Expert Tips: How to Decorate a Small Christmas Tree Like a Pro

TL;DR: 

Learn to decorate small Christmas trees like a pro with expert tips. Layer ornaments for depth, use various ribbon widths for whimsy and add mini LED lights for a magical glow. Get creative with DIY ornaments like recycled cards or beaded garlands. Troubleshoot with counterbalancing and lightweight décor.

Sometimes, holiday cheer comes in small packages. Undeniably enchanting twinkling lights and festive decor adorning mini Christmas trees is truly special. These petite symbols of Yuletide joy have the power to transform even the smallest space into a merry, bright atmosphere. Even your office cubicle, studio apartment, or car can be a festive holiday home for a tiny tree!  

How do you decorate a small Christmas tree if your goal is big holiday cheer?  

In this blog, we'll share expert tips and creative ideas to help you decorate a small Christmas tree like a pro. We'll guide you through every step of the process and ensure that your mini masterpiece shines with unique décor and festive splendor.  

Keep reading to discover the magic of decorating small Christmas trees like a pro!  

Pro Tips for Decorating Small Christmas Trees 

The truth about decorating a mini Christmas tree is that it’s a lot like decorating a large one! The trick is to find (or make) ornaments that best reflect the scale of your teeny, tiny Tannenbaum. Below, we’ll share a few of the general tips we’ve discovered for sourcing dainty décor for even the smallest Christmas trees! 

Layer Little Ornaments 

You can often find miniature Christmas tree ornaments for sale, often sold in color-coordinated tubes. By layering ornaments, you can add depth to even the smallest tree to create a sense of texture and dimension. Consider tucking the largest ornaments deeper onto the branches. Your smallest ornaments can hang from the outer branches as a focal point.  

Wrap it in Ribbon 

While thick, wired ribbon is best suited for full-sized trees, decorative ribbon comes in a number of standard widths. Depending on the size of your tree, seek out ribbons in 4mm, 6mm, or 9mm widths. A single spool may be enough to add some whimsy to your tree. Seek out metallic, printed, or brightly colored ribbon to ensure your décor pops. 

Incorporate Mini Lights 

Nothing is more magical than a strand of miniature Christmas lights. Little twinkle lights brighten up your tree and add a pleasant glow to interior spaces. Choose a mini LED strand for longevity and eco-friendliness. They come in a number of colors, making it possible to implement a theme, even on the smallest trees!  

Creative Mini Christmas Tree Decoration Ideas  

Small trees are ideal for small spaces, where it’s most fun to show off your personality. Consider incorporating tiny keepsakes, like favorite photos, into your décor. We’ll share a few of our favorite ways to DIY some creative mini-tree decorations below.  

Recycled Photo or Christmas Card Ornaments 

One of our favorite mini tree decoration ideas is also environmentally friendly! You can craft lightweight ornaments using printed pictures or old Christmas Cards.  

Simply go to the local craft store and purchase a heavy-duty paper punch. Use a single-hole punch to create a hole for a ribbon loop at the top of each one. You can hang your handmade ornaments from the branches without contributing too much extra weight or bulk. 

Craft a Beaded Garland 

If ribbon doesn’t offer the flare you desire, consider decorating small Christmas trees with a strand of beads. If your tree is too tiny to support a strand of mini lights, you can even use glow-in-the-dark beads. The effect is a fainter, more natural, lighter-weight glow. It’s a great way to add a pop of color or incorporate a theme.  

Make a Mini Clothespin Snowflake  

Inspired by Better Homes and Gardens, you can paint and glue together eight miniature clothespins. The result is a fairly lightweight wooden snowflake ornament. Choose the tiniest clothespins available at your local craft store. Just assemble them using hot glue, and you’ve got a charming, rustic decoration that scales for any size tree! 

Embrace Nature-Inspired Décor 

If you live in a woodsy area, consider collecting some itty-bitty pinecones. If you have kids, it’s a great activity for the lead-up to the festive season. You can spray paint them and create small, eco-friendly ornaments.  

As an alternative, consider creating nature print ornaments using model magic. The lightweight molding compound dries to become a foam-like ornament. You can press all sorts of natural objects to create small, lightweight, reusable ornaments for the tiniest trees.  

Troubleshooting Common Decorating Challenges  

One of the hardest parts of decorating a miniature Christmas tree is keeping it from toppling over. Ensure your ornaments are the correct proportions for your tree. Keep them evenly spread out to create a counterbalance.  

If your tree still topples, you might want to add some weight to the base. Otherwise, consider supplementing with lighter décor, such as ribbon and mini garland. 

If you’re having trouble hanging mini ornaments with ribbon, you can consider using DIY ornament hooks. We like making them from mini paperclips. They even come in fun colors, so they won’t take away from your theme or other decorations. If you have a pair of wire cutters, you can even make two or three hooks out of a single paperclip.  

Dealing with spare branches? Consider decorating with sparse décor.  

Instead of stringing your lightweight ornaments with ribbon, use a fishing wire loop to keep things light and airy. Instead of looking spare, it will look like an intentional decorative choice. In fact, according to House Beautiful, intentionally sparse Christmas trees have been a decorating trend in recent years!