14 Unique Ways to Decorate with Christmas Tree Trimmings

Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by lindseymahoney

Decorating your home with Christmas tree trimmings offers a multitude of benefits. First, it is a cost-effective way to add a festive touch to your space. Instead of purchasing new decorations each year, you can repurpose the trimmings from your tree, saving both money and the environment.

10+ ways to decorate for the holidays using Christmas tree clippings

Second, using tree trimmings allows you to create a cohesive and coordinated look throughout your home. By using the same trimmings on your tree, wreaths, garlands, and other decorations, you can achieve a unified and polished aesthetic.

Lastly, decorating with Christmas tree trimmings adds a unique and personal touch to your home. Each piece of greenery and ornament carries memories and meaning, making your décor more meaningful and special.

So, before you discard those tree trimmings, consider the benefits of using them to transform your home into a winter wonderland.

14 Creative Ways to Decorate for Christmas with Tree Clippings

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1 | Embellish a Christmas Present

Stick a little sprig of cedar or evergreen under a gift bow for easy Christmas flair! Using Christmas tree clippings on gifts is an easy way to spruce up a present and it smells nice too!

2 | Fill Empty Window Boxes

The window boxes on our pool shed look so sad in the wintertime! Stick a few real branches into the window boxes and bring them back to life! You can cut branches from the bottom of your real tree or clip a few branches from your own trees outside.

To fill out the window boxes, I added dried hydrangeas and a few decorative Christmas tree picks to add a pop of red.

3 | Spread Tree Clippings Around a Candle in a Lantern

Use Christmas tree trimmings to surround a candle in a lantern to decorate for the holidays

Fill a lantern with Christmas tree trimmings for a festive and seasonal look. Add natural beauty with green pine needles to create dimension and interest around a glowing candle.

Sprigs of holly look beautiful with green and white leaves and bright red berries. Boxwood clippings also look lovely when mixed with tree trimmings. When you keep the color palette simple using green, red, and white for the holidays it is easy to find decor in nature for free.

4 | Hang Tree Trimmings over a Mirror

10 easy ways to decorate with Christmas tree trimmings this holiday season

The tree trimmings over the mirror are a fun addition to our bedroom during the holiday season!

I took two Christmas tree branches and attached them at their ends using floral wire. Next, I attached a pretty Christmas bow and secured it to the mirror using a command hook.

5 | Add Trimmings to Faux Garland

I purchased a bag of old garland from an estate sale and it looked quite raggedy alone on our staircase.

Along with a few other natural materials, I used tree trimmings to fill in the bare spots and create the look of fresh garland. It definitely looks more realistic with real greenery added sporadically.

6 | Place Evergreen Branches in a Vase

A handful of evergreen or pine branches placed in a vase instantly add Christmas spirit to a room. Tie a simple red bow around the lip of the vase to complete the look.

7 | Decorate Outdoor Planters

One of my favorite DIY Christmas decorations is to create outdoor planter arrangements for our front porch.

Using a container I own, I fill it with branches cut from the bottom of the Christmas tree and branches from pine trees in our backyard. I take it to the next level by adding red branches from a backyard bush and dried hydrangeas.

8 | Create a Mini Christmas Tree for a Dollhouse

A few years ago, I updated an old dollhouse for my daughter. I found this old house thrift shopping and couldn’t wait to fix it up for her!

I painted the dollhouse pink, wallpapered the interior rooms, and added a few fun decor items. Using a hairspray cap and leftover tree trimmings, I created tiny trees to use outside of the house and as a mini Christmas tree inside the dollhouse!

9 | Sprinkle Fresh Greenery Around the House

I display photos from Santa visits throughout the years and they pair perfectly with tree trimmings woven throughout.

The tips of the branches peeking out from behind picture frames is an easy way to add Christmas cheer to a room and tie in the overall color scheme.

10 | Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel

This time of year, a decorated fireplace mantel is the star of the show! Use the evergreen branches to create a beautiful garland over the fireplace to perfectly accent the Christmas stockings.

11 | Create a Festive Wreath

Gather a bundle of branches to form a circular shape, and secure it with floral wire. Add a few ornaments, pine cones, or berries to give it a festive flair, and hang it on your front door or above the fireplace.

12 | Decorate Place Settings

For a rustic, elegant table setting, place a small sprig of pine on each plate. Tie a bit of twine or ribbon around it to complete the look. It’s a simple but charming way to bring a festive feel to your holiday meals.

13 | Create Pinecone and Pine Trimming Ornaments

Gather pinecones and attach small pieces of greenery using hot glue. Add a bit of twine or ribbon, and hang these nature-inspired ornaments on your tree.

14 | Fill Clear Ornaments with Trimmings

For a quick and easy ornament DIY, stuff clear, fillable ornaments with small pieces of pine, berries, and even a bit of glitter or faux snow. Hang them on your tree or give them as handmade gifts.

With just a few free Christmas tree trimmings, some basic craft supplies, and a bit of creativity, you can transform your home into a winter wonderland without breaking the bank! Which of these ideas will you try first?

FAQs

How do you keep evergreen branches from drying out?

To keep your tree clippings and live garland from drying out too quickly, I have a few tips.

First, keep the humidity in your home around 40-45% to keep the greenery from becoming brittle quickly.

Second, soak your greenery in water for up to 24 hours. This gives the greenery a big drink of water and will extend its life a little longer.

If I had a party planned shortly after I decorated our home, I think soaking is worth it. If you have your decorations up for two months and don’t have any big events at your home, I don’t know that soaking is worth it.