If you live in a rustic home (perhaps a log cabin, timber frame, or lodge style home) a fancy designer Christmas tree would not be appropriate in your home.
A rustic home needs a rustic but elegant & sophisticated Christmas tree.
Here are the steps for how to decorate a rustic Christmas tree like a professional interior designer.
Christmas Tree
When decorating in a rustic style, authenticity is highly sought after.
If at all possible, select a live Christmas tree for the best rustic result.
You can have the tree slightly flocked if you wish to add a touch of winter inside your home.
If a live tree is not possible, then a very high quality artificial Christmas tree will work.
Try to get the largest tree that will fit in your room. When measuring your ceiling height to determine how tall your Christmas tree can be, don't forget to take into account the height of whatever you will put on top of your tree as well as the tree stand.
Lights
Since winter is a dark season, your rustic Christmas tree will need many lights.
At minimum, use 1 strand of 100 clear or white lights (non-blinking) per foot height of tree.
If you have a 15 foot tall tree, then use 15 strands of lights minimum.
Even if you have a pre-lit tree, feel free to add more lights. It is nearly impossible to add too many lights.
If you desire a slight twinkle affect, add 1 or 2 strand of slow twinkle lights #ad, however avoid traditional blinking or flashing lights that can be too harsh. Slow twinkle lights gently fade in and out on random bulbs instead of blinking lights that only turn on and off sections of bulbs abruptly.
For a bit of variety, add 2 strands of slightly larger lights throughout your Christmas tree (if you have a very tall Christmas tree, you can add a few more strands).
Ornaments, Garland, and Trimmings
Rustic Christmas trees can be very simple in their decorations or they can be very full.
If you wish to use garland, consider using grapevine, burlap ribbon, a tartan ribbon, or an elegant velvet ribbon if you prefer a more elegant look.
Ornaments and trimmings from nature or with a nature theme work well.
You can decorate your rustic Christmas tree using pine cones, real feathers, dried flowers, and tree branches.
If you choose to decorate using man made items on your Christmas tree, select items that mimic nature, such as birds, acorns, and snow flakes.
Finishing Touches
Finish decorating your rustic Christmas tree with an appropriate tree topper (optional), a nice tree skirt or blanket draped around your tree, and make sure to decorate under your Christmas tree.
Some people like to use a Christmas tree collar #ad with or without a tree skirt.
Don't forget that your Christmas gifts are part of your Christmas tree decorations, so make sure to spend time considering your gift wrap.
Popular rustic Christmas tree gift wrap includes wood grain gift wrap, simple brown kraft paper, and whatever complements your color scheme.
You might want to purchase 3 different gift wraps and 3 different ribbons and mix & match the gift wrap and ribbons to create several different gift wrap options.
