How to Decorate a Sparse Christmas Tree: Festive & Stylish Ideas
Sometimes sparse is better.
Sparse Christmas trees offer a unique appearance and allow more light to pass through the room, making them a smart addition to your holiday decor. Here are eight decor ideas to complement their openwork branches.
1. Decide How to Incorporate Tree Lights
It's easy to nestle and hide string lights throughout full-foliage trees, but sparse Christmas trees require a bit more finesse since there's more space between each branch. When adding lights to a sparse Christmas tree, there are two key methods you can try. Each produces a different look:
For a Built-in Display: Wrap string lights around each individual branch, starting from the outer edge of a bottom branch and wrapping the lights around the branch as you work your way inwards toward the trunk. Once you reach the trunk, work your way outwards, wrapping an adjacent branch in lights until you reach the tip of the branch. Then work your way back to the trunk (you'll have to overlap the lights on the same branch, but the added lights will help illuminate the branches even more). Once you reach the trunk, you'll repeat the same process as above until you reach the top of the tree. You may need multiple bundles of lights depending on the size of the tree.
Tip!
Opt for a prelit sparse Christmas tree to skip this step entirely.
For a Quick, Whimsical Display: Loosely drape fairy lights or novelty string lights along the outer edges of the branches. Repeat this all the way up the tree. Allow the lights to dip into the visible space between each set of branches for a cool suspended effect.
Emphasize your sparse Christmas tree's open and airy profile by reducing the number of ornaments you include on each branch. We recommend sticking to about four or five ornaments per branch level, with fewer as you reach the top of the tree. You can always add or take away ornaments until you achieve the desired effect. This idea adds interest and color to the tree without overcrowding the branches or taking away from the 'bare' look.
Monochrome ornament sets are another way to add style and color to your sparse Christmas tree without taking away from the unique look of the foliage. This Christmas tree sticks to a silver palette but you can replicate this ornament display with any color.
We find that beaded garlands look especially stunning when paired with sparse Christmas trees because they don't get lost in the foliage like they would with a fuller tree. Consider wood bead garlands for a nature-inspired Scandi approach or add a bit of glitz and glam with metallic bead garlands.
Use elongated finial ornaments or icicle ornaments to call attention to the bare space in between branches. You can do the same with strings of tinsel by placing them on the tips of the branches.
Add a tree collar to the base of an undecorated sparse Christmas tree to create a 'cozy meets minimalist' display. This idea ensures you can enjoy the unique look of the tree while adding structure to the base and hiding the tree stand components.
This sparse Christmas tree uses elaborate decorations and strategically-placed ribbons to fill out bare spots. For a more minimalist appearance, you can always just decorate with ribbons, forming them into lengthy bows and placing them on the tips of the branches.
Last but not least, give clear ornaments a try. These decorations add to the beauty of your Christmas tree while still allowing light to pass through the sparse branches. Clear ornaments also still allow you to emphasize the visible space between the branches – they just dress things up a bit!
