Last Updated on December 4, 2023 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.
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.
Creative Ways to Decorate for Christmas with Tree Trimmings
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1 | Embellish a Christmas Present
Stick a little sprig of cedar or evergreen under a gift bow for an easy Christmas flair! Not only does it look adorable but it smells fabulous too!
2 | Fill Empty Window Boxes
The window boxes on our pool shed look so sad in the wintertime! Stick a few Christmas tree branches into the window boxes and bring them back to life!
To fill out the window boxes, I added dried hydrangeas and a few decorative Christmas picks to add a pop of red.
3 | Spread Tree Clippings Around a Candle in a Lantern
Fill a lantern with Christmas tree trimmings for a festive and seasonal look. Add a variety of clippings from nature 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.
4 | Hang Tree Trimmings over a Mirror
The tree trimmings over the mirror are a fun addition to our bedroom during the holiday season!
I took two 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 to 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 the 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 | Create an Outdoor Arrangement
One of my favorite budget-friendly DIY projects during the holidays is to create outdoor arrangements for our porch.
Using a container I own, I fill it with Christmas tree clippings, branches from pine trees in our backyard, and red branches cut from a bush in our side yard.
Here is another version of a DIY Christmas arrangement using tree trimmings 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 a little Christmas tree for the new 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.
A little greenery peeking out from behind picture frames is a subtle way to add Christmas cheer to a room.
10 | Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel
A decorated fireplace mantel is the star of the show on Christmas! Use the evergreen branches to create a beautiful garland over the fireplace to perfectly accent the Christmas stockings.
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.