Have you ever seem those beautiful narrow trees and thought they could be the perfect solution for your small space at home? But then thought you weren’t sure how to decorate it or if you would need to invest in lots of new decorations to have one. Our pencil Christmas tree decorating ideas are here to show you just how easy it is to decorate this tyle of Christmas tree. You might even be surprised to find out that you don’t need as many decorations.
From themes and color schemes to tips on ornaments and lights we’ve got the ideas for you. Whether you’re aiming for elegance, something rustic, or a full-on modern vibe, let’s look into the art of decorating a pencil Christmas tree together this holiday season. You can click to any of our links below no matter where you are in your Christmas tree decorating journey this year.
- Choosing the Right Style for Your Pencil Tree
- Color Scheme Ideas for Pencil Christmas Trees
- Ornament Ideas to Complement Pencil Christmas Trees
- Lighting Ideas for Pencil Christmas Trees
- Tree Toppers and Tree Skirts for a Finished Look
- Room Decorating Ideas with Pencil Trees
- Easy DIY Pencil Tree Decorating Ideas
Why Choose a Pencil Christmas Tree?
If you’ve ever tried setting up a big, bushy tree in a tiny space, you know it can feel like a battle between holiday cheer and floor space. Pencil Christmas trees solve that problem instantly. They’re sleek, slim, and perfect for small rooms or spaces where a full-sized Christmas tree just doesn’t fit properly. But there’s more to this style of Christmas tree than just saving space.
Pencil Trees vs. Traditional Christmas Trees
Traditional Christmas trees are iconic, lush, and instantly set the holiday mood. But the problem is they take up a massive chunk of room. If you live in an apartment or a house with tight corners, you might not have the luxury of placing a big tree without turning your whole living area into an obstacle course. Pencil trees, on the other hand, offer the same charm but with a smaller footprint. Picture a tree that’s about a third as wide as a traditional one, standing tall and elegant without intruding on your personal space.
Perfect for Apartments, Small Rooms, or As Second Trees
Pencil trees are the perfect choice for apartments and small rooms. But even if you live in a larger home, you might want to add a pencil tree as a second tree for a smaller space, like in a hallway or bedroom. The plus of this style of tree is that it doesn’t need lots of ornaments to look good, so it’s also a time-saving Christmas decorating option that costs less as you need fewer decorations.
A Modern, Minimalist, and Chic Look
There’s something about the pencil tree’s sleek silhouette that brings a touch of sophistication to holiday decor. Because they’re narrow, pencil trees fit well with minimalist and modern home decor. You can also create the modern minimalist Christmas décor vibe using this style of tree with just a few carefully chosen ornaments and some beautiful lights. If you’re into a more rustic or farmhouse look, a pencil tree works with this festive décor style too. Simply add natural elements like pinecones or wood ornaments.
Tips for Choosing the Right Pencil Tree
- Measure your space. This is really important if you are very tight on space or want a tree for a specific place in your house. Always add at least 3’ 0” onto the width measurement so that you can comfortably walk past.
- Think about your decor theme. Pencil trees come in various styles, from classic green to flocked with snow or even metallic. If you have a specific style in mind this is important.
- Decide if you want it pre-lit. A pre-lit tree saves time, but some people prefer to string their own lights for more control over the color and layout.
Pencil Christmas trees give you the best of both worlds: they’re compact yet elegant, festive yet subtle. If you are looking to embrace holiday decor without the hassle of a big, sprawling tree, a pencil Christmas tree might be just what you need.
Choosing the Right Style for Your Pencil Tree
Whether you’re a fan of traditional Christmas colors or prefer a modern, muted look, choosing your Christmas décor theme for your pencil tree is the next step in decorating.
Match Your Home’s Style
One way of approaching decorating your tree is to match the style of décor you have in your home. Have a look around and think about the colors and textures you love. Is your style more earthy, minimalistic, or glamorous? Do you prefer the Maximalist Christmas decor style that is trending this year? If you’re into rustic styles, try burlap ribbons, wood ornaments, and natural accents. But if you prefer something modern, think about metallic ornaments, deep jewel tones, or even monochromatic schemes like all white or silver for your tree.
Popular Christmas Décor Styles
Picking a theme can help with decision making and take the stress out of decorating your Christmas tree. Here are some of the themes that look great on pencil trees:
- Rustic Chic: Perfect if you love cozy, natural decor. Choose to decorate with burlap ribbon, wooden ornaments, pinecones, and some cranberries or dried orange slices for a pop of color and delicious smell.
- Glam and Gold: For a luxurious look, try gold ornaments, a glittery tree skirt, and some sparkly ribbon. White or warm yellow lights finish off the look.
- Minimalist Whites: Simple and clean, this theme is perfect if you like your decor sleek. Just white lights, some silver or white ornaments, and you’re all set.
Adding Personal Touches
Once you’ve got your theme, think about adding some personal touches. Personal touches are important as they make your Christmas tree feel like it belongs in your home. Adding decorations that are part of a tradition and decorations made by the kids are all part of having a tree at home. Without the personal touches, your tree can feel out of place, and you won’t get the same joy from it. Remember, that your Christmas tree in your home is about inspiring your festive spirit, not just creating a cold well-styled tree that leaves you feeling meh.
Color Scheme Ideas for Pencil Christmas Trees
Tie your decorations together with a color scheme that works for you in your home. Here are some color scheme decorating ideas you can use for your pencil Christmas tree:
Classic Reds, Greens, and Golds
Going for the traditional red, green, and gold never goes out of style. It’s a timeless option and you can find plenty of budget friendly ornaments and ribbons in these colors if you are decorating on a budget.
Metallics and Monochrome
Metallics and monochromatic schemes are trendy options that work well if you want a tree that has a luxury, modern, or minimalist look.
Bold Jewel Tones
Deep jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and amethyst will give your tree a rich, dramatic look that’s eye-catching on a slim, tall pencil tree. Adding a few oversized ornaments in these colors can add to that luxury design.
Tips for Choosing a Color Scheme
- Stick to two or three colors when decorating your tree. Any more than that and a slim tree can start to look cluttered.
- Balance light and dark tones. If you’re using deep colors, add some lighter elements for contrast.
- Have fun with texture. Shiny, matte, and glitter finishes can add depth to your color scheme.
- Always remember to balance color on a slim tree, it’s not as forgiving as a traditional bushier Christmas tree, if you like a polished finish.
Ornament Ideas to Complement Pencil Christmas Trees
Decorating a pencil Christmas tree with ornaments is an art. Since it’s slimmer, you need to be pickier with what you choose to hang up.
For a cozy, rustic when choosing ornaments for your pencil tree go for wooden decorations. Or if you want to add a vintage twist to your rustic look, add in some wood decorations trimmed with metal. Rustic Christmas ornaments have a natural look, so lend themselves to DIY options.
If you are going for a modern look, metallic ornaments look amazing on a pencil tree. Small metallic baubles in a combination of matte and shiny finishes reflect light beautifully and don’t overwhelm the slim branches.
Tips for Choosing and Placing Ornaments
- Use smaller ornaments. They fit better in general. If you like oversized options, add only a few ornaments.
- Balance the ornaments around the tree, so one side doesn’t look too heavy.
- Experiment with ornament textures. Mix glittery ornaments with matte ones to add depth to your Christmas tree.
Lighting Ideas for Pencil Christmas Trees
Pencil trees don’t need as many lights as a full-sized tree. Overloading lights can make it look messy and a bit like a neon sign. These trees really shine when they have just the right amount of light to create a warm glow without overwhelming the branches.
About 50-100 lights per vertical foot of tree works. So, if you’ve got a 6-foot tree, try choosing somewhere between 300 and 600 Christmas lights. Mini lighting options that have a delicate look are ideal for pencil Christmas trees. They’re delicate and add this soft, magical glow that works well on narrow branches. If you prefer a warm, cozy look, stick to warm white lights; for a crisp, wintry vibe, go with cool white or even a mix of white and blue lights.
Tips for Adding Lights to Your Tree
When it comes to adding the lighting to a pencil Christmas tree there are a few things that just makes the decorating process easier. Here are some suggestions to help you light your tree easily if you don’t have a pre-lit pencil tree:
Start from the Bottom
Begin at the base and work your way up. This helps you avoid ending up with too many lights at the top or, worse, running out of lights before you get there.
Use Light Clips
If your tree is particularly narrow or you’re using fairy lights, little light clips can help keep the lights in place and help prevent them moving too much as you decorate.
Wrap Branches Sparingly
Avoid wrapping each individual branch; instead, weave the lights in and out around the tree’s circumference. This way, the lights add dimension without taking over.
Try Lighting Nets
For pencil trees, net lights can look pretty good, especially if you don’t want to add a lot of ornaments. Simply drape the net over the tree, adjust a few lights here and there, and you’re done. It’s quick, even, and stress-free.
Tree Toppers and Tree Skirts for a Finished Look
Tree toppers and skirts for pencil Christmas trees need to be delicate and understated so they don’t overwhelm the tree. A large topper can end up causing your tree to lean. Pencil trees just don’t handle massive toppers as well as standard trees do. The key is picking something lightweight and in line with your tree’s slim shape.
A ribbon bow works perfectly on a pencil tree. You can either tie it directly at the top or use some floral wire to attach it securely. Another cute option is a small, glittery star or angel that’s designed for mini or tabletop trees. These smaller toppers fit a pencil tree just right and don’t risk weighing it down.
Tree Skirts
Pencil trees are narrow and the purpose of having one is often to save floor space at the bottom, so you may want to give the skirt a miss. If you like the completed look, you need a simple and narrow skirt. A simple jute or felt skirt can add a traditional vibe without taking up too much additional floor space
If you fancy a more unique and modern style of tree skirt, why not try a tree collar. A galvanized metal collar around a pencil tree, adds a fun, rustic vibe and isn’t going to eat into precious floor space like adding presents or trainsets would. It’s also more resistant to being caught by a foot.
Tips for Picking Toppers and Skirts
- Lightweight Toppers Only: Avoid decorating with anything too big or heavy, as pencil trees are slim and can tip over.
- Match Your Color and Style: Choose a skirt or collar that fits your decor style.
- DIY Options: You can even make your own tree collar from a wicker basket or decorate a simple felt skirt to personalize it.
Always choose toppers and skirts that feel right for the tone and look of your tree to keep your look balanced and beautiful.
Room Decorating Ideas with Pencil Trees
A pencil Christmas tree is the most versatile tree to add to your rooms because of its size. Being able to add some festive spirit to nearly any room in your home with this tree, means you have a quite a few decorating ideas.
Entryway
Putting a pencil tree in your entry way can make a nice alternative to a wreath if you ae looking to up the festive spirit in your home this year. Keep the style welcoming and simple as this is a high footfall area. Choose to decorate with small ornaments no matter your Christmas décor theme to prevent any accidental topples. Soft lights tend to work best here as they create that sense of welcoming you want in your home entryway.
Bedrooms
Having a pencil tree in your bedroom is perfect when you don’t have much space but love waking up and go to bed to a glowing tree. There is just something magical in being able to add that festive and warming vibe to a bedroom. Think flannel, plaid, or even fairy lights if you want to go extra magical when choosing your decorations to achieve a truly comfy vibe.
If you have kids, adding a pencil tree in their rooms is a fun way for them to have their own holiday decor. Pick a small one and be sure to weight it down as they can topple. Letting them pick the theme and decorating it with their favorite colors and characters is a great way to make them feel special, and increase the excitement for Christmas.
Kitchen
Keep it minimal in the kitchen and consider adding more natural and rustic theming to a tree in this location. Decorate with small kitchen-themed ornaments or items that fit the room’s decor style. Stick to small ornaments, maybe a few kitchen-themed ones like tiny whisks or cookie cutters
Office
For an office, try a mini tree in your color scheme and add subtle lights to keep it professional but festive.
Easy DIY Pencil Tree Decorating Ideas
Sometimes, the best decorations are the ones you make yourself. They’re also budget friendly if you splurge on a new tree. For a pencil Christmas tree, DIY decor works especially well because you can tailor the size and style to fit its narrow frame.
Painted Pinecones
Some of the best and easiest decorations to make. Painted pinecones are inexpensive to make and look amazing on a slim tree. Plus, you can head out to walk to find them. Simply collect some pinecones, spray-paint them in metallic or wintery colors, and tie a string for hanging. You can also buy them in the shop, if you don’t have any you can walk to find.
Paper Ornaments
Making paper stars or folded origami pieces is a fun and unique way to DIY decorate your pencil tree and still get a luxury or monochrome look. They’re lightweight, so they won’t bend the branches, and you can make them in any color or style you like. A set of white and gold stars for example add a delicate, wintery feel to your tree.
Cranberry Garland
String together cranberries for a natural, rustic look. This works so well for pencil trees in kitchens, or if you choose a Scandinavian or Farmhouse style for your pencil tree Christmas décor.
Mini Photo Ornaments
Print tiny photos, frame them, and create a personalized tree. You can even make your frames yourself using card. It’s a great way to show off what you have done this year, almost like using your pencil tree to tell the story of your year.
Making your own decorations not only adds a personal touch but also gives your pencil tree a unique look that’s all your own.
Conclusion
Stylish, space-saving, and so easy to decorate, pencil Christmas tress work in any room, big or small. These pencil Christmas tree decorating ideas will help you to create a tree that is just right for your home this Christmas.
