Key Takeaways

• Upgrade your Christmas tree with these alternative ideas - from Polaroid photos to yarn and even books.
• Get creative with DIY projects that add a personalized and fresh touch to your holiday decorations.
• Whether minimalist or rustic, there are plenty of alternative Christmas tree options to suit your unique style and taste.

As the holidays approach, many people start thinking about getting the Christmas tree up and decorated. But, if you want to put a twist on tradition this year, why not consider adding an alternative Christmas tree? These fun takes on the classic holiday symbol can add a personalized and fresh touch to your cheerful decorations. Whether you want to upgrade to a modern Christmas tree or go more rustic, alternative Christmas tree ideas are viable options.

New and different ideas give you a creative way to celebrate the holidays while reflecting on your unique style. From minimalist designs to eco-friendly options, the possibilities are endless, and you can get started by deciding which avenue is the best for you by considering the following 29 great alternative Christmas tree ideas for inspiration!

Polaroid Christmas Tree Wall Decor

Make a picture-perfect memory tree

This is an excellent DIY project for adults and children alike! For photographers who have a large collection of Polaroids at their disposal, this wall-based Christmas tree won't be difficult at all to craft. You can make this as large or small as you please, depending on how many polaroid photos you'd like to use.

Create a nice way to remember passed loved ones by featuring them in this Christmas tree design.

Yarn Tabletop Tree

Create a soft, colorful tree

For crafters who want a simple tabletop tree, this crafty design will be a breeze to make. The base of this tree is made of foam with yarn wrapped around it, but you can incorporate a number of special touches to really make it pop. Add ribbons and jinlge bells for a festive touch!

The Post-It Note Tree

Turn office supplies into a festive Christmas tree

How cute is this design? A post-it note tree would be an excellent Christmas decor idea for an office or workspace. It's also incredibly easy and quick to make. Take it a step further and add paper cutouts of ornaments, stars, tinsel, etc. The results could be very cute and turn into a fun craft for kids!

The Book Tree

Showcase your Christmas classics

The avid reader might be able to find some use for their massive collection of books for this DIY Christmas tree project. The beauty of this alternative Christmas tree is that it doesn't involve damaging any of the books used. You can simply pile them up, wrap them in string lights, and place a star on top. No damage, no hassle.

Be careful if you choose to use lights on your book stack so they don't accidentally get squashed under the weight and break. String them around the edges to help avoid any damage.

Spiral Paper Christmas Tree

A colorful, quick family craft

This quick Christmas tree idea involves taking colored paper, cutting it into strips, and then folding it into the shape of a tree. It's a great idea if you don't have floor space because you can attach it right to the wall, and you can mix and match paper colors to give you a festive, pretty tree. As a bonus, you can make it as large or as small as you want, and it's easy to add as many paper branches as you need.

Rustic Rope Ladder Christmas Tree

Bring a touch of the outdoors inside

It doesn't get much more rustic than this, as many of the components of this wall-hanging Christmas tree are made from materials you can find in your very own backyard. Go scavenging for some straight and aesthetically pleasing sticks to make this wall hanging. Finish off this Christmas tree by adding:

• Thin fairy lights,
• Tiny pinecones,
• Dried fruit slices,
• Holly.

Minimalist Wall Hanging Idea

Add a simple, whimsical design

If you're into minimalism, you can still incorporate a Christmas tree without taking up a lot of space with an incredibly flashy tree. Go the simple route by using garlands to create a Christmas tree wall piece. Simply cut your pieces of garland into several pieces to form a tree and hang them with nails or tacks. If you don't want to cut them, create a Christmas tree form and tack the whole garland in place.

Simple Present Christmas Tree

A colorful, cheerful tree

Minimalists will love this simple Christmas tree! Wrap up a few boxes in your favorite festive paper and stack them by the wall to create this Christmas tree idea. You could even adhere them in place using tape or whatever you like to make it more sturdy!

String Lights Wall Tree

Use LEDs for a brighter glow

If you have a ton of string lights and no tree, this project could be perfect for you. This sparkling wallpiece is eye-catching and also provides a pleasantly warm light source that will pull your space together. Hang ornaments and small objects from nails or tacks for extra Christmas tree charm!

Tabletop Paper Tree

Set up a miniature tree on your table

Paper is such a versatile material that you can easily use for a wealth of DIY home decor projects. For this Christmas tree, break out the measuring tape and simply start cutting and folding! It's a good idea to have a design plan ahead of time (including color scheme, size, etc.) before jumping into this project.

Have the whole family create their own tree and group them for a cute centerpiece on the table. Use ribbon, glue, glitter, and any other fun materials you can think of to make them pop!

The Wine Cork Christmas Tree

Upcycle your used wine corks

This alternative Christmas tree is cheeky and cute. It's also an excellent craft choice for kids. Start by arranging the pieces into a tree shape, then attach each cork one by one with a hot glue gun. Take it a step further by painting your cork tree and adding some extra mini ornaments to make it more festive. .

Crochet Wall Christmas Trees

Create a soft crochet tree

Crocheting is a popular way many people relax and unwind. This fun alternative Christmas tree is a wall-hanging type, so it won't eat up a lot of your floor space. Crochet a triangle-shape with a short stump on the bottom and hang it on the wall. You can even pop a few charms into your design to make it sparkle!

Wooden Pallet Christmas Tree

Recycle old pallets into a rustic tree

You can do quite a lot with wooden pallets. Many crafty DIYers use them for bed bases and potted plant hangers. You can use a pallet to make a Christmas tree as well! The beauty of this alternative Christmas tree is that you can make it as small or large as you want by adding additional pallet slats.

Drive around and see if you can spot any free pallets to make this alternative Christmas tree. Many times, stores stack them outside for people to take and use as they need.

Christmas Bauble Tree

Mix and match to fit your style

Today, Christmas baubles or ornaments come in an impressive array of colors and styles. If you're interested in a wall-based Christmas tree but don't want to deal with paint or worrying about leaning a structure up that could potentially fall, a bauble tape tree is an excellent alternative. Arrange your colorful ornaments in a rainbow pattern and attach them to the wall with tape.

Go Nautical

Add a beach-inspired stacked or wall tree

If you have a nautical or beach-themed home, sticking a Christmas tree in your living room might clash with your aesthetic. You can still enjoy a tree by building one out of seashells! This simple craft can be done with a foam tree, a lot of seashells, some hot glue, and a spray paint color of your choice. Place the shells all over the foam tree, in a pattern that suits your style.

If you don't have space to create a stacked tree, you can adhere the seashells to your wall with tacks or tape.

The Hanger Tree

Hang ornaments and lights on hangers

This adorable wall decor tree is a perfect choice if you've got a few wooden hangers lying around. Keep it simple by adding some lights or go the extra mile with some ornaments. This is a low-cost, affordable option.

Festive Christmas Pineapples

Bring a tropical feel to Christmas

Who needs a pine tree when you have a couple of pineapples that will get the job done? This cute idea is as simple as it gets. Just buy some pineapples and decorate them with ornaments! You could even wrap some ribbon around the bases or paint the stems to add some extra flair.

The Christmas Cactus

Add lights or ornaments to your cacti

If you love cacti and have a few potted cacti around your home, there really is no need to buy a Christmas tree. Just decorate your cacti! Simply use the Christmas tree decorations you'd like to use on a regular Christmas tree and add them to your potted cactus. A few decorative cacti to consider adding ornaments to or using in your festive decor scheme include:

• Star cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
• Bunny ear cactus (Opuntia microdasys)
• Moon cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii)
• Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)

Get Conceptual with Chalkboard Paint

Draw and decorate a tree on the wall

Don't want to deal with a Christmas tree at all? Setting up, decorating, and tearing down a Christmas tree can be a huge pain. Plus, Christmas trees can take up a lot of space and cost quite a bit of money. You can still show off your Christmas spirit without a tree by simply drawing one! After painting a wall with some chalkboard paint, start drawing your life-sized tree. Get the whole family involved!

Mason Jar Christmas Tree

Design a tabletop winter wonderland

Do you want to bring the flair of a Christmas tree to your office as well? This adorable mason jar mini-tree is perfect as a tabletop decoration. If you have a lot of mason jars lying around, this craft will be a breeze.

Inflatable Balloon Christmas Tree

Use balloons to form a lightweight tree

This craft is excellent alternative to a traditional Christmas tree. Yes, balloons are typically used for birthday parties and events, but Christmas is also the perfect time to break out balloons!

To create your alternative Christmas tree, you'll need to attach the balloons together with string, making the design smaller and smaller as you reach the point of the tree. Secure the balloons together with tape and ensure you attach them to a sturdy base, so it does not move.

Find shaped balloons like stars, hearts, or circles, to add a little variety to your final design. The possibilities are endless, so it's a good idea to plan ahead of time, so you can pull off a cohesive design.

Ladder Christmas Tree

Add an industrial touch to Christmas

Another excellent rustic option for a Christmas tree, using a ladder will add an element of whimsy and fun to your living room. You can simply wrap string lights around the steps or hang some ornaments in the middle as well. Just make sure it's secure!

Pinecone Tree

Bring nature indoors for a rustic celebration

If you have large pinecones lying around your home outside, you can pick a few and pop them into a small ceramic pot with this Christmas tree idea. Add a small paper star to the top and consider adding a strand of fairy lights. You can also add ribbon or extra baubles to make it more festive! The following pine trees produce large pinecones, and they're great for this project:

• Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana)
• Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri)
• Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)
• Knobcone pine (Pinus attenuata)
• Gray pine (Pinus sabiniana)

Country-Inspired Branch Tree

Small branches create a minimalist tree

You can enjoy the rustic look of a real Christmas tree without the needle cleanup. Once you have your cut wooden pieces, you can simply glue them together to form a triangular pine tree. There's so much you can do with this, such as topping it with a wooden star and decorating the wood pieces with pinecones, lights, etc.

Soft Felt Christmas Tree

Safe and quick wall-hanging tree

If you have little ones running around, it makes sense that you wouldn't want a big Christmas tree around for them to knock over or play with. A felt wall tree is an excellent alternative. Take it a step further and make the process a family project!

Cut the ends of the felt to create a fringe to mimic the pine needles on a traditional tree.

Branches in a Vase

Collect branches and create a centerpiece

If you live in a wooded area, you can easily go outside and pick up smaller fallen branches and pop them into a vase. Add a few holly branches for a festive look, tuck in a few pinecones, and finish it with ribbon, lights, baubles, or all three!

The Ribbon Tree

Create a wall-mounted, 3D tree

For this idea, all you need is a bright Christmas-themed ribbon, a few ornaments, and lights if you want to add them. Position your ribbon and ornaments in a triangle shape and fill in as much of the gaps as you can. Attach it to the wall, and you'll notice it gives you a semi-3D shape and sticks out a little.

Festive Houseplants

Add baubles to your large plants

Do you have large houseplants just sitting around? If so, you can turn them into festive alternative Christmas trees with a few quick adjustments. Add bows, baubles, and even lights to spruce up your plants and get into the Christmas spirit. A few big houseplants that make perfect stand-in Christmas trees include:

• Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
• Monstera Deliciosa
• Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
• Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Modern Christmas Tree

Scandinavian-inspired hanging tree

This alternative Christmas tree brings a modern twist to the classic tree. Instead of having the tree sitting on the floor, you gather a few spruce or fir branches and hang them, so the top part forms a point and the bottom flares out. Add lights in the back so the whole thing glows!

Fir tree branches are excellent for this alternative Christmas tree because they bring the scent associated with the holidays and Christmas indoors.

Discovering 29 alternative Christmas tree ideas can serve as inspiration if you're looking to do something new and add a twist to the usual decorations. Do you know someone who could use a little holiday cheer? Share your new ideas with family and freinds, and spread some holiday cheer!