Easy Christmas Tree Decorations to Make at Home: 28 Simple Ideas
The best easy Christmas tree decorations to make are the ones you can repeat in batches — a dozen matching ornaments, one long garland, a simple topper and a skirt — using two or three materials that share a color palette. A tree dressed in a few homemade designs repeated many times looks far more polished than one covered in fifty one-offs.
That's the secret most people miss when they look for easy Christmas tree decorations to make. A single handmade ornament can be lovely on its own, but a tree needs volume. So every idea in this guide is chosen because it is quick to repeat, uses common materials, and holds up for more than one season. You'll find ornaments, garlands, toppers and tree skirts, each with a materials list, the time it takes per piece, and where it looks best on the tree.
If you're decorating a whole house and not just the tree, our DIY home improvement hub is a good starting point for general project planning, and essential DIY tools lists what to keep on hand.
How to Plan Easy Christmas Tree Decorations to Make at Home
Plan before you start cutting and gluing. A little thinking up front is what separates a cohesive tree from a cluttered one.
1. Choose your palette. Three colors is plenty: a main color, an accent and a finish. Examples: white, red and natural wood; green, cream and gold; navy, silver and white.
2. Pick a mix of shapes. Good trees combine round ornaments, flat or hanging shapes, and a line element like a garland or ribbon. Aim for all three.
3. Estimate how many ornaments you need. A common rule of thumb is roughly ten ornaments per vertical foot of tree for a moderately full look. A six-foot tree takes about sixty. You don't need sixty different designs — three or four designs in batches of fifteen is perfect.
4. Plan the layers. Lights first, then garland, then large ornaments deep in the branches, then smaller ornaments on the tips, then the topper last.
| Tree height | Approximate ornaments (moderate fill) | Garland length (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 feet | 40 | 4 to 6 yards |
| 6 feet | 60 | 7 to 9 yards |
| 7.5 feet | 75 | 9 to 12 yards |
These are starting points; a fuller look takes more, a sparse modern look takes less.
Easy Ornaments to Make
Ornaments are the backbone of any list of easy Christmas tree decorations to make, because you can turn out a dozen in an evening.
1. Salt dough ornaments
Materials: flour, salt, water, cookie cutters, a straw, ribbon, paint, clear sealer. Time per batch: About an hour plus baking. Mix two parts flour to one part salt and add water slowly until it forms a smooth dough. Roll out about a quarter inch thick, cut shapes, poke a hole with a straw, and bake at a low temperature until hard. Paint in your palette and seal. Twenty ornaments from one batch is normal.
2. Cinnamon applesauce ornaments
Materials: ground cinnamon, applesauce, cookie cutters, ribbon. Time per batch: About an hour plus drying. Mix equal parts cinnamon and applesauce into a dough, roll, cut, and let dry slowly. They smell wonderful on the tree and last several seasons. Mark them clearly as decorations, not food.
3. Wood slice ornaments
Materials: a small branch, a hand saw or miter box, sandpaper, a small drill bit, twine, paint pens. Time per piece: About ten minutes once the slices are cut. Cut thin slices, sand, drill a hole near the top, and paint a simple design: a snowflake, an initial, a tree or a date.
4. Felt ornaments
Materials: wool or acrylic felt, scissors, embroidery thread, stuffing (optional). Time per piece: Fifteen to thirty minutes. Cut two matching shapes (stars, hearts, mittens, trees), stitch around the edge with a simple running stitch, and stuff lightly. Felt doesn't break, so it's ideal for homes with kids or pets.
5. Clear ball fillers
Materials: clear plastic fillable ornaments, fillers like faux snow, ribbon scraps, dried lavender, small pinecones or old sheet music. Time per piece: Five minutes. Pop off the cap, fill, and replace. Plastic is safer than glass on lower branches.
6. Paper star ornaments
Materials: cardstock or old book pages, scissors, glue, thread. Time per piece: Five to ten minutes. Fold strips into three-dimensional stars or cut flat stars and glue two together with thread in between.
7. Yarn-wrapped balls
Materials: foam balls or old ornaments, yarn, a dab of glue. Time per piece: Ten minutes. Wrap yarn tightly around the ball, glue the end, and add a loop. Great for using up leftover yarn.
8. Mini pinecone ornaments
Materials: small pinecones, small eye screws, ribbon, white paint (optional). Time per piece: Two minutes. Twist an eye screw into the base, add a ribbon loop, and brush the tips with white for a snowy look. Bake cones on low heat first to clean them; our pinecone wreath guide explains how.
9. Cinnamon stick bundles
Materials: cinnamon sticks, twine, a small greenery sprig. Time per piece: Three minutes. Bundle three sticks, tie tightly with twine, and tuck in a sprig.
10. Button trees
Materials: green buttons in graduated sizes, a piece of thin wire, a star bead. Time per piece: Ten minutes. Thread buttons largest to smallest on wire, add a star bead on top, and twist the wire into a loop.
11. Wooden bead snowflakes
Materials: small wooden beads, stiff craft wire or pipe cleaners, white paint. Time per piece: Ten minutes. Twist three wires together at the center to make six arms and thread beads on each.
12. Photo ornaments
Materials: printed photos, jar lids or wood slices, glue, ribbon. Time per piece: Ten minutes. Cut photos to fit, glue down, and add ribbon. Make one for each year and the tree becomes a family album.
13. Ribbon bows
Materials: wired ribbon in your palette, floral wire. Time per piece: Two minutes. Make a dozen simple bows and clip or wire them to branch tips. Bows fill gaps faster than anything else.
14. Dried orange slices
Materials: oranges, a sharp knife, a baking sheet, twine. Time per batch: About fifteen minutes of work plus several hours of low oven drying. Slice thin, blot dry, and dry slowly, flipping occasionally. Thread twine through the top.
15. Knotted rope or jute balls
Materials: thick jute rope, glue. Time per piece: Ten minutes. Tie a monkey-fist style knot or simply wrap rope around a foam ball for a rustic look.
16. Glittered paper icicles
Materials: white or silver cardstock, scissors, thread. Time per piece: Five minutes. Cut long thin triangles, twist them gently into spirals, and hang on the branch tips.
Easy Garlands to Make
17. Popcorn and cranberry garland
Materials: plain popped popcorn (a day old is easier to thread), fresh cranberries, a needle, strong thread. Time: About an hour per few yards. Alternate pieces in a pattern. It's traditional and lovely, but it attracts pets and doesn't keep, so plan on composting it after the season.
18. Paper chain garland
Materials: paper strips in your palette, tape or glue. Time: Thirty minutes per few yards. Use patterned paper or kraft paper for a more grown-up version.
19. Wood bead garland
Materials: wooden beads in two sizes, jute twine, tassels (optional). Time: Thirty minutes per few yards. Swag it loosely in drapes rather than wrapping tightly.
20. Felt ball garland
Materials: felt balls, a long needle, embroidery thread. Time: Thirty minutes per few yards.
21. Ribbon garland
Materials: wide wired ribbon. Time: Fifteen minutes. Start at the top, tuck the ribbon into the branches every foot or so, and let it puff out between tucks. It's the fastest way to make a tree look professionally done.
22. Dried orange and bay leaf garland
Materials: dried orange slices, bay leaves, twine. Time: Thirty minutes once oranges are dried.
Easy Tree Toppers
23. Oversized bow topper
Materials: wide wired ribbon, floral wire. Time: Fifteen minutes. Make a big bow with long tails and drape the tails down the tree.
24. Twig star topper
Materials: five straight sticks of equal length, hot glue, twine. Time: Twenty minutes. Lay out a five-point star, glue at each crossing, wrap the joints with twine, and attach a small light strand if you like.
25. Paper star topper
Materials: sturdy cardstock or a paper bag star, a cardboard tube. Time: Twenty minutes. Glue a paper tube to the back so it slides over the top branch.
Easy Tree Skirts and Bases
26. No-sew burlap skirt
Materials: a large square of burlap, scissors, fabric glue (optional). Time: Twenty minutes. Fold into quarters, cut a curve for the outside edge and a small curve at the center, then cut a slit from edge to center. Fray the edge for texture.
27. Blanket wrap
Materials: a large knit or faux fur throw. Time: Five minutes. Simply wrap it around the base. Soft, cozy and nothing to make.
28. Basket or bucket collar
Materials: a large basket or a galvanized bucket with the bottom removed. Time: Fifteen minutes. Set it around the stand to hide it. If you need a stand first, see how to make a Christmas tree stand.
Ideas by Time Available
Not every one of these easy Christmas tree decorations to make takes the same amount of time. Use this table to match projects to your schedule.
| Time you have | Best picks |
|---|---|
| One evening | Ribbon bows, ribbon garland, mini pinecones, cinnamon bundles, clear ball fillers, blanket wrap |
| One weekend | Salt dough, felt ornaments, wood slices, paper chains, burlap skirt, twig star |
| Spread across November | Dried oranges, cinnamon applesauce ornaments, felt ball garland, a full set of photo ornaments |
How to Decorate the Tree So It Looks Full
Lights go on first and deep. Wrap each main branch from trunk to tip and back, instead of circling the outside. The tree glows from within. Low-heat LEDs are the safe choice around paper and felt — see LED vs incandescent Christmas lights.
Garland goes on second. Drape in loose swags or tuck in a gentle spiral. Keep spacing even.
Big pieces go deep. Push larger ornaments toward the trunk. It adds depth and fills holes.
Small pieces go on the tips. Lightweight paper, felt and pinecone ornaments sit nicely at the ends of branches.
Step back often. Check from across the room and squint. Gaps and clusters show up immediately.
Topper goes last. Secure it with floral wire so it doesn't tilt.
Making a Pet- and Kid-Friendly Tree
Felt, wood, paper and fabric ornaments are naturally safer than glass. Keep edible-looking decorations like popcorn garlands, cinnamon ornaments and dried oranges higher up, out of reach of dogs. Put unbreakable ornaments on the bottom third of the tree and anchor tall trees to the wall with a small hook and fishing line. Cats can be a special challenge; our guide on how to keep cats out of the Christmas tree has practical tips.
Mistakes to Avoid
Too many one-off designs. Twenty different ornaments with one of each looks busy. Make fewer designs in bigger batches.
Skipping the garland or ribbon. Without a line element, a tree looks spotty. Even a simple ribbon pulls everything together.
Heavy ornaments on thin tips. Salt dough and wood can droop branches. Hang heavier pieces closer to the trunk.
Not sealing salt dough. Unsealed dough absorbs moisture and softens or molds in storage. Seal every piece.
Skimpy lights. A homemade tree with too few lights looks flat at night. Add more than you think.
Rushing the drying. Salt dough, applesauce ornaments and dried citrus need full drying time. Wet pieces can mold in the box.
Storing Handmade Ornaments
Wrap each ornament in tissue paper and store in a divided box or egg cartons for small pieces. Keep cinnamon and orange decorations in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Roll garlands around a cardboard tube so they don't tangle. Label the box by tree section — top, middle, bottom — so next year's decorating takes half the time.
FAQ
What are the easiest Christmas tree decorations to make?
Among all the easy Christmas tree decorations to make, ribbon bows, mini pinecone ornaments, cinnamon stick bundles and clear ball fillers are the quickest. Each takes only a few minutes and needs no special skills.
How many homemade ornaments do I need for my tree?
A rough rule is about ten ornaments per vertical foot for a moderately full tree. A six-foot tree takes around sixty, which you can make as three or four designs in batches.
How do I make salt dough ornaments last?
Bake or air-dry them completely, then seal every surface, including the back and edges, with a clear sealer. Store them in a dry place wrapped in tissue paper.
What can I make for my tree with things I already have?
Paper chains, yarn-wrapped balls, photo ornaments, ribbon bows, pinecones from the yard and old book page stars all use common household materials.
How do I make a homemade tree look cohesive?
Stick to three colors, repeat a few designs many times, and add a garland or ribbon to tie it together. Consistency matters more than variety.
Are homemade ornaments safe around pets?
Felt, wood and paper ornaments are safer than glass. Keep anything that smells like food, such as cinnamon, popcorn or dried oranges, higher up and out of reach.
Can I make a tree topper myself?
Yes. An oversized ribbon bow, a twig star wrapped in twine, or a paper star on a cardboard tube are all simple toppers that take less than half an hour.
