How to Decorate a Wooden Christmas Tree: 7 Looks from Scandi Minimal to Cosy Maximal

Spiral or flat, maple or walnut, a few lights or the full works: seven ways to style a wooden Christmas tree so it fits your home, from Scandinavian minimal to...

Extra Large YELKA solid wood Christmas trees in oak and walnut
  by YELKA

One of the questions we hear most is: how do I decorate a wooden tree? The short answer is: however you like. Because the tree itself is a clean, simple shape, it works as a backdrop for very different styles. Here are seven looks to get you started.

First, choose your shape

YELKA's branches rotate around the trunk, so the tree has no single “right” shape.

Large YELKA in walnut with branches arranged in different ways

  • Spiral: turn each branch a little further than the one below for a sculptural, twisting tree that looks good from every side.
  • Classic: alternate the branches in different directions for a fuller, more traditional silhouette.
  • Flat: line all the branches up in one plane and place the tree against a wall. Ideal for hallways and small rooms.

You can change the shape whenever you like, even halfway through the season.

Then, choose your wood

  • Maple is the lightest, a pale, calm wood that suits white and Scandinavian interiors.
  • Oak is in between, a little darker with a warm yellow tint. It goes with almost anything.
  • Walnut is the darkest and richest, beautiful with brass, deep greens and moody interiors.

Medium YELKA in maple with white stand

The stand comes in black or white for the Small, Medium and Large trees. A white stand almost disappears against a light floor, while black gives a crisp graphic outline.

Look 1: Scandi minimal

Maple or oak branches, white stand, one string of warm white fairy lights and nothing else. Let the wood do the talking.

Look 2: Natural and foraged

Dried orange slices, pine cones, small bundles of cinnamon and a few sprigs of real greenery tucked between the branches. It smells like Christmas too.

Look 3: Paper and handmade

Paper stars, folded origami birds and children's drawings hung on string. A wooden tree is the perfect gallery for homemade decorations, and a lovely afternoon project with kids.

Look 4: Brass and walnut

Walnut branches with small brass or gold ornaments and warm lights. Elegant, a little grown-up, and perfect for a dark-toned living room.

Large YELKA in walnut with black stand

Look 5: One colour

Pick a single colour, deep red, forest green or all white, and use it for every ornament. On the plain wooden branches, a single colour looks striking rather than busy.

Look 6: Cosy maximal

Who says a wooden tree has to be minimal? Colourful lights, a mix of family baubles collected over the years and garlands draped from branch to branch. The flat branches make it easy to place ornaments exactly where you want them.

Look 7: Gifts as decoration

Leave the branches almost bare and build the display underneath: presents wrapped in brown paper, linen or newspaper, tied with twine and a sprig of green. The tree frames them like a shelf.

Practical tips

  • Ornaments can hang from the ends of the branches or sit on top of them. Small, light pieces work best on the top tiers.
  • Battery-powered fairy lights mean no cable trailing across the floor.
  • After Christmas, wipe the branches with a dry cloth before packing them away in the box.

Find your YELKA

Short on space? See our ideas for small apartments and offices.

  by YELKA

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