Today I’m sharing my woodland-inspired Christmas tree decked out with red and rustic Christmas tree decorations!
Welcome to Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas! I can’t tell you how much I love participating in this series each year. Honestly, it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when the holiday season rolls around. Not only do I get to share inspiration with all of you, but I get to team up with some of my favorite bloggers. Be sure to check out all of their Day 1 projects at the end of this post.
Also, if you’d like to join us in this 12 Day adventure, we’d love to have you. If you are inspired to recreate anything we make, share it with us on social media using the hashtag #12days72ideas. We can’t wait to see what inspires you!
Technically, I’m cheating on today’s post because I’m sharing a tree I decorated back in October. It turned out super cute, and it is a Christmas tree after all so I hope it’s OK to post about it. Please know that I also will be sharing some techniques and unique touches that you can use to make your tree extra special. Sound fair?
Woodland Inspired Christmas Tree with Rustic Christmas Tree Decorations
I started with a standard green tree. (This one here.). I always think it’s wise to invest in a quality tree. Not only will a good tree last for years, but you get what you pay for. You want a full tree so you can’t see through it. Realistic branches are also always a plus. I opted for the pre-lit variety because it saves so much time.
Whenever I’m decorating a tree, I like to begin with a ribbon. Ribbon offers a bit of a backdrop for your decorations. It also helps to fill up the tree if you happen to be light on ornaments. I chose this thick black and red gingham flannel. I could spend all winter in a shirt with this pattern, so why not wrap my tree in it?
For this particular tree, I opted for an “Into the Woods” theme. Although the tree bears no resemblance, the theme was inspired by the movie of that name that’s coming out soon and Taylor Swift’s new song. (People, you have to take whatever inspiration you can get wherever you can get it, no questions asked.)
As much as I love traditional ornaments, it’s always fun to think outside the box when it comes to Christmas tree decor. (Donna of Funky Junk Interiors is the queen of unique tree trimmings.)
These red lanterns are the perfect non-traditional ornament! Not only do they go with the tree, but you can put smaller ornaments, battery operated tea lights, or other treasures inside the lanterns.
I also found an inexpensive Christmas village, so I just tucked several of the houses right inside the tree.
Lastly, I picked up these adorable woodland creatures (a.k.a. squirrels) and added them as well.
I then threw on some traditional ornaments to fill in anywhere things looked a little sparse.
Finally, to bring my “Into the Woods” theme home, I added some icy red berry picks and a few snow covered pinecones.
What to see more Christmas Trees? Check out these:
- Navy Blue Christmas Tree
- Flocked Christmas Tree
- Rainbow-Inspired Christmas Tree
- White Flocked Christmas Tree in Gold and Green
- Rustic Modern Christmas Tree
With that, my tree was complete! Colorful, warm, and cozy. I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?
See how the other 12 Days Bloggers are decking their halls.
Front Door Christmas Decorating from Shanty 2 Chic
Branch Candle Centerpiece from Funky Junk Interiors
Blue and White Christmas Decorating from Thistlewood Farms
Advent Calendar from Songbird
Colorful and Crafty Printables from Remodelaholic
my mothers vintage ornaments and her angel tree topper!
Michael, you are forever an inspiration. As you have done, I’ve collected some ornaments from travels. Some I’ve saved since my childhood. Some are my husband’s. And now, I hang my children’s handmade and specially collected ornaments on the tree. We all get to share each other’s creations, collections, and sentimental items, making tree-trimming such a special time to reflect on the joys and blessings in our lives.
We wish YOU a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
What makes our tree so special is all the ornaments that are passed down from one generation to the next.
My Christmas tree is extra special because it has gingerbread themed ornaments and tree skirt. We also have one for the boys that has their ornaments that they receive every year from their grandma since they were born. One is 21 & the other is 19. (My older son & daughter also do that with their trees.)
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Christmas is HANDS-DOWN my favourite time of the year! Nothing excites me more than seeing a lights on houses and decorated trees in windows. 🙂
Your tree is beautiful! I think themed and colour-coordinated decorations on trees are stunning and look fabulous, in photos especially! Though truthfully, what I think is most special about my tree is the chaotic, mis-matched assortment of ornaments that I’ve amassed over the years. Everything from my hand-made childhood ornaments to the yearly themed ornaments my mother gifted to each family member to the still-working bubble lights to the fair trade handcrafted ornaments I’ve purchased from Ten Thousand Villages. I haven’t set up my tree yet this year and I actually giggled with excitement just from typing that sentence!
Wishing a safe, happy and magical holiday season to everyone!
What makes our tree special to me is that it contains ornaments from my own childhood as well as ornaments that my children have made. They all hold sentimental value and make the tree special.
I love your tree! That ribbon is so nice and I never even thought of doing the ribbon BEFORE the ornaments. That makes total sense.
My Christmas tree is always special because each year my 2 daughters each get 2 ornaments, one from me (Love Mom, 2001) and a signed and dated one from Santa. It’s always fun to look thru the ornaments and remember giving these precious decorations. Now the girls, ages 33 and 31, want their ornaments for their trees and it’s great to see them on their Christmas trees. The fun part is once again I get to buy new ornaments for my tree that I love!!
Becky, that’s so beautiful. Your comment actually made me tear up! My mom did the same thing for my siblings and I growing up and this is my first Christmas in my first home and I’m so excited and grateful that she put the effort into creating those memories for us! I’m sure your daughters feel the same. 🙂
We have a special ornament for each of our kids that tells their name and birthday on our tree.
First year with a real tree for my kids….I love how it makes the whole house smell like a pine forest!
We have been putting trees in every room since we moved to a bigger home. And the one in the front room is usually a sports tree this year I think it will be a colts tree. Half our house are Steeler fans and athe other are colts fans and we do one team every other year
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Ornaments I’ve had since I was a kid always have to go on the tree at my dad’s house.
I love Christmas trees! My favorite tree is all silver and white ornaments, clear lights and splashes of pink throughout.
My tree is a balsam with hundreds of white lights, beautiful red blown glass balls, and birds. I love the sparkle and the natural look from the birds made with real feathers. My daughter and I put glass glitter on a bunch of small gold balls and they are beautiful too. The skirt is a repurposed gold tablecloth. It’s all warm and homie. We love it!
Michael your tree looks great. My tree is up and it is small the my old tree. I have to start getting the
ornaments out of their totes. There are 43 years of collected glass ornaments with some colored ones. Wish I had the ribbon you used it’s beautiful.
Love your tree! The ornaments that make our tree so special to us are the ornaments that hold photos of our children throughout the years.
Your tree is beautiful! My Christmas tree is special because, like a lot of people, I’ve been collecting ornaments for 20+ years and each one reminds me of a trip or a special person. The thing that people always comment on about my tree, however, is the non-traditional color scheme: green, gold and purple. Though these are often colors associated with Mardi Gras celebrations, I was raised Catholic and purple is the color of lent, so the entire period of time leading up to Christmas. I found these colors were beautiful together and didn’t clash with the decor in the rest of my house the way traditional red and green would. Thanks for all the decorating, baking and crafting tips!
I love this tree!
When I was a child, on family vacations (at all times during the year) we would pick out a Christmas ornament as a souvenir. At first, buying ornaments at the beach in July seemed silly, but then every Christmas it was lovely to remember everywhere we have been that year. I have continued the same tradition with my family and our tree now!