Christmas tree themes: 12 on-trend decorating schemes to try in 2023
From bold rainbow brights to Scandi minimalism, we reveal the best Christmas tree themes for this year
If you’re already thinking about your festive decor, look no further for inspiration than our curation of the must-have Christmas tree themes for 2023.
Decorating your Christmas tree is a fun and joyful experience to get you feeling festive, and whether you choose the best real Christmas trees for your home or opt for an artificial Christmas tree in bright and bold hues, the possibilities are endless.
These suggestions bring together the latest Christmas tree colour trends along with our favourite Christmas tree decorating ideas for 2023 but remember, the most important thing is to pick a festive theme that you love and adore and will return to for years to come.
12 Christmas tree themes to try in 2023
The biggest Christmas tree themes for this year take into consideration the latest coordinated colour schemes, stylish baubles, and luxe lighting to decorate the tree like a professional.
1. Candy cane delights
Good enough to eat, quite literally in some instances, sweeten the deal this festive season with a candy cane-themed Christmas tree.
"Christmas trees are looking fun this year with a nod to lifting our spirits," says Emma Morton-Turner, an interior stylist, writer and founder of Inside Stylists. "There are tons of brightly coloured sweetie decorations and oversized candy canes - think what a tree would look like if Willy Wonka went mad at this time of year. Oversized and over fun. I'm so here for it."
Think of a red and white colour scheme, over-the-top ornaments, and plenty of real candy canes, lollipops, and hanging sweet treats for good measure. Of course, if you're worried about little hands helping themselves to real treats you could opt for sweet-themed decorations instead of the real thing.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
£1.50 | A simple bauble filled with mini candy canes, topped off with a red and white candy cane striped ribbon is just the thing to encapsulate this characterful Christmas tree theme.
2. Rustic charm
Modern country and rustic home decor have remained a top interior design trend in 2023, so it’s no surprise that this simple, laid-back style will lend itself to the Christmas tree themes of the 2023 festive period.
Incorporate this trend with homespun accessories like handmade garlands, rattan Christmas tree topper ideas, and plenty of earth-toned, muted hues. Warm lights are a must for this look, to emulate the soft glow of ambient candlelight and roaring fires which are synonymous with country style.
£!2 | This understated willow star decoration offers a simple yet stylish finishing touch for any rustic Christmas tree theme.
3. Glam gold
For a classic festive decorating scheme that exudes sophistication, opt for a gold Christmas tree theme. If you're wondering how to decorate a Christmas tree with this metallic scheme, consider glass ornaments, metallic ribbons, stars, and hints of sparkle.
For most, a gold look is unapologetically glam but you can also make it feel more muted if you choose matt gold finishes, rather than shiny attention-grabbing gold Christmas decorations.
£2.50 | Add understated glam to your tree with the addition of this embossed metal decoration. Sold individually means you can add as little or as many as you desire.
4. Scaled-back Scandi style
When the minimalist style is too little but the other schemes feel too much there are always Scandi influences to set the scene with ease.
"The casual Icelandic retreat trend is perfect for those who favour a reduced colour palette and natural textures," says Claire Douglas, an interior stylist and regular contributor here at w&h.
"I love linens and rustic ceramics, so this calm aesthetic really appeals to me. The trend will work well in a neutrally decorated room and is a great way to create a cosy feel despite the pared-back styling. It's subtle but stylish and is sure to be a popular one for Christmas 2023".
£15 | This set of 4 delicate porcelain bird decorations add a subtle nod to Christmas traditions. The jute hanging ribbon adds a lovely rustic touch.
5. Natural wonder
Inspired by nature, this year’s emerging festive trend celebrates the natural beauty of winter woodland, keeping decoration colors neutral or derived from nature.
"This Christmas tree theme captures the essence of woodland charm, but is simplistic and accessible in nature," explains Wayfair’s Resident Style Advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill. "Introducing fresh natural foliage, and mixing earthy neutrals and touches of frosty snowy whites to create a soothing and enchanting look.
"Incorporating classic festive greenery into decorating schemes will instantly lift a room, but the complementary tones of oatmeal, verdant greens, and pale woods will elevate the look and make it feel instantly more contemporary."
£4.50 | Amazing value, this pack of 20 assorted baubles has everything you need to achieve this Christmas tree theme - with green, gold and champagne coloured decorations.
6. Merry, bright and bonkers
Some would say that Christmas is the ideal time to be bold with colour choices because it's not permanent, so for those people, there are merry and bright Christmas tree themes to embrace bold hues for the holidays. Amongst the celebration of colour are the novelty characters too.
"Novelty is still key for Christmas 2023," says Emma. "With glass decorations in the shape of everything from sushi to knitting needles and balls of wool. More things to make us smile."
Whether decorating alpine spruce or a snowy white tree, add bright and colourful ornaments and accessories to bring a playful pop of colour to your festive space. A bohemian mix of jewel-toned brights to welcome a kaleidoscope of festive colour, all of which will omit a warm glow when illuminated by the tree lights.
£2.50 | A smiling sprout in a Christmas cracker hat, what's not to love? This cheeky little chap is sure to make everyone smile during the festivities.
£20 | One for all the GBBO fans, this kitsch glass stand mixer is a charming spin on a kitchen essential but for the tree – love, love LOVE. You can throw this into the mix with any colour scheme too.
7. Frosted silver
On the opposite side of the metallic colour scale is silver for an icier approach to using gilded tones. From frosted silver trees to glitzy decorations and cold-hued lights, a silver Christmas tree theme gives a more polished look ideal for contemporary glam decor.
From matt pewter tones to high-shine silver baubles and glitter-covered ornaments a mix of silver touches adds depth to this effortlessly cool theme. Silver can be effortlessly supported by white decorations that add to the snowy, iced aspect of the colour palette.
£8 | We love this chic silver decoration that feels like a mirage of iridescent blues and pinky tones, perfect to add a little touch of 'extra' to a silver Christmas tree theme,
8. Traditional red and gold
Another traditional Christmas tree theme, red and gold Christmas trees are a classic choice that provides a timeless style that will look great in any space. Some of the best Christmas decorations come in these colorways too, so you won't be short on choices.
This colour scheme is best suited to a natural-looking fir tree to welcome a touch of green foliage which acts as an accent colour. And because the look is more traditional you can add woodland touches via the decorations to create a cosy cabin feel that adds to the ambience.
£10.99 | This 40-piece box contains red and green glitter Christmas balls, snowflakes and reindeer-shaped tree decorations Xmas to encapsulate all the traditional festive favourites.
9. Understated minimalism
With the busy world outside, many of us have come to embrace the “less is more” mindset when it comes to our homes. Incorporate this into your holiday decorating and opt for a minimalist Christmas tree theme that makes just the right style statement without overwhelming your living space.
A deep green fir tree is best, decorated with simple ornaments, neutral colors, and a wicker Christmas tree skirt to add a stylish yet simple finishing touch.
£27.99 | This is Wayfiar's choice of the best tree collar, aka tree skirt. This white-washed woven design is the ideal solution for a thoughtfully decorated minimalist tree.
10. Snowy sophistication
Snow-tipped Christmas trees will ensure that a white Christmas is a reality whatever the weather. With a snowy Christmas tree, it’s best to keep things simple – just add warm string lights and white or pastel ornaments to bring everything together.
You can also work this Christmas tree theme into your Christmas centrepiece ideas too, for a pulled-together holiday decor scheme.
£8 | Glistening Glass Bauble Who better to cater for the sophisticated white style than The White Company? Effortlessly achieving the look with this new white-frosted glass ornament
11. Floral fancy
Get in bloom this holiday season with a floral Christmas tree. Add your favourite faux flowers and bring a touch of spring blooms to winter with this unique tree style.
Simply place faux flower heads of your best cottage garden plants such as roses and hydrangeas in between the branches of your festive tree to welcome a floral touch to your decorating. You can still add complimentary coloured feathers, baubles, and ornaments to enhance the flowers and fill out the tree.
£16.99 | Keep your flower of choice traditional with this set of 24 golden Christmas flowers, with golden glitter flowers and off-white petals, to create a harmonious and natural look.
12. Rainbow colour schemes
This Christmas, consider a kaleidoscope of color placed in order of a rainbow to really make a statement. Create a gradient effect with different hues of your favorite shades, or go all out with bold and brights. Finish the look with fairy lights and an oversized tree topper.
£12.50 | Add a bright mix of satin ribbons to the ends of your tree branches to make the rainbow colours really standout.
How to choose a Christmas tree theme for your home
When choosing a Christmas tree theme, you should consider your overall design aesthetic, and opt for pieces that you can use year after year, minimizing overall cost and waste. Rachel Epstein, design specialist and creative director of CARME Home says that it's important to think about existing themes when choosing a tree.
"Christmas trees are a standout feature of the home and so you'll want to choose a theme that complements your interiors without clashing with your décor. The main things to consider when choosing a theme are the colour and lighting," she tells Woman & Home. "The colour of the decorations should complement your tree as well as the rest of the room.
"For lighting, stick with your current lighting tones, so if you have warm lighting go for warm lights. Contrasting lighting is a big no!"
Rachel says that a fashionable and cosy Christmas tree is "essentially a balancing act". Each time you place a decoration try to coordinate where the next one will go and think about the size, color, and texture of the items.
"Start with your standout decorations and place them in the prime locations making sure that each section of the tree has a good standout bauble. A great tip to make your tree look taller is to hang any large decorations at the bottom and keep going smaller towards the top," she notes.
"A classic mistake people always make is forgetting about the tinsel or lights! Place these on first and then your decorations, there's nothing worse than weaving lights in and out of your filled-up Christmas tree."
Tamara is a highly experienced homes and interiors journalist, with a career spanning 22 years. Now the Lifestyle Editor of womanandhome.com, she previously spent 17 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, and it’s with these award-winning interiors teams that she gained a wealth of knowledge and honed her skills and passion for styling and writing about every aspect of lifestyle and interiors.
A true homes and interiors expert, Tamara has served as an ambassador for leading interior brands on multiple occasions, including appearing on Matalan’s The Show and presenting at top interior trend forecasting events such as the Autumn Fair and Spring Fair.
-
Amanda Holden's striking bumble bee-chic outfit featuring the satin skirt of dreams is so gorgeous it made us gasp
Amanda went bold in her gold-toned midi skirt with a standout striped knit
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
The 5 chic, autumnal colours on our beauty team's nails right now - with shades to suit short and long shapes
From dark reds to timeless nudes, these are the nail looks our team of manicure-getters have, well, got for autumn
By Naomi Jamieson Published
-
3 crucial mistakes to avoid when setting your Christmas table, according to an interior stylist
Set the scene for festive dining in style while making sure to avoid these common Christmas table decorating mistakes
By Tamara Kelly Published
-
We've found the easiest way to tie a perfect bow with ribbon – after trying countless methods
It's not too late to tweak the tree...which we've been busy doing since discovering how to tie the perfect bow with ribbon
By Tamara Kelly Published
-
How to style a bathroom ready for Christmas guests, according to an interior stylist
Inviting guests into your home this Christmas? These are the bathroom styling tips you need to know to create an effortlessly luxe space
By Claire Douglas Published
-
13 essential Christmas hosting tips to make the day a resounding success, without any stress
Discover the best hosting tips from the w&h team to host Christmas guests in style during the Holidays
By Tamara Kelly Published
-
How to style a hallway ready for Christmas guests, according to an interior stylist
Interior stylists share their simple tricks to help style a hallway to make it more inviting for welcoming Christmas arrivals
By Claire Douglas Published
-
6 style rules to make your Christmas tree look more expensive
Follow these simple steps to make your Christmas tree decor look more luxe, from adjusting the lights to adding finishing touches
By Tamara Kelly Published
-
Etiquette expert reveals the 'plain rude' Christmas faux pas you should avoid this year
Note to self: Don't ever make this mistake
By Madeline Merinuk Published
-
9 easy ways to decorate your house after Christmas to cheer up winter decor
Does your home feel a little dull after the Christmas decorations come down? Try these simple ideas to brighten up winter decor and retain a touch of decorative magic
By Tamara Kelly Published