As much as we love Christmas, when it comes to Christmas trees, there are many reasons why sometimes it’s just not the most practical of decorations. We know it’s tradition and for sure they look beautiful but sometimes there just isn’t enough space, time or money to make it happen. And then, of course, sometimes we just want a change and a chance to get creative!
The online world of crafting, upcycling, recycling and DIYing is as strong as ever and if you can think of it, there’s probably a Pinterest board for it.
If you’d like to mix things up a little this year you’ve come to the right place! Check out some of our favourite alternative Christmas trees and learn how you can make your own.
PVC Pipe Christmas Tree
Okay, this might just be our favourite because it’s SO simple and made with such ordinary items but it looks so good! Surely you are wondering ‘how on earth can a Christmas tree made out of PVC pipes look good?’ but trust us, it does. For this all you need is a piece of plywood, PVC piping, epoxy, and a saw. The plywood can be whatever size you like depending on how big you want your Christmas tree to be. Simply cut the piping into small pieces (big enough to hold an ornament) and arrange into a Christmas tree shape on your plywood (you might want to paint this first). Glue them into place and leave to dry. Once dry, hang on the wall and fill with your favourite Christmas ornaments! This is a great solution for someone with very little floor space.Sticks Christmas Tree
This is another great solution for those lacking floorspace. With a more natural look than the PVC pipe tree, this one would work for homes with both modern and more traditional interior décor. For this tree all you need is a collection of sticks of various sizes and some natural sisal rope. Simply arrange the sticks in size order so they create a Christmas tree shape. Tie them together with the rope and allow extra for hanging. Once your tree is attached to the wall, decorate with lights and your favourite ornaments.
Hanging Bauble Christmas Tree
The idea behind this tree and the materials needed are pretty simple but the construction requires a little more creative vision and a slightly more complicated assembly. It’s a cheap and modern alternative but still looks lovely and festive and can of course be customised to suit any colour scheme. For this tree you’ll need a round steamer rack or cooling rack, some chain, a small carabiner, ornament hooks, monofilament jewellery string, jewellery crimp beads or tubes, a jewellery crimping tool, lanyard hooks and ornaments of your choice. Using the rack and chain create the frame from which the baubles will hang. Cut the monofilament to different lengths and add the baubles to the ends. You will need to plan for this regarding the lengths of the wire and the placement of the baubles so that you create a perfect Christmas tree shape. For more details instructions visit Not Martha.
Book Christmas Tree
If you’re a lover of books, and you have an abundance of them, this might be the tree for you! A simple idea that would cost you absolutely nothing provided you have enough books, what better way to demonstrate your love than to create a towering book Christmas tree. Simple begin to arrange the books in a circle on the floor, adding more levels and reducing the width as you build. For a taller tree begin with a bigger base and reserve smaller books for the top. When you’re finish leave it as it is or decorate with fairy lights!
Pallet Christmas Tree
Seriously now, is there ANYTHING that can’t be made with a pallet?! The design of the Christmas tree feels very rustic although we think it could work in a variety of different spaces. Paint your pallet whichever background colour you would like it to have and then paint on a Christmas tree in a contrasting colour. As you can tell from this example, the painting doesn’t have to be precise for it to look great, and we love the use of grey and white which gives it a contemporary feel. When the paint is dry place tacks around the tree to hang lights and ornaments, decorate and there you have it: a pallet Christmas tree.
Wooden Circles Christmas Tree
This simple idea looks beautiful and again would suit a variety of different homes and can be easily customised to be as simple or as colourful as you like. For the wooden circles, you’re going to need a variety of wooden posts/poles in different sizes. Saw them into sections of different heights to create a multi-depth tree. Sand any rough bits and attach to a piece of painted plywood. Add lights here and there to create a more festive look. You could also paint all or some of the circles if you prefer something more colourful rather than natural. Don’t forget to keep a section of wood for the tree trunk!
Have you come across any cool alternative Christmas trees? Leave us a comment below, Tweet us @InternalDoorsCo or tell us on our Facebook page!