50 Alternative Christmas Trees to Try This Year

Classic Christmas trees wrapped in garland, baubles and lights are the traditional focal point for holiday decorating. That said, sometimes towering balsam trees feel out of place and visually overwhelm small spaces. Whether you’re decking the halls in a cozy studio apartment, dressing up your office space or looking for a kid-friendly tree, you’re in the right place. We’re sharing 50+ unique Christmas tree alternatives to usher unforgettable charm into your home this holiday season.

First up? A chalkboard tree complete with handmade trimmings. Kids will love seeing their handmade ornaments and decorations used at Christmas. This colorful yarn garland is fun and simple to make for kids of all ages. String it across a flat, graphic chalkboard tree for an extra wow factor.

Bring Christmas cheer to your entryway or breakfast table with a few vases you already have on hand and fresh greenery trimmings. Take notes from this lush trio and dangle a mix of metallic and pearlescent glass baubles from the branches for an elevated, elegant appeal.

Welcome Christmas into your stairway or kids’ playroom with this easy (and safe!) tree alternative. Save six to 10 of your (many) Amazon package boxes and dress them for the holidays with alternating evergreen and gold wrapping paper. Stack the boxes from largest to smallest to mimic tiered branches, and top the lot with a pointed paper star to round out the display.

Looking for another tot-proof or cat-proof Christmas tree idea? Give this patchwork wall tree a go! Install scrap stationery, wallpaper and wrapping paper with washi tape to create a vibrant wall-pasted Christmas tree. Not only is this idea inexpensive to execute, but it’s easily installed on any wall in your house.

Invite your besties for a holiday craft night and make these chic chenille stem Christmas trees with bead ornaments. Chenille comes in endless vibrant colors, allowing you to easily customize your trees to complement your holiday decor. Bonus: They’re easier to make than you think. Follow our step-by-step tutorial in the link below to get started.

Go big or small with this clever holiday tree. Its natural simplicity and festive glow ensure it works with almost any style of holiday decor.

Evergreen trees are the go-to for Christmas, but here's your sign to explore other greenery this season. Fresh holly leaves form a stunning spiraling tabletop tree with metallic gold berries. Use holly from your yard to recreate this beauty for free or use faux holly leaves to craft a topiary you can use year after year.

This holiday-ready sideboard poses the crucial question: Why settle for one Christmas tree when you could have nine instead? Dust off your grandmother’s vintage ceramic tree collection — or start one of your own — and create a makeshift forest on your dining room console, mantel or bookcase. Achieve similar striking results using pairs of trees of varying heights arranged symmetrically on each end of your table.

Showcase holiday cards and wrapped presents with this easy-to-make alternative version constructed from plywood.

Smitten with all things Scandinavian design? Bring hygge vibes to your entryway, living room or hallway with this minimalist woodsy wall hanging. This DIY Christmas tree alternative features seven fresh-cut greenery bunches dangling from a birch limb using clear fishing wire. The trimmings are hung at varied heights to achieve a tiered Christmas tree silhouette. Leave your trimming tree plain or embellish with mini pinecones, berries and dried orange slices for a dressier look.

Forgo a traditional tree for a lively bottle brush tree forest a la this charming vignette. Bottle brush trees are versatile, inexpensive and come in every color imaginable to complement your interior color palette. Scatter your bottle brush trees in different locales throughout your home or create an eye-catching display with a few nutcrackers, woodland animal figurines or Christmas village houses, as seen here.

Make a mod statement on your bar cart or kitchen counter with this chic tabletop tree alternative. Start with a holiday card holder with a tree silhouette and adorn it with your favorite mini baubles and garland. If you really want to up the ante, add some fairy string lights to round out the design.

Leave the traditional skirted pine to your parents and lean into your love of maximalism with a more-is-more Christmas tree in an unexpected vessel. Here, a quirky tinsel tree sports glittering vintage ornaments and nestles into a brown-and-white chinoiserie planter. Hot pink fringe spills from the planter’s edge, disguising the silvery tree’s base and adding panache to the eclectic display.

Another craft night project to add to your list? Our adorable yarn tabletop Christmas trees. These textural trees make the perfect finishing touch to any coffee table or bookshelf — plus, they’re simple to make in just a few minutes. Follow the link below for the materials list and our simple step-by-step tutorial.

Just because you don't have space for a full tree doesn't mean you have to fully forego greenery. Consider turning a pre-decorated garland into a multi-boughed tree to get the look of a traditional tree without sacrificing floor space.

Put your scrap fabric to work and recreate this playful Christmas table vignette. Scoop up three to five blank cone tree forms from your favorite craft store and give them a custom facelift with your leftover goodies. Apply craft glue to the cone trees, wrap them with fabric and finish your design with whimsical embellishments like gemstones, pom garland and yarn toppers. Pro tip: Try the same idea with extra wrapping or wallpaper you have collecting dust in your closet.

Instead of letting your garden tools gather dust this winter, use them for decoration. Hang your garden tools in the shape of a Christmas tree, and add ornaments and garlands for a festive touch.

This fun Christmas tree is made with nothing but garden twine and white glue. Cover a styrofoam cone with plastic wrap to create a mold for your tree. Dip lengths of twine into white glue and wrap them around the cone, making sure the twine overlaps. Let the glue dry completely, then gently pull out the mold. Decorate your finished tree with red berries for a festive touch.

Love modern Scandinavian style? These DIY wooden Christmas trees are super chic and super easy to make.

Put leftover wrapping paper to work to create this cute space-saving Christmas tree that's sure to brighten up small spaces like a foyer, guest bath or kids' room. Ribbon and double-sided tape keep the paper in place while presents piled underneath complete the look.

This adorable alternative is the perfect solution, taking up very little floor space and coming to the rescue year after year.

When it comes to Christmas trees, I say the more, the merrier. These custom trees add sophistication to any style of holiday decor, and they're super easy to store away.

These nailhead trim trees are fun in the daytime but look breathtaking when silhouetted at night.

Whether you can’t have a Christmas tree in your home, or you're just looking to add extra cheer to your space, this wrapped present Christmas tree is as easy as it is impressive. This is the perfect DIY for people without small children or pets, as it may fall over if run into. All you need to do is wrap all of your gifts in beautiful green paper. If you don’t have enough gifts, just wrap a few extra boxes for filler. Stack all of the wrapped boxes in the shape of a Christmas tree and finish off the tree-like look by adding a few stick-on gold bows for ornaments, then top the tree with a white gift box and a bold red bow.

A stack of pots, rope and some ornaments make up this charming holiday decoration.

This pinecone tree welcomes guests with woodsy holiday charm.

Bring the look and feel of a Christmas tree to your small space by creating a wall-mounted version using MDF trim and fabric.

Add a touch of modernity to holiday decor with a minimalist backlit plywood Christmas tree that's perfect for indoor or outdoor use.

Space is often at a premium in standard-sized bedrooms, but you can still add a Christmas tree if you think small. Here, a tabletop tree sits bedside to double as a nightlight after dark.

How smart is this? Gather bright, monochromatic glassware and position in a bookshelf to resemble the outline of a Christmas tree. Add silvery orbs and bulbs to complete the look.

Who says evergreens should have all the fun? Carefully arranged succulents look wild in the shape of a Christmas tree. And if you live in a temperate climate, this tree would be especially appropriate.

This easy craft will add modern yet rustic charm to your holiday decor.

The simple structure of this tree gives it a modern, architectural feel, maintaining its rustic charm.

Try a new twist on traditional holiday topiaries by covering cone-shaped foam forms with shells in assorted colors and sizes. Attach them with hot glue, starting at the bottom and working your way up.

This Advent calendar made from takeout food containers stacked to resemble a tree is a clever way to get your kids to count down to Christmas. Blogger Layla Palmer made the standard white boxes more jolly with construction paper and stickers.

Add farmhouse style to your front yard this holiday season with a rustic, wooden Christmas tree.

Celebrate Christmas with some coastal flair with this driftwood beauty adorned with turquoise and metallic ornaments.

These little yarn trees are so simple to create; you'll have time to make a few for your home, plus plenty of handmade gifts for friends and family, too.

An assortment of hardcover books is stacked in the shape of a miniature Christmas tree and decorated with old-fashioned string lights, as discovered in Joe Biden's library when he was Vice President.

This natural birch branch tree adorned with copper baubles adds a cozy, minimalist vibe that screams simplicity and elegance.

Put a holiday spin on wine corks with a tabletop tree structure. Secure corks directly to floral foam cones using a hot glue gun. You can keep this up all season long, too.

This oversized, unexpected Advent calendar tree is made from a ladder and sure to have friends and neighbors talking this year! Get the step-by-step instructions to make your own, below.

Put a new spin on your holiday window decorations with this smart, colorful wooden dowel project.

Green, blue and gold decor add holiday sparkle to this cozy living room.

Cover foam topiary forms with layers of felt in a fun ombré pattern to create these colorful tabletop trees.

All you need to create this non-traditional tree is a few terra-cotta pots and a little paint. It's an easy way to add some elegant holiday spirit to your decor, inside or out. Top with a small succulent or another low-maintenance plant for a touch of natural beauty.

This rustic wood model is cute and quirky, like a modern Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Create a Christmas tree that doubles as a tabletop centerpiece by stacking three cake plates then layering ornaments on top. Keep them in place with double-sided tape, and add an extra layer of sparkle with cascading ribbon.

As cute as they are practical, these holiday fabric trees put old clothing to use in a completely new way. Look for holiday sweaters in seasonal colors with interesting textures or consider other fabrics, too, such as men's shirts or a wooly scarf.