10 Crafty DIY Alternatives To The Traditional Christmas Tree
Not everyone can have a traditional Christmas tree in the home, so here are some of the best crafty DIY alternatives that you can make.
10/11/2020
There are plenty of reasons why some people can't have a traditional Christmas tree in the home, whether it is because your space is too small, your pets would destroy it or the kids wouldn't leave it alone, we found some great crafty DIY alternatives to the traditional Christmas tree.
Every year, crafters and DIY enthusiasts are becoming even more creative and there are all sorts of ideas that we have never seen before. This year, I came across some very unique Christmas tree ideas for those who don't want a traditional Christmas tree.
1. Macramé Shelf Christmas Tree
A very crafty way to create your own Christmas tree and have decorative shelves at the same time is to use rope and wood. Using a very basic macramé knot that twists the cord as you repeat, you can incorporate paint pine or board shelves that can be used as a faux Christmas tree or to display festive decorations. A really neat idea and one that you can use again and again, even when it's not Christmas!
pinterest.com/pin/232287293269950425/
2. Wood Frame Christmas Tree
I made a wood frame Christmas tree a few years back and placed this in the entrance to my home. It went down very well and the only change I made to the design was to wrap battery-operated fairy lights inside the frame, which has now become the norm if you want to add lights to your wood frame tree.
pinterest.com/pin/445856431841770666/
There are so many different variations using the wood frame tree that you can just have fun when decorating your tree. Use tree ornaments in a single colour or go multi-coloured, wrap fairy lights around the frame, fill the entire frame with colourful baubles, or just wrap tinsel around.
pinterest.com/pin/338262622014622067/
3. Tree Branch Christmas Tree
One of my favourite alternative Christmas tree ideas is that of using tree branches and mounting the tree onto a board or wall. It lends a whimsical touch to your festive decorations and won't cost much to make if you can cut branches from your garden. Decorate with Christmas ornaments and baubles in your choice of colour/s.
pinterest.com/pin/345932815134898154/
I would mount the branches onto a backing board so that you wouldn't have to drill into walls, which is also a wonderful idea if you are renting your home.
pinterest.com/pin/573786808776751645/
4. Brown Paper Christmas Tree
This is the first time I am seeing a brown paper Christmas tree, but I really do like it and it's a fairly simple project if you want to make your own. You will find instructions for making the Macramé Shelf and Brown Paper Christmas tree here
pinterest.com/pin/92464598583000594/
Using brown or white paper to craft an alternative Christmas tree is an eco-friendly substitute for the manufactured one and it brings a unique touch to your festive decorating.
https://za.
5. Polystyrene Cutout Christmas Tree
Not very eco-friendly, but most definitely a clever idea if you don't have the space for a large real or faux Christmas tree, and polystyrene sheets are relatively inexpensive and easy to cut with a fine-wire cutter.
pinterest.com/pin/306244843413527874/
Use LED lighting strips or fairy lights to bring a 3-D effect into play when lighting up the cutout in the evenings. Don't use any other type of light source as they produce quite a bit of heat and won't be safe to use in conjunction with polystyrene.
pinterest.com/pin/306244843413527874/
6. Chalkboard Christmas Tree
Another clever idea is a chalkboard Christmas tree, You can either paint a chalkboard wall or buy a piece of Masonite or hardboard and paint with chalkboard paint. Use Prestik to secure your tree lights onto the 'tree'.
pinterest.com/pin/37154765661581515/
With a chalkboard Christmas tree on a board or a wall, there's no mess, no fuss and nothing to clean up after. Simply wipe the board or wall clean and let the kids have some fun.
pinterest.com/pin/526428643935869815/
7. Wall-Mounted Christmas Tree
Never have to worry about your Christmas tree falling over, cats trying to climb the tree or dogs chewing the trunk, this Christmas tree is mounted directly onto the wall using a small timber frame. Mount securely and then you can add as many different tree ornaments and baubles as you wish.
pinterest.com/pin/639440847069371266/
Make a lightweight frame for the tree using pine strips and onto which you can staple or hot glue real or synthetic branches to cover up the frame. Secure the frame onto the wall with Prestik or double-sided tape.
pinterest.com/pin/144889312997647386/
8. Tulle Christmas Tree
This is another new idea that I haven't seen before and is a crafty way to craft a pretty Christmas tree. Tulle or net isn't an expensive fabric, which is good because you will need a lot of it to make a tulle Christmas tree.
pinterest.com/pin/133559945178128315/
I found these whimsical white and pink tulle Christmas trees on Etsy and thought they were adorable. Even if you don't make a full-size one for your home, you could make a smaller one as a decoration or for the dining table.
If you fancy making your own tulle Christmas trees, you can download the instructions here. You will need 4 metres of tulle in your choice of colour, pine dowels, scissors and a hot glue gun. It's a simple project that you will easily complete in an hour or two.
9. Wooden Christmas Tree
Small or large, I like the idea of using scrap wood to make a wooden Christmas tree. If you don't have that much scrap pine lying around, it's not too expensive to buy at Builders or your local hardware store. Or perhaps look around for reclaimed pallet wood that you can use.
pinterest.com/pin/323485185731451823/
It's amazing what you can make with a few pieces of wood. Make a diagram of the measurements to make the wooden tree and then take this along with you when you buy so that you can have everything cut to size.
pinterest.com/pin/776096948255540831/
10. Stepladder Christmas Tree
Every home needs a stepladder and I like the idea of using this as an alternative Christmas tree rather than forking out for an artificial tree. Of course, if your stepladder is full of paint, it might be a good idea to give it a good sanding before you use it!
pinterest.com/pin/326581410472526268/
Once you have the stepladder set up, it's up to you as to how you decorate it. I have seen plenty of stepladder Christmas trees where shelves are added onto the rungs to provide more space for festive decorations. You can also simply hang decorators to drop down between the two ladders.
pinterest.com/pin/276549233355483077/