23 Easter tree ideas to dress homes for spring 2023

Easter trees are the must-have spring decor to dress homes in style, with DIY Easter tree ideas gaining popularity in recent years as more people get creative with this traditional decoration in their homes. 

Easter trees are fast becoming a pinnacle of Easter decorations ideas, offering a fun, creative, and affordable way to decorate your home in the spring – whether used as an Easter centerpiece idea or a show-stopping piece to greet guests in an entryway. 

These Easter tree ideas will show you how to make your own this spring and bring a fresh creative flair to your seasonal decorating ideas.

Easter tree ideas

"Easter trees have been steadily growing in popularity for some time now, with social media being the main driver behind the trend being popularized in the UK and the US," Sandra Varley from UK flower delivery service Flying Flowers explained to Woman & Home. 

Take inspiration from our curation of 22 creative, DIY Easter tree ideas to set the scene in your own home for spring 2023.

1. Start outdoors

Start with the trees you already have and set the tone before guests even enter the house. Decorate the trees or shrubs in your garden with colorful egg decorations and oversized paper pom poms.

You can also try hanging strings of solar-powered lights, adding plastic flower decorations, or tying ribbons to trunks and branches. Just remember that whatever Easter tree ideas you choose your outdoor decorations need to be weather-proof. 

2. Illuminate and decorate potted trees

In addition to dressing larger trees and shrubs outdoors also look to utilize any topiary trees or small potted shrubs that flank your front door or dress the porch.

A simple set of Easter-themed lights are all your need to set the scene, transforming your everyday greenery into a simple Easter tree idea. There are some great Amazon Easter gifts available this year to do the job in style. Be sure to use LED lights that can be used outdoors.

3. Bring real branches inside

You can gather large twigs and small branches from your backyard, nearby wooded areas or from local garden center.

"Willow is brilliant for crafting with as it's strong yet pliable," explains Becca Parker, craft expert and founder of To Be Adorned. "Cherry blossom or any flowering branches would also be lovely for a real springtime burst of color."

While they're great for hanging decorations on, you can also decorate the branches themselves for a finished look that's both understated and high-impact.

"You can easily spray paint branches, or try wrapping them in pastel-colored yarns," says Parker.

4. Put up a Christmas-inspired Easter tree

If taking down your real Christmas tree always makes you feel sad, you'll love this idea. Dig out your Christmas tree to use as a base, meaning you re-use an item you already own, but don't buy any new baubles. 

"Although an Easter display should be fun and free, it's good to practise restraint not necessarily in terms of aesthetic, but in terms of sustainability," says Law. "If you do want to go all-out, I'd suggest doing it in a more organic way, with branches and dried flowers, rather than plastic embellishments. Sprays of dried flowers can be as vibrant and colourful as any man-made decorations."

5. Use artificial branches to kickstart your Easter tree

If you don't have time to source natural branches, artificial alternatives are easy to buy (and can be reused). These branches are sometimes pre-decorated with fake flowers, meaning all you'll need to decide is what container you wish to use, where you'll display the finished Easter tree, and if you want to add any further decorations.

Ideas for further decorations on branches include:

• Hanging colorful eggs, which can be reused year after year
• Attaching mini fluffy chicks to the branches for a rustic look
• Twisting LED lights around the branches 

Edible decorations can also work well, too. "Chocolate Easter eggs are nice to include in your display, as they tend to have that pastel, spring-like palette that typifies the season," says Wil Law, Home Design Stylist at John Lewis & Partners. "I also think it's good to build your displays with pieces that can be used, or in the case of chocolate, eaten."

6. Design an Easter tree using a tiered tray

While it's often thought of as a staple of afternoon tea, a tiered tray or cake stand can actually make a great addition to your Easter decoration plans. For a zero-fuss take on Easter tree ideas, simply fill your tiered tray with everything from home-baked Easter biscuits and hot cross buns to flowers and bunny ornaments and chocolate eggs. 

To maintain the idea of the Easter tree, be mindful of the order in which you position things: put something eye-catching in the center of the top tier and use the lower tiers to display smaller objects.

This Easter tree idea is perfect for homes that are strapped on space for decorations and can be easily moved around to a countertop or used as Easter table decor too. It's also very easy to dismantle once the holiday is over!

7. Decorate with handmade pom-poms

Fluffy pom-poms might look tricky to make but they're actually surprisingly easy to master.

"You don't even need any fancy kit!" says Parker, who has shared her method for fuss-free DIY pom-poms below.

• Source a sturdy rectangle of cardboard
• Get winding! Wrap yarn around the card multiple times, then tie securely around the middle with another length of yarn
• Cut through the loops at the top and bottom of the bundle with scissors
• Trim the pom-pom into the shape you want. "You could even try an oval egg shape," suggests Parker. "It's all in the trimming."

As is the case with the Easter tree shown above, mix-up your yarn colors for a vibrant end result. Add googly eyes and stick-on felt ears or beaks to create bunny and chick pom-poms.

8. Create a paper feather Easter tree

One of the more whimsical ideas, this pretty feather-effect look is easy to DIY. It looks sophisticated but is actually very quick to make.

This great how-to tutorial suggests hand-painting the feathers, but if time isn't on your side, head to your craft store and buy colorful patterned paper instead.

9. Create a jelly bean Easter tree

Kids and adults alike will adore this sweet idea, but it's probably worth keeping some jelly beans back just for eating.  

You'll need branches, a glue gun and a supply of jelly beans. Add a spot of glue to each bean and attach it to a branch. The goal is to make the jelly beans look like budding flowers, so thinner branches will be easier to work with. 

10. Stick Easter tree branches to a mirror

To create the illusion of a larger Easter tree creeping up a wall, consider arranging your branches in front of or even directly onto a mirror. This will instantly make your Easter tree look even more impressive, as well as add more depth to the overall display. 

11. Whip up some salt dough Easter tree decorations

If you want to create decorations from scratch for your Easter tree, look at making salt dough ornaments. Simple to whip up and brilliantly resilient, salt dough cookies will last and last, meaning you can get your handmade Easter decorations out year after year. 

Making your own salt dough is pretty simple. For half-a-dozen decorations, you'll need:

• 1 x cup of plain flour
• Half a cup of table salt
• Half a cup of water

Combine the flour and salt together before adding the water. Mix thoroughly and then transfer to a floured surface. Roll out your dough to about 5mm thick and use Easter-themed cookie cutters to create the shapes you want. Pierce holes into the tops of your decorations (for adding string or ribbon once they're cooked), pop them on a lined baking tray and then cook them for three hours at 300°F.

Once cooked and cooled, your salt dough will be ready for decorating.

12. Hand stitch felt Easter tree decorations

Hand-sewn decorations are the perfect way to add a touch of DIY charm to your Easter tree. You could opt to keep it simple with egg-shaped designs or try something a little trickier, like a rabbit or chick pattern. 

If you love the idea but have no idea where to begin, pick up a kit that will provide you with all the tools, materials, and guidance you need.

13. Use painted egg decorations

Encourage the kids to get creative and design their own Easter eggs to hang from your Easter tree.

"Polystyrene eggs are a brilliant base for DIY decorations, and can be found at most craft shops at this time of year," says Parker. She suggests...

• Covering the eggs with PVA glue and adding layers of torn-up tissue paper for a decoupage effect
• Winding bright string or yarn around the eggs for a home-spun finish
• Keeping it simple and decorating the eggs with poster paint: block pastel colors or stripes, dots and animal prints will all look great

"All the family can get involved," Parker adds. "Polystyrene eggs are much less fiddly and breakable than using real eggs. And you can hang them up again next year! Have pins and ribbon on standby to make hanging loops."

14. Create a crochet Easter tree

As we've already seen, there are plenty of Easter tree ideas out there that tap into crafty hobbies, including sewing and painting. Now we've got the perfect option for crochet fans: a top-to-toe crocheted Easter tree. 

According to the experts at The Crochet Crowd, this project will take around 3.5 hours to make; you can find the pattern here at The Crochet Crowd. This cute idea is perfect for displaying on a table or countertop and can be put away for next year's Easter celebration, too.

15. Crochet decorations for your Easter tree

If you're a crochet beginner or just a bit daunted at the thought of crocheting a whole tree don't fret. Crocheting decorations to hang on-pre decorated branches is another great idea for Easter 2022, and your designs can be reused next Easter, too. 

There are plenty of easy-follow patterns for creating crochet Easter egg decorations to download via Etsy.

16. Make sun catcher Easter egg decorations

Looking for Easter tree ideas that can bring some serious wow factor to your home? Search no further than these decorative sun catcher Easter eggs, which are simple to DIY with the kids and will look great hanging from the branches of any Easter tree.

The how-to tutorial makes it look pretty simple and fun to DIY. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get crafting: you might need to order in some of the supplies needed to create these decorations.

17. Create a poster Easter tree

Whether you're tight on space or have already decorated another room of your home, creating an Easter tree poster is a great way to tap into the season without having to worry about taking up space. Whether you feel like getting artistic yourself or have kids who love a challenge, decide where the Easter tree poster will be displayed and get creative!

In terms of the tree's decorations, you've got options. Either continue the artistic theme by drawing them on or, for a 3D touch, stick crocheted or painted decorations onto the paper so they look as if they're hanging. 

18. Make 3D paper decorations for your Easter tree

If you've got young children, DIY paper decorations are a great choice for adorning your Easter tree. Flat paper eggs, chicks, or bunnies will look beautiful when colored in and are ideal for bringing a super-personal twist to your family's Easter decorations.

Older kids might want to try something a little bit different, like these 3D paper chick decorations. Relatively straightforward to make (although less so to store!), there's a brilliant tutorial here at Red Ted Art that shows you how to use paper, twine, and glue to create these impressive baubles. Add paper beaks or bunny ears to finish the look. 

19. Create colorful lollipop trees

Whether you opt to use jelly beans (as recommended in the tutorial) or colorful plastic eggs that can be reused next spring, these easy-make topiary trees offer a sweet twist on the Easter tree and are ideal for displaying indoors or outside your home. Keep things seasonal by opting for a spring-friendly color palette of pretty pastels. 

20. Make Easter tree decorations with wool

Looking for sweet-and-simple Easter decoration ideas? They don't come much more nostalgic than this crafty option, which looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.

Cover polystyrene or cardboard eggs with PVA glue, and then wind colorful string, yarn, or ribbon around them. The finished look is neat and artistic.

21. Create a hanging Easter tree

A hanging Easter tree is a high-impact way to incorporate the look, and is ideal for homes that are running out of surface space. 

If you love the idea of incorporating flowers into your Easter tree, Sandra Varley, Sales & Marketing Manager at Flying Flowers, has a few floral recommendations.

"Carnations would be best for this, as they are very resilient and can be easily wired to decorate a tree," she explains. "For something a little more subtle, try hanging test tubes filled delicate spring stems such as tulips and narcissi."

22. Make easy DIY paper decorations

Keep things simple with understated paper decorations that can be made in an afternoon, even as part of a fun family Easter activity. 

Simply cut out egg-shaped decorations using the colorful card and paper, all the better if it's recycled, and thread each one on a length of colored ribbon. once you have crafted an assortment of different-sized decorations to adorn your Easter tree to take center stage on the Easter table. 

You can choose to fill a vase with foraged branches, or like we have done in this example re-used a plain white alternative Christmas tree that features white paper twigs – the ideal blank canvas to craft any seasonal tree.

23. Make fabric decorations to adorn flowers

In the spirit of alternative trees, we say any variety of foliage in a vase can instantly become well-dressed for celebrations with the addition of a few simple decorations. This example shows perfectly how a vase of fresh flowers, which could be foraged from your own backyard, can be transformed into an imaginative Easter tree idea thanks to the addition of a few seasonal decorations. 

If you do choose to embellish flowers, as opposed to more sturdy branches we recommend using lightweight fabric decorations that won't cause the stems to become weighed down and appear to droop under the stress. 

How do you make an Easter tree?

So once you've foraged branches and twigs for your Easter tree, what do you actually do with them?

"The traditional European-style Easter tree is simple to make at home," says Varley. "All you need are a couple of tree branches cut to the right height for your jug or vase. I love to use branches from the cherry tree in my garden."

She continues: "Next, half-fill your vase with water. This will encourage the branches to unfurl any new buds, leaves, and blossom, and also helps with stability. The ideal branches are those that have several smaller branch twigs, giving you lots of options to hang any decorations."

Varley advises that simple decorations for your Easter tree can work best. "The simpler the better. You don't need to spend a lot. I love to use narrow ribbon tied in bows and pastel-colored egg decorations, which I reuse every year."

If there are live elements to your tree such as fresh flowers or foliage Varley recommends ensuring it's kept in a cool room. "Spritz it with a little water every other day," she adds.

What is the meaning of an Easter tree?

In certain parts of the world, the idea of having an Easter tree is nothing new. Rather, in countries such as Germany, Ukraine, and Poland, the egg tree is a centuries-old tradition. Indoor and outdoor trees are adorned with colorful eggs, symbolizing new life. 

The tradition has now turned into something of a trend, with people across the US and UK now embracing the idea.