Houzzers Deck the Halls

We asked you to show us your Christmas trees, and you gave us a forest of photos. Some of the trees are classic, many are amazingly creative, and some can only be described as one-of-a-kind (such as a black tree with Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments). But perhaps my favorites fall into the charming category. A host of Houzzers have been collecting ornaments for 20 years or more. Their trees have a look that can only be built over many seasons and with ornaments that record a lifetime of celebrations.

We pulled a few great examples, but when you have more than 600 to choose from, you have to do some trimming of your own. Take a look at our picks, then check out all of the examples in their glittering glory.

“I built this tree this year so I can have something that was virtually free (the required bits — some brass wire and some spray paint — cost a big $11),” says Peter French. “It reflects the traditional dark green tree shape, holds my ornaments and … has its own rhythm.”


Playsingarden has created a tree like no other by artfully stacking rusted Christmas tree stands.


Branching Out

A lot of branch trees were also shared. One of the most striking is this beauty from susanseet. “I’m not sure what you’d call our tree, but the cranes and the Nativity are entirely origami. It’s certainly not traditional and it’s quite minimalist. The branch came from our own garden and the glass jar is one I’ve had for years and years, so it’s pretty old. I folded all the origami myself,” she says.


The bottle contains a Nativity scene, complete with the baby in the manger. “The jar acts like a transparent stable and protects the Nativity pieces from being blown over due to its light weight, but it totally adds to the whole composition,” she says. “I especially love it when there’s a light breeze and the colorful cranes flutter gracefully, catching our attention. This tree is a real conversation piece to all who have come to our home to visit. It’s very simple to replicate, cost effective and lovely beyond measure.”





Macbeldesigngroup created this branch tree during a hard time. The Houzzer found the tree limb on the side of the house after being laid off and put it aside to use later. “Christmas arrived, [and I was] low on cash [and] I still needed a tree. It was my niece’s first Christmas and I couldn’t disappoint her,” the reader says.

The creative Houzzer brought the branch inside and spent an afternoon decorating it. “She woke up and saw the lit tree … [I] will never forget the look on her face,” macbeldesigngroup says. “Best Christmas ever.”


Another stunner is a branch arrangement created by foofaraw. “This tree was my Christmas tree a few years ago while living in a 600-square-foot apartment,” says this Houzzer. “I gathered the branches from the yard after the pear tree was trimmed and cut the greens from shrubbery on the property.”


Dig Your Garden Landscape Design made this tree last year and used an image of it to decorate a Christmas card. It’s a branch mounted in a stand and decorated with succulents and tillandsias (the ornaments became gifts later).


Kimvanswan recommends making a driftwood tree. “It is simply beautiful, clean and sustainable,” she says.


The family of kennedytarheel likes to think outside the box when it comes to trees. Here’s one the family crafted from branches.


Another of kennedytarheel’s trees is adorned with recycled Coke bottles.


In ekmbear’s house, this MacKenzie-Childs stick tree stays up all year round.


An Unconventional Christmas

The owners of this piece simply change the paper ornaments to fit the season.


The book-loving family of king_leo did something equally unexpected by stacking and decorating books.


Arelago says that a bleak winter makes a person weary of the usual things. So this Houzzer crafted a tree from Mexican paper flowers and milagros (religious folk charms).


Sia85 lives in a small home and has no floor space for a tree. Instead, the apartment dweller made a tree out of lights and ornaments on the wall.


“It’s a great centerpiece in the living room,” sia85 says.


Cheggie had a similar idea. The Houzzer lives in a 645-square-foot home and says it engenders space-saving ideas.


JJ’s mother always had an upside-down tree, and the Houzzer is keeping the traditional alive. “This tree allows for ample seating,” JJ says, adding that Mom said the tradition “came from Europe and represents the Trinity.”


“We’ve moved onto our boat and don’t have an inside tree, but we have this light tree high on the fly bridge for all to see,” says noma.


“This year I used shards of wine bottle glass to decorate a hanging tree that is bottom lit,” says Jerry K.


“I am an artist, and our tree is always a reflection of my work,” he adds.


Nctp loves real trees, but this year a quick minimalist tree fits the house’s style.


Suzymoot is a gardener, and she has transformed a plant stand into a tree. “It suits our smallish townhouse comfortably,” she says. “The ornaments are handmade … or represent trips and favorite things.”


Mcmdecor found this metal tree at a flea market and had it painted black for Danish modern style. “I’ve never seen another one like it,” the Houzzer says. It’s become a holiday trademark for the household.


“When your house is under renovation and you have lots of leftover wood, try this,” says pchowder. “It’s a good memory of all the work and chaos.”

The piece was made with lengths of plywood mounted on an old broom handle.


Oh, Christmas Theme …

Many Houzzers use the Christmas tree as a chance to display their collections. This is Cathy Bowen’s pink flamingo tree.


From the lights to the ornaments to the tree skirt, her tree is covered with a flock of tropical birds.


Ragnrey didn’t provide much explanation for this tree, writing simply, “Oh, Christmas tree …” However, a look at the room where it lives says a lot.


The exotic animal print on the throw and pillow appear on the tree as well, which is decked largely with cheetah-print pieces.

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Wendy Eidle went for a beach theme this Christmas, “to remind us of where we used to live,” she says. “We can’t wait to move back to the beach.”


It took jalarse two days to set up and decorate this tree, and three hours to set up the nutcracker collection. “My son was 7 years old when he gave me the first nutcracker for Christmas,” says this Houzzer. “He is now 37 years old and has given me one every year. I told him as long as I’m still vertical, keep up the tradition.”


Cbailie is proud of this peacock-themed tree.


And only a red and white tree would do for lola3947’s Coca-Cola-themed family room.


“After many years of collecting gingerbread men ornaments, gingerbread men stockings, gingerbread men people and collectibles, this is the tree we put up every year and await the arrival of Santa,” says megrassi.


Claudiaschlosser has composed an elegant tree with traditional German straw stars and glass ornaments.


After losing a collection of ornaments to a curious cat and a toddler, carolarrowsmith decided to make yearly themes for her Christmas trees. Last year she went for a natural look, with starfish, dried hydrangeas and grass plumes.


“It was the natural and personalized feeling I was yearning for,” she says. “Now, how to decorate this year’s tree?”


Paulette Crabiel Wahler has a Barbie Christmas. Her tree contains approximately 90 Barbie-themed ornaments.


Vylotte has a household with multiple trees, including this black one featuring childhood ornaments, Nightmare Before Christmas figures and Buffy the Vampire Slayer decorations.


The husband of itrydiythenusuallybuy surprised her with a Dr. Who–themed Weeping Angel tree topper. The winged figure, based on a race of creatures in the sci-fi series, presides over a collection of ornaments that include Godzilla and Batman. “We’re hoping a few more Dr. Who ornaments arrive this year,” she says.


New Home, New Tree

Many Houzzers are celebrating a new nest this year by putting up a tree. Jennyc123 says this is the case for her family. “This is my husband’s first ‘real’ tree, and I loved going to pick it out with him,” she says.


And here is their first tree, all lit up.


This is hmntafiel1’s first owned home, and the family is marking the occasion with a tree — a really big specimen. “Didn’t realize what we were getting ourselves into when we wanted a 10.5-foot tree! We are really loving it though,” says this Houzzer.


This is yperez0217’s first Christmas tree, but the reader was ready. “I had been accumulating ornaments for a couple years, and this holiday season I got to put them up. Couldn’t be happier,” yperez0217 says.


And Samia Z is christening her new abode with a Christmas tree dressed in silver. “I feel so ready for a silver-shiny life in this house,” she says. “Merry Christmas.”


Another first-time homeowner says a real tree is enhancing the holiday experience. “It feels and smells so cozy in there with my beautiful tree,” says 4939swensoa.


Crothschild123 has put up the family’s first tree in a new apartment.


Short and Sweet

Many of the Christmas trees shared are short in stature but possess immeasurable charm. “We didn’t have room for a full-sized tree this year, since part of our house is being remodeled, so we downsized to a cute little one on the mantel,” says Lindsay.


Colourblindbutfine describes the family tree as small but cute — at least, we think that’s a reference to the tree. The same could be said of the young reader near the boughs.

URL: Houzzers Deck the Halls http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25272.html