ornaments in various shades of red, white and our Scandinavian-themed ornaments to create a charming look. I also love to use a vintage-inspired glass garland on this tree which I feel is a perfect finishing touch.
I wanted to share a quick tip about using those longer ornaments like this on your tree. When you’re decorating your tree with different size ornaments take the larger ornaments and set them deeper into the branches inside to add some depth and some layers of the ornaments.
Then you want to take your longer ornaments like this and you’re going to hang them on the outer branches so that they can dangle down. This creates a nice layered effect and also shows that there’s much more going on with the tree than just ornaments on the outside or just on the inside. It’s beautiful layers that really let your tree stand out.
What I love about this tree is that it feels very warm with old-fashioned Christmas charm and tradition. It makes me think of memories of Christmas past and of all the beauty and magic the Christmas season brings.
For our small animal ornament, you need a small bottlebrush animal, a 4 to 6 inch gold embroidery hoop, jute string, scissors and a hot glue gun and glue sticks. To make our cute little animal ornaments we’re going to take an ornament that we already have or if you don’t you can add a string to an existing little animal. These are like little bottlebrush animals, so I just have them ready to go. You want to use an embroidery hoop in a small size and some optional greens if you want to add those as well.
To get started, you want to take your glue and put it onto your embroidery hoop. Then you want to take your little animal and somehow attach it, however it works best. You can always add a little bit of extra glue if you need to to make sure that it stays. Then give it a second to dry and there you go.
For the hoop, I’m taking just this already there wire and just tying it right above the rabbit. I’m going to add a tiny bit more with the hot glue gun and just add a little glue to secure it. Then we’re going to be done with that.
If you want to add the embellishment, I’ve got some dried leaves here. You can use whatever you’d like. You want to take your embellishment and go down here so it looks like they’re sitting in the forest. Just add a bit of glue to your hoop and then you can put your greenery right on there and give it a second to hold before pulling it away. Then if you want to do more on this side you simply just take and repeat on the other side.
If you have too much and you feel like you want to cut it off, like there’s this little piece of branch here, so I’m just going to cut that off. Otherwise, that’s it. There’s your cute little animal woodland-inspired ornament that is perfect for hanging on the tree and enjoying this holiday season.
For our blush tree we used 24 gold pip berry picks, 60 rose and blush color ornaments, 12 gold ornaments, 10 burgundy ornaments, 30 vintage blush ornaments, 10 vintage pearl ornaments, gold glitter ribbon and a rose gold metallic tree topper.
Our non-traditional neutral tree starts with these beautiful gold berries. I love the elegant look they bring and also that they add that extra layer of glimmer. Up next we’re bringing in our various shades of blush, pink, white and gold ornaments along with a few vintage bobbles to create a warm and elegant neutral look.
I love the way that this tree, even though it has a little bit of color, it’s neutral enough that it can fit into any room in your room and look absolutely beautiful.
A tip for using picks on your slim tree is to actually take that full pick and just break it up into smaller sections. Use these smaller sections in places like the top of the tree to add that beautiful touch without overwhelming it.
I love using beautiful shades of those softer colors for a neutral look for Christmas. The rosy tones of the blush on this tree really warm up the look and make the tree feel very elegant. I also love that using the neutral color palette for Christmas trees can work perfectly to create a beautiful and welcoming look in any room.
For our vintage-inspired bottlebrush tree ornament, you need a one and a half inch to 3-inch bottlebrush tree, a 20-millimeter wood bead, or small feather tree glass ornament, hot glue gun and glue sticks and jute string.
For our next ornament, we’ve got simple, little, cute little Christmas trees that are bottlebrush trees, that are in a mini size like you would have maybe in a dollhouse. Then, we’ve got two options for creating the base of the ornament. We’ve got our wood beads that we’re using, and also, these little, tiny, mini feather tree ornaments that you can use if you’d like.
What you want to do is you want to take the ornament cap off, if using this ornament. Then, add a little bit of hot glue, and then, just take your tree, press it on there, and let it dry. As an alternative, you can also take a bead and simply put the glue right onto the bead, and then, press your tree onto it.
To add the string, I’ve got two options here. You can either use a jute or a wire or you can use something like this, which is a little gold string that’s just from another ornament. If you’re using something like this, you simply just take it and tie it right onto the top of your tree. Just loop it into the bristles so that it’s hidden, and you can pull it through so you can see that it’s hidden there, and then, you can tie it.
Once you’ve tied it, tie the top to create the loop. You can cut off any excess if you’d like. There you have a sweet, charming, vintage-inspired Christmas tree ornament. I hope that this inspires your Christmas decorating this holiday season. For more Christmas decorating tips and tricks, please visit the Balsam Hill blog.
Turn a slim Christmas tree into a stunning centerpiece with these stylish decorating ideas. For more Christmas tree inspirations, visit our gallery.
Read our guide for expert decorating tips and browse Balsam Hill’s wide selection of slim artificial Christmas trees today.
How to Decorate a Skinny Christmas Tree with Ribbon
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Need a skinny tree to save space, but struggling on how to decorate it? In this post, learn how to decorate a skinny tree so it looks like a pro did it in no time flat.
If you’ve ever considered a skinny tree, but were hesitant because you weren’t sure how to decorate it, today’s your lucky day!
I created the most detailed recap of how I decorated our skinny tree in this post and the best part?
It was so easy!!
Way easier than I thought it was going to be.
Before I get started, I just wanted to remind you that I have an entire library of Christmas prep resources ready and waiting for you.
It has over 15 resources and counting to help you make this holiday extra special without all the stress.
You can learn more by clicking the button I’m pointing to below!
Now on to the tutorial!
jump to…
- Why Choose a Skinny Christmas Tree
- Types of Skinny Christmas Trees
- Slim Tree
- Pencil Tree
- Half Tree
- Types of Skinny Christmas Trees
- Pre-Decorating Tips
- What to Buy to Decorate your Skinny Tree
- How to Decorate a Skinny Christmas Tree
- Assemble your Skinny Tree
- Fluff all the Branches
- Add the Tree Topper
- Add First Round of ribbon
- Add a Second Round of Ribbon (optional)
- Add Stems and/or Florals and/or Unique Elements
- Add Varying Sizes and Colors of Ornaments
- The After
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Want to watch the video for this post?
Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.
Why Choose a Skinny Christmas Tree
Skinny trees are awesome because not only do they take up less space, but they are not as expensive as regular-sized trees.
In fact, we only have one regular sized tree in our collection of six Christmas trees.
I prefer the skinny tree because it allows me to get taller trees and more trees to disperse around the house.
Types of Skinny Christmas Trees
There are a bunch of different kinds of skinny trees.
They sell slim trees, pencil trees, half trees, and even corner trees.
Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.
Slim Tree
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The slim trees still get the height of a normal Christmas tree, but are about half as wide.
Pencil Tree
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Pencil trees are even narrower than slim trees and look like a #2 pencil as the name implies.
Half Tree
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Half trees are literally only half the tree.
I just bought one of these for the guest bedroom since we are short on space, but I still wanted a tree in there.
They sell these for corners too.
Pre-Decorating Tips
There are a couple of things to consider before you dive into decorating your tree.
First things first, you want to pick a Christmas color scheme.
This will help you create a cohesive look, even if it’s just for one room of your home.
You also may want to consider a specific theme for your tree, too.
This is where your creativity can really come to life.
Remember their are no rules for a Christmas tree theme, so go wild!
And be sure to tag me @myhomierhome on Instagram or at My Homier Home on Facebook, so I can see it!
What to Buy to Decorate your Skinny Tree
Once you’ve decided on colors and a possible theme, it’s time to gather all your goodies.
Here is the list of items to look for to get your skinny tree decorating game ready to rock.
- Pre-Lit Skinny Christmas Tree
- This is similar to the one I bought at Hobby Lobby last year, but mine is 9 feet tall
- Tree Collar or Skirt
- I’m eyeing this tree collar because the dog has been scratching his back under the tree lol
- Large Tree Topper
- This is the one I used on this tree
- Garland (optional)
- Ribbon
- One at least 2″ wide with wire edges
- This is a close match to what I used on this tree
- One any width with wire edges (optional)
- One at least 2″ wide with wire edges
- Stems and/or Florals
- I used 8 stems throughout the tree.
- Unique Elements
- These are similar to the owls I used on this tree
- At Least Two Different Sized Ball Ornaments
- I have these, these, and these on the tree in this post
- I had 30 count of each smaller size and 12 of the big size
- Other Ornaments
- I used these snowflakes on this tree
- Scissors
- Extra Ornament Hooks
- Extension cords
- I used these kind for the tree topper
- Smart plug
- These are my absolute favorite because it doesn’t block the other plug
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How to Decorate a Skinny Christmas Tree
Once you have all your items, it’s time to get to decoratin’!
Here is the step by step tutorial of how I decorated this skinny tree in our living room.
Assemble your Skinny Tree
Start by setting up your smart plug so you can control the tree from your phone or smart home device.
There are few things better than coming home and the tree is already on awaiting your arrival into the winter wonderland.
Next you want to get your stand and tree collar setup, if you’re using a tree collar.
If you’re using a tree skirt, you can do this at any time, but I like to get it setup whenever the tree is in the place it’s going to stay.
Next assemble your tree.
I highly recommend pre-lit trees because it is insanely convenient, but if you don’t have a pre-lit tree, now would be the time to add your lights.
Fluff all the Branches
Next, you want to work on fluffing all the branches.
I like to fluff as I assemble and then continue to fluff once it is all put together.
Regardless of when you fluff, you’ve gotta fluff.
The best way to fluff is to just get in there and start spreading the branches up and down and side to side.
Once you’ve done one round, step back and assess.
Chances are you’ll need to re-fluff a few areas.
Fluffing is not the most fun, but it really makes a huge difference to the overall look of the tree.
Add the Tree Topper
You might notice the tree is way more decorated here, but that’s because I waited to put the tree topper on until after I decorated most of it.
Don’t do that.
Definitely add the tree topper, especially if it lights up, to the tree at this stage of the game so you can hide the cord, if there is one, more easily.
My way worked sort of, but I had to redo some of the ribbons because the cord knocked them.
Add First Round of ribbon
This is the first year I put ribbon on the tree and let me tell you…
I’m never going back.
Both my husband and I were so impressed at how ribbon really upgraded this tree.
I started by cutting pieces of 2-2.5″ wire ribbon into 3 foot pieces.
I read a few tutorials and the best technique I found went like this…
- Step 1: Cut ribbon to 3′ pieces
- Step 2: Tuck the top of the ribbon
- Step 3: Loop the ribbon outside the branches on an angle
- Step 4: Tuck the middle in.
- Step 5: Loop the second loop at an angle and tuck the end
- Step 6: Repeat around the tree
The key is to start in the middle of the tree and add the ribbon on the diagonal.
Basically, you start by tucking one end of the ribbon into the tree around a branch or the lights cord towards the middle of the tree.
Then, you loop the ribbon out over the branches.
Try to make it so the ribbon is puffed out enough to not touch the branches its poofing over.
Then, tuck the middle into to the tree on an angle and create a second loop the same way you created the first.
Once that loop is made, tuck the other end into the tree like you did with the first end.
As you make your loops, pull the ribbon loop up to shape it.
Continue to do this all around the tree keeping your loops at the diagonal.
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Add a Second Round of Ribbon (optional)
After you’ve added one set of a ribbon, consider adding a second round of ribbon.
I had this larger ribbon from a couple years ago I never used, so I used it this year to add in more blue to the tree.
My Christmas color scheme this year is navy blue, forest green, and gold with hints of white snow.
For this round of ribbon, I didn’t do as much.
You really can make this round of ribbon any width from my research.
For this round, I cut these down to 2 foot pieces and did mostly one loop instead of two.
However, I did occasionally do two smaller loops to keep it interesting.
Add Stems and/or Florals and/or Unique Elements
Once you feel good about the ribbon placement, it’s time for the stems and/or florals.
Disperse them in any gaps around the ribbon or to hide certain awkward parts of the ribbon.
I only had 8 stems from a previous tree setup that I used here.
I would say you could probably add in a few more, but you really don’t need any more than 8-12 stems or florals.
Once you get your stems/florals in place, add in your unique elements.
My unique elements for this tree were owl figurines.
Again, I think I only used a handful of these figurines, but consider your tree’s theme and go with something fun and unique to make the tree stand out.
Add Varying Sizes and Colors of Ornaments
The last step of the process is to add your ball ornaments, sometimes referred to as baubles.
Some advice I read in my research is to put the larger balls on first in a Z pattern.
Then go back with your smaller ones and cluster them in groups of three.
Once you feel like you have enough clusters, or you run out of larger baubles like I did, fill in the rest of the gaps with other abstract ornaments.
I added glittery gold snowflakes to bring the sparkle as my additional ornaments.
The After
And there you go!
A beautifully decorated skinny tree with ribbon looking like the pros did it!
Don’t forget to snag our countdown to Christmas checklist below, too!
Happy Decorating and Merry Christmas!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my skinny Christmas tree look bigger?
The best way to make your skinny Christmas tree look bigger is to add ribbon and stems. Ribbon and stems allows the tree to extend past the branches. Once you have your ribbon and stems in place, don’t forget to add some larger ornaments to add even more substance.
What is up with the skinny Christmas tree?
The skinny Christmas tree is the best! Not only is it a total space saver without sacrificing looks, but it is cheaper too! Win-win!
How many ornaments do I need for a skinny Christmas tree?
I used 12 larger baubles, 30 smaller baubles of one color, and 30 baubles of another color. I did also include about 12 snowflake ornaments as well.
How do you put ribbon on a skinny Christmas tree?
Step one is to cut your ribbon into three foot sections. Then, tuck one end into the tree, fluff out the loop on a diagonal, tuck the middle into the center of the tree, fluff out another loop on a diagonal, and tuck the other end back into the tree. Repeat all around the tree!
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I put together a video tutorial to add to this post, so you can see the full scope in real time!
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Other Posts You May Like:
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How to decorate a Christmas tree: amazing ideas for every taste
December 23, 2021LikbezHolidays
Create a magical holiday atmosphere at home.
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0Decide on a color scheme
It all depends on your preferences and imagination. There are no clear rules - make the Christmas tree colorful or more concise by choosing one or more primary colors.
The traditional holiday color is red. It pairs perfectly with green, gold and white. You won't go wrong with these shades.
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You can dress the Christmas tree completely in gold or add white accents to it.
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The Christmas tree in silver tones looks especially gentle. White and blue elements will wonderfully fit here.
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If all this is too ordinary for you, try dressing the Christmas tree in non-standard colors, such as pink, purple, green, blue. Or pair together a few bright shades.
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white coating, start from its color - it will be the main one. You can pick up decorations to match the branches or play in contrast.
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Hang decorations
First of all, do not forget to put electric lights on the Christmas tree. Here are some ways to do it:
When choosing jewelry, don't be afraid to let your imagination run wild. You can resort to the good old classics and just hang balloons and other toys. Such a Christmas tree will look concise, but at the same time elegant.
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Very large balls, stars and other decorations look original.
Add small or extra large bows to your Christmas tree. You can dilute the rest of the toys with them or make them the main focus.
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You can also decorate the Christmas tree with ribbons. There are many ways to place them, such as in a circle, diagonally, top to bottom, or criss-cross.
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This video will show you how to hang a ribbon top to bottom:
Similar way:
Here is how to decorate the Christmas tree with a very wide ribbon in a circle:
The creation process will surely give you a lot of pleasure. And the hung decorations will delight the eye, remind you of pleasant moments or a loved one, if it was a gift.
Make decorations 🎄
- 50 cool DIY Christmas decorations
You can hang not only homemade garlands and toys on the Christmas tree. Dried citrus circles, cinnamon sticks or New Year's cookies on threads, photographs, small gifts and paper snowflakes will look great.
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Decorate the bottom of the Christmas tree
Cover an unsightly cross with a Christmas tree skirt. Try to match it with the rest of the jewelry.
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You can buy a ready-made skirt or make it yourself. For example, here is a very simple felt version:
If you have a sewing machine, sew a patchwork skirt:
Those who know how to crochet can make this wedge-shaped skirt: