The best Christmas tree decorations for a stylish festive season
Bringing out the box of Christmas tree decorations and carefully awakening each one from its almost year-long slumber marks the start of the festive season. The annual tradition of decorating the Christmas tree is always a joyful thing to do, curating it slightly differently each year, perhaps with a new addition or two to the decoration family artfully hung from a branch here and there.
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While we were road-testing the best artificial Christmas trees on the market, we thought we would also take some of the most beautiful Christmas tree decorations for a spin too, covering everything from recycled paper decorations, to embroidered and beaded pieces and traditional baubles.
Each of our festively decorated trees was masterminded by Decoration Editor Rémy Mishon to have a distinct character and style. So whether you prefer to keep it neutral and classic or go all-out with sparkle and colour, there's something for everyone in our curated edit of the best tree decorations for Christmas 2024.
The backdrop fabric in each photo is CC Moulton's Moire Tisse silk mix fabric, seen in Cosmos, Sapphire and Bankers' Lamp Green.
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Hand-painted, papier-maché baubles, recycled paper tinsel, bristly animals and fabric stars and wreaths lend this tree the charm of artisanal craft. An array of neutral and gilt tones create a homely warmth and a coordinated yet relaxed look.
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Other decorations on this tree are from OKA and Alice Palmer.
The ultimate style of Christmas tree for those who love a classic look. Resplendent in red, white and golden tones, the decorations on this bushy tree encompass traditional festive symbols such as mistletoe, candles, stars, and elves.
Featured tree: Marks and Spencer Pre-Lit Grand Fir Christmas Tree, our pick for best artificial Christmas tree for decorating.
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Just one of Marks and Spencer's impressive faux tree offering, the Pre-Lit Grand Fir Christmas Tree is a triumph. It has three different lighting options, and 2,000 warm white LED bulbs. We felt it had a realistic look, and was particularly sturdy, making decorating a breeze. We also noted the silvery-green colour of the branches, further adding to the realism. It is available in 7ft and 8ft this year.
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Other decorations on this tree are from Jess Wheeler.
This maximalist tree is a riot of bold colour and metallic textures, with vintage-style tin decorations and classic baubles decorated with glitter. A twinkling disco ball of a Christmas tree for those who want to have fun with their festive decorations.
Featured tree: Selfridges Winter Pine Colour-Changing Pre-Lit Christmas Tree, our pick for best rainbow light artificial Christmas tree.
House & Garden's verdict:
Between the 19 artificial Christmas trees that Selfridges has on offer, we found their Winter Pine range the most appealing. It's a little wider than their ‘Sierra Nevada’ trees and a little wilder than the very conical ‘Shadowfall Fir’–the Goldilocks of their trees, if you will. The Winter Pine comes in a 5ft and a 6ft size option, but we wanted to road test the smaller of the two because of its impressive ‘tip per foot’ ratio.
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Other decorations on this tree are from Svenskt Tenn (available from 1st November), and ODD.
The playful paper decorations, wooden houses, ceramic mushrooms and beaded lobsters that adorn this tree are straight out of a pop-up storybook, and this tree does a wonderful job of conjuring up the nostalgic magic of a childhood Christmas.
House & Garden's verdict:
John Lewis has a huge array of trees to choose from but the Grand Pine stood out for value for money – a seven foot tree for £250, and the 6ft version at £200 puts it well on the more affordable end of the spectrum. The tree has 1,234 tips and the colour of the branches range from a deep emerald green near the trunk to a lighter tone at the tip, which helps add depth. The John Lewis Grand Pine artificial Christmas tree also has slight variations to the branch lengths, with some slightly overhanging others, giving it a very realistic look.
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Other decorations on this tree are from Rowen & Wren and RE.
Whilst we are not sure that decorating for Christmas can ever be described as particularly pared-back, this is the style to go for if you prefer a ‘less is more’ approach. Let the grand tree and lights do the talking, with paper origami decorations and wildlife-inspired baubles in muted tones for a natural look.
House & Garden's verdict:
The White Company's Symons Nordmann Fir is our top pick this year. Having tried a number of Christmas trees, we determined that this artificial tree to be the best of the bunch. With its hyper-realistic branches, natural shade of green and fluffy looking tips, the overall effect is festive without feeling faux. The seven and a half foot tree is over four feet wide, and is comprised of over 1,754 hand painted (yes, really) tips for a bushy and bright effect. We tested the one without lights, but The White Company have a pre-lit version of the same tree for a hassle free Christmas decorating session.
Extra points are allocated to this tree because it comes with a stylish wicker basket tree skirt that covers up the tree's base and means you don't have to buy anything extra. Our favourite extra touch is that The White Company has designed a coordinating scent, aptly named fir tree, so you can spray the tree and it'll capture the fragrance so you won’t miss that real ‘Christmas tree’ smell.
Other decorations on this tree are from Nam Store and Jam Jar Flowers.
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