Farmhouse Christmas Tree: 14 Rustic Ideas That Look Like a Country Magazine Cover on a Budget
A farmhouse Christmas tree is the easiest way to make a plain living room feel like the cover of a country magazine, and it rarely costs much. The look leans on things you can find at the hardware store, the thrift shop or out in the yard: galvanized metal, burlap, pine cones, wood beads, cotton stems and a little red check ribbon. Nothing has to match perfectly, and that is the charm. We gathered fourteen simple ideas that focus on the tree itself, from the topper down to the skirt, so you can mix and match what you already have. Most of them take an afternoon and a glue gun, and several cost almost nothing. Pick two or three, add them this weekend, and watch your tree go from store bought to cozy farmhouse in no time..
Farmhouse Christmas Tree Basics: Bucket, Beads and Buffalo Check
Think of this as the starter recipe you can build on year after year. Every great farmhouse Christmas tree starts with three simple pieces: a metal bucket at the base, a natural wood bead garland and a few red and black check bows. Decorated evergreens have a long history in homes, and you can read about how the Christmas tree tradition grew over the centuries. The farmhouse spin keeps it humble and homemade. If you love this style for the entire house, our farmhouse Christmas decor ideas carry it from the mantel to the kitchen..
You will need: A full artificial or fresh tree, a large galvanized bucket, one roll of wired buffalo check ribbon, a wood bead garland, pine cones, cream ornaments and floral wire.
How to make it: 1. Set the tree in the bucket and fill around the trunk with bricks or rocks for weight. 2. Drape the bead garland first, then tie eight to ten simple bows. 3. Fill the gaps with pine cones and cream ornaments, keeping the colors neutral.
Pine Cones Wired Onto the Branch Tips
Nature does most of the decorating on a farmhouse Christmas tree, and this is the proof. Pine cones are free, sturdy and perfect for a rustic look. Gather them on a dry day, bake them on a foil lined sheet at a low heat for about thirty minutes to dry them out, and let them cool. A touch of white paint on the tips gives that frosted look without any fake snow mess. Wire them right onto the ends of the branches so they look like they grew there. For more ways to use your collection, our pine cone Christmas crafts are full of easy projects.
You will need: Pine cones, floral wire, white craft paint, a dry brush and a baking sheet lined with foil.
How to make it: 1. Dry the cones in a low oven, then let them cool. 2. Dry brush white paint on the tips. 3. Wrap wire around the bottom scales and twist it onto the branch tips.
Wood Bead Garland Draped in Soft Swags
If you only make one thing this season, make this. A wood bead garland is the signature piece of almost every farmhouse Christmas tree you see online, and it is easy to make at home. Unfinished wood beads cost very little in bulk, and jute string holds them nicely. The trick is to drape the garland in loose, even swags instead of wrapping it tight around the tree. Start at the top and let each loop dip about the same depth. Looking for more smart shortcuts like this one? Our Christmas tree hacks make decorating faster.
You will need: Unfinished wood beads in two sizes, jute string, a large blunt needle and two small jute bows for the ends.
How to make it: 1. Cut the jute about eight feet long and knot one end. 2. String the beads, alternating sizes every few beads. 3. Tie a jute bow at each end and drape the garland in soft swags from top to bottom.
Kraft Paper Gifts Tied With Twine
Gifts are part of the decor, so it pays to wrap them with the theme in mind. What sits under the tree matters as much as what hangs on it. Plain kraft paper is cheap, recyclable and instantly looks farmhouse when you tie it up with twine. Tuck a small sprig of greenery, a dried orange slice or a cinnamon stick into each knot for a pretty finish. Stack the boxes in different sizes so the pile looks full. If you want more wrapping ideas, these gift wrapping tricks save time and paper.
You will need: A roll of kraft paper, jute or cotton twine, clear tape, small sprigs of greenery and little paper stars.
How to make it: 1. Wrap each box neatly and fold the ends crisp. 2. Tie twine in both directions and finish with a bow. 3. Tuck a sprig of greenery under the knot and stack the gifts in a loose pile.
Cotton Stems Tucked Into a Farmhouse Christmas Tree
Cotton is a nod to real farm life and adds instant texture. Cotton stems add that soft, fluffy white that makes a green tree look snowy without any flocking powder. Buy a bundle of faux or dried cotton stems and snip them into short picks. Tuck them deep into the farmhouse Christmas tree so only the fluffy tops peek out. Spread them evenly, then add a few pine cones nearby for contrast. If you prefer the snowy look all over, our flocked tree ideas show how to get it.
You will need: A bundle of cotton stems, wire cutters, a few small pine cones and floral wire.
How to make it: 1. Cut the stems into short picks with two or three bolls each. 2. Push the picks deep into the branches. 3. Add pine cones between them for a natural mix.
Dried Orange Slice Ornaments
This old fashioned idea has made a big comeback, and it suits a farmhouse Christmas tree perfectly. Dried orange slices glow like little suns when daylight hits them, and they smell wonderful while they dry. Slice the oranges thin, pat them dry and bake them low and slow on a rack for a few hours, turning them now and then. Thread twine through the top of each slice and hang them on the tree. They pair beautifully with wood beads and cotton. Our guide to dried orange slices walks through every step.
You will need: Three or four oranges, a sharp knife, paper towels, a baking rack and twine.
How to make it: 1. Slice the oranges thin and blot them dry. 2. Bake them on a rack at a low heat for three to four hours, turning every hour. 3. Thread twine through each slice and hang.
Grain Sack Fabric Tree Skirt for Your Farmhouse Christmas Tree
The skirt is the base of the full look, so give it a little attention. A grain sack style skirt finishes a farmhouse Christmas tree like nothing else. You do not need a vintage sack to get the look. A cream drop cloth and a strip of painters tape make the timeless wide stripe with a little fabric paint. Cut a large circle, add a slit to the center and a smaller circle for the trunk. Fray the edge for a relaxed feel. Our roundup of DIY tree skirts has more no sew options.
You will need: A canvas drop cloth, painters tape, red or navy fabric paint, a foam brush, fabric scissors and string for marking the circle.
How to make it: 1. Mark and cut a large circle and a small center circle with string and a pencil. 2. Tape off a wide stripe and paint it, then peel the tape. 3. Cut a slit from the edge to the center and fray the outer edge.
Small Tabletop Tree Wrapped in Burlap
Two trees are better than one when the second is this easy. Not every room has space for a big tree, and a small tabletop version brings the same farmhouse feel to an entryway, a kitchen counter or a bedroom. Wrap the pot in a square of burlap, tie it with jute and set it on an old stool or a stack of books. Keep the decorations simple, like a few wood beads or tiny pine cones. For more little trees that pack a big punch, our mini Christmas trees are worth a look.
You will need: A small potted evergreen or faux tree, a square of burlap, jute twine and a small stool or riser.
How to make it: 1. Set the pot in the center of the burlap. 2. Gather the burlap up around the pot and tie it with jute. 3. Place the tree on a stool and add a few tiny ornaments.
A Rustic Tin Star on Top of the Farmhouse Christmas Tree
The topper is the first thing guests notice, so choose one with character. A weathered tin star is the perfect topper for a farmhouse Christmas tree because it looks like it came from an old barn. Many craft stores sell plain metal stars, and you can age a shiny one with a quick wash of gray paint. Wire it to a sturdy stick and slip the stick into the top branches so it stands straight. A short burlap bow underneath softens the metal. Our tree topper ideas offer even more choices.
You will need: A plain metal star, gray and white craft paint, a rag, a wooden dowel, floral wire and a strip of burlap ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Brush on gray paint and wipe most of it off with a rag. 2. Wire the star to the dowel. 3. Slide the dowel into the top branches and tie a small burlap bow below it.
Jingle Bell Ornaments and Clusters
Sound is part of the holiday magic, and bells bring it right to the branches. Jingle bells make the tree feel cheerful every time someone walks by. Silver and rusty brown bells both suit the farmhouse look. Hang single large bells from twine, or tie three small ones together into a cluster with a plaid ribbon bow. Space them out so each one has room to swing. If you would like to try making your own, our DIY Christmas bells are a fun weekend project.
You will need: Large and small jingle bells, twine or thin wire and a little plaid or check ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Thread twine through each large bell and tie a loop. 2. Wire three small bells together and add a ribbon bow. 3. Hang the bells evenly around the tree.
Enamelware Cups and Cookie Cutter Ornaments on a Farmhouse Christmas Tree
Kitchen finds are some of the most personal pieces you can use. Raid the kitchen drawers for the most charming ornaments on your farmhouse Christmas tree. Tiny enamelware cups and old metal cookie cutters look adorable hanging from twine. Thrift stores often sell cookie cutters by the bag for a dollar or two. Slip a sprig of greenery into each cup for a pop of color. These tie the tree to the heart of the home. Our cookie cutter Christmas crafts have even more ideas.
You will need: Small enamelware cups, metal cookie cutters in holiday shapes, jute twine and small sprigs of greenery.
How to make it: 1. Tie a twine loop through each cup handle. 2. Tie a loop at the top of each cookie cutter. 3. Hang them in clusters on the front of the tree.
Neutral Cream Ornaments With Greenery
When in doubt, go neutral, because a farmhouse Christmas tree in cream never looks busy. A calm palette of cream, white and soft silver lets all the natural textures stand out. Mix matte cream ornaments with a few frosted snowflakes and a pearly bead garland, then tuck in sprigs of eucalyptus or cedar. Sticking to two or three colors is what makes a budget tree look designer. If you like to make your own, our handmade Christmas ornaments fit right into this color scheme.
You will need: Cream and white ornaments in three sizes, a pearl bead garland, a few snowflake ornaments and greenery sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Hang the largest ornaments deep in the tree first. 2. Add the medium and small ones on the branch tips. 3. Weave in the bead garland and tuck greenery into any gaps.
Farmhouse Christmas Tree in a Galvanized Bucket
This is the farmhouse version of a tree stand, and it is sturdier than it looks. A galvanized bucket is the favorite stand for a farmhouse Christmas tree, and a burlap wrap around the rim makes it look finished. Hardware stores sell big metal buckets and tubs for much less than a decorative tree collar. Set the stand inside, fill the space with bricks, and cover the top with a little burlap or a towel. Scatter pine cones around the base. For more ways to hide the stand, see our tree collar ideas.
You will need: A large galvanized bucket or tub, a tree stand that fits inside, bricks for weight, a strip of burlap, jute twine and pine cones.
How to make it: 1. Place the stand inside the bucket and set the tree. 2. Fill around it with bricks and cover with burlap. 3. Wrap burlap around the rim, tie it with jute and add pine cones at the base.
Cinnamon Stick Bundle Ornaments
End your decorating with something that smells as good as it looks. Cinnamon stick bundles look sweet, cost little and make the room smell cozy. Group three or four sticks, wrap them with jute and tie a hanging loop at the top. A tiny sprig of greenery or a star anise glued to the front makes them extra pretty. Hang them near the front of the tree where you can smell them as you walk by. If you love the look of natural string, our jute twine Christmas decor has more simple projects.
You will need: Cinnamon sticks, jute twine, a glue gun, small sprigs of greenery and star anise.
How to make it: 1. Bundle three or four sticks together. 2. Wrap the middle with jute and glue the end in place. 3. Glue on a sprig or star anise and tie a hanging loop.
