10 Ways To Decorate Your Christmas Tree Without Ornaments For A Timeless Look

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and that means it's time to start decorating. If you haven't already put up your Christmas tree, we have some fantastic ideas for decorating it in a more minimalist way without using ornaments. You can get a timeless look, create something fun and festive, and even enjoy a retro tree without needing a whole bunch of stuff to decorate it. Of course, you can also opt for a maximalist look without ornaments as well, by combining some of these ideas, like pairing bows, lights, and garlands together for a festive look, or using ribbons of all different sizes and colors around the tree.

Some of these ideas only require you to purchase items, like garlands or a tree skirt. Meanwhile, others are DIYs for those who enjoy crafting — like making your own garland with ribbon or creating artificial snow with soap and a couple of other ingredients. Christmas doesn't have to be about covering the tree with ornaments on hooks; try something different this year.

There's something elegant about a bare evergreen tree, whether it's real or artificial. If you think it looks boring, what you choose for a skirt or base can make all the difference. Pick something in a color scheme that matches other decor in the room. There's a lot less work involved in this line of minimalism. Plus, if you're a pet owner or have small children, a bare tree may be less of an attraction for climbers or those who like to play with the ornaments.

If you want your tree to add extra ambience to your home, stick with lights alone. While you can use basic white Christmas lights, there are all sorts of lighting options for trees, from various colors to all kinds of fun and unique shapes. You can find retro lights that will give your Christmas decor a boost of whimsy, even without all of those ornaments you made when you were a kid. You may even want to try out this new sustainable Christmas light trend that's taking over.

There is something warm, cozy, and simple about bringing nature indoors with pine cones on your tree — even if you purchased them at a store rather than collecting them yourself (which helps keep bugs out of your home). However, you can prepare your own collected pine cones (and get rid of those bugs) by baking them at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes to an hour — you'll know they're done when the cones are fully open. Keep the temperature low to avoid burning them.

If you want something that adds a little whimsy to your bare tree, a tree topper that graces the tree as the only piece of decor looks beautiful and makes a great focal point. You get another chance to make your tree fit well with the rest of the room's decor by choosing a tree topper that complements it. If your decor is vintage and kitschy, you can't go wrong with a vintage Santa or angel topper. If it's more minimalist, a simple star will do. 

Want your whole tree covered, but don't want to hang individual ornaments? Garlands are one way to do this. You can go for something basic, like a red, shiny tinsel garland, or opt for something flashier and more intricate. There are garlands with Christmas characters on them, stars, and so much more. You can even layer the garlands by wrapping the tree with more than one; this approach lets you play with color. You can hang it horizontally, wrapping it around the tree, or opt for a more modern look by hanging strands of garland vertically.

You can use ribbons the same way you use a garland, and it opens up even more creative ideas because there are so many ribbon designs. You can pick from thick or thin ribbon, solid-color ribbon that matches the rest of your decor, or colorful designs with candy canes, Santa, and reindeer. And just like with the garland, you can also layer your ribbon and have fun with how you adorn the tree with it. Here's a popular ribbon trend you'll want to try on your Christmas tree.

If you've got a sweet tooth and a bare tree looking for some colorful decor that doesn't really count as ornaments, hang candy canes all over. You can get them in all sorts of color combinations (and flavors), so there are bound to be some that will go with the rest of your Christmas decor. If you have pets or children who might nab these off the tree, you may want to skip this idea. On the other hand, it appears that candy canes may help deter squirrels, so this may be a great idea for decorating outdoor trees during the holidays.

If you like the bare tree idea to an extent but feel it needs a little something more, invest in some artificial snow! You can make your indoor tree look like fresh snow on Christmas morning without the chill of the outdoors. You can use store-bought snow or create your own flocking by mixing 2 cups of flaked white soap, 2/3 of a cup of white glue, and 4 tablespoons of water. Use a mid-sized paintbrush to scoop the blended mixture out and apply it to your tree, working from the top down. Once the mixture dries, it will look like snow.

For a cute and festive look, bows are a fun replacement for regular ornaments. Whether you make your own bows or buy them pre-made, they're easy to attach to the tree and don't need hooks. Store-bought bows may come with clips or metal twist ties attached. But you can easily make your own without anything but your chosen ribbon by just cutting equal lengths of the ribbon and tying them right onto your tree. Use a measuring tape to get cohesive bows. This is one more way to master the home decor bow trend.

Bare trees don't have to be your basic green — there are all sorts of artificial Christmas trees out there that come in an array of colors. Want a goth Christmas? Get a black tree. Love rosy shades? There are pink trees. You can also look for vintage trees in white and silver — suitable for even the most retro-looking homes. One valuable vintage Christmas item to look for while you're out thrifting is the aluminum tree, which is perfect if you want a futuristic Christmas look.