21 Easy and Cozy Neutral Christmas Tree Decor Ideas

Discover 21 stunning neutral Christmas tree decorating ideas to inspire a timeless and elegant holiday look.

Neutral decorated Christmas tree in a blue and white room. The tree is flocked with dried hydrangeas, candles and more.

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As the festive season approaches, I can’t help but immerse myself in the magical world of Christmas decorations. This year, I’ve fallen head over heels for the timeless charm of neutral Christmas tree decor. There is just something about the soft hues and cozy feeling really speaks to me.

In this post, I’m sharing 21 stunning ideas to help you create a beautifully understated and elegant look for your tree. Whether you prefer soft tones, natural elements, or a mix of both, these neutral Christmas tree ideas will spark your creativity and bring timeless charm to your holiday decor.

Each of these ideas can be easily incorporated into your own home, so get ready to view some neutral Christmas magic!


I’m thrilled to be part of a gathering of blogging friends, graciously hosted by my friend Laura @decortoadore. If you are visiting here from Kelly’s blog @thetatteredpew, a warm welcome to you!

Each blogger is sharing beautiful holiday inspiration, so be sure to see all their posts linked at the bottom of this page.

Twelve images of homemade Christmas ideas, from decorating to cooking! Lots of Christmas love.

Neutral Christmas decor is a popular trend for the holiday season, blending modern style with classic charm. Muted tones, earthy colors, and soft textures create a cozy, calming, and elegant look that works beautifully in any home.

Naked Christmas tree with white lights.
A close-up of a Christmas tree decorated with string lights, wooden bead garlands, and a pinecone ornament tied with a rustic ribbon. The pine branches are lush and green, creating a festive and cozy atmosphere.

With its simple and versatile look, neutral decor is the perfect way to add warmth and personality to your holiday celebrations.

Why You’ll Love A Neutral Christmas Color Scheme

When it comes to choosing a theme for Christmas, we often think of bold reds, rich greens, and vibrant golds. However, neutral Christmas colors offer a refreshing departure from tradition.

Neutral Christmas Color Pallete with green, gold terra cotta, ivory and white.

Neutral hues for Christmas include a soothing palette of whites, soft creams, gentle grays, muted golds, terracotta and warm taupes.

These neutral tones not only bring a touch of elegance but also provide a versatile backdrop, allowing you to experiment with layering and different textures.

Creative Ideas for Decorating a Stunning Neutral Christmas Tree

The secret to a beautiful tree lies in the details! So, I’m sharing 21 stunning neutral Christmas tree decorating ideas to inspire a timeless and elegant holiday look.

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

1. Gold Leaf Ornaments

When it comes to neutral ornaments, embrace a mix of finishes for maximum impact. Combine matte and glossy baubles in shades of gold, silver, and ivory.

A decorated Christmas tree, the King of Christmas Trees, with gold, silver, and white ornaments. Wrapped presents sit underneath. To the left, a striped armchair with blue and white pillows is near a small wooden table and lamp in a room adorned with blue floral accents.
A close-up of a Christmas tree with white and gold baubles hanging from the branches. The tree is lit with small, warm white lights, creating a festive and cozy atmosphere.

And don’t shy away from getting crafty and making your own DIY Christmas ornaments for a special personal touch.

Incorporate metallic accents like DIY Gold leaf ornaments for a touch of elegance, and add natural elements to create a warm, rustic feel.

2. Dried Hydrangeas

Add a touch of timeless beauty with dried hydrangeas.

Dried hydrangeas in the tree.
Rope garland hanging on a Christmas tree.

Their muted hues blend seamlessly with a neutral palette and bring a soft, organic charm to your holiday decor.

3. Natural Rope Garland

Enhance your neutral Christmas tree with a natural rope garland—it adds texture and rustic charm while perfectly complementing the tree’s simple elegance.

4. Mini Candles with Lamp Shades

Illuminate your tree with the whimsy some DIY lampshade candles.

Up close night view of a candle lamp on the Christmas tree.
Bird nest lamp in the Christmas tree with moss and ribbon.

Created from a battery-operated candle and a miniature bird’s nest, these charming neutral lamps are the perfect addition to any Christmas tree. I dressed mine up with delicate paper shades from the talented @frenchdoorstudio, whose artistry and stunning graphics never cease to amaze.

Yield: 1

How to make battery operated candle lamps for your Christmas tree

A DIY Lamp in the Christmas tree made out of a dollar tree candle and a bird's nest with a feather.

A Simple and fun way to add light to your Christmas tree is to make DIY lamps using battery-operated candles.

Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Printable lampshade template "Home for the Holidays" @https://thefrenchdoorstudio.blogspot.com/
  • 1 2" round wood disc
  • 1 3" bird nest
  • 1 Wood clothespin
  • 1 5-6" battery-operated candle (from the dollar tree)
  • Spanish moss
  • Feathers
  • 1 piece of chipboard

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue

Instructions

  1. Order the digital kit "Home for the Holidays" from https://thefrenchdoorstudio.blogspot.com/
  2. Print the image of the lampshade cover on 80 lb. card stock.
  3. Hot glue the edges of the shade together to create the shade. You can add trim if you like.
  4. Image paper lampshade
  5. Using the pattern in the kit, cut a circle of chipboard and then cut the small circle in the center. (you can see the full video here:[ https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0LT4MGtQQC/
  6. Image cardboard circle cut to go over the candle
  7. Hot glue the small candle base to a 2" wood round.
  8. Image The candle base is glued onto a 2" wood disk.
  9. Create a small hole in the center of the bird nest.
  10. Image Small birds nest with a hole in the center of the bottom.
  11. Hot glue the bird nest onto the wood round, putting the hole over the base of the candle.
  12. Image A bird's nest is glued to a wood disk to create a small candle lamp.
  13. Hot glue a wooden clothespin to the bottom of the wood disk.
  14. Image 8 bird nests lined up with a wood disk and clothespin glued to the bottom.
  15. Decorate the nest with moss, ribbon, cinnamon sticks, feathers, or whatever matches your decor.
  16. ImageA bird's nest decorated with moss and faux greenery.
  17. 10. Add batteries to your candles and screw the candle into the base.
  18. Imaage Candle inserted into the bird's nest.
  19. Place a small amount of hot glue onto the chipboard circle to keep it in place on the shade, or leave it without the glue. I prefer to store them separately, so I choose not to glue the shade to the chipboard disk.
  20. ImageBird nest lamp in the Christmas tree with moss and ribbon.

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© Wendy
Project Type: DIY / Category: Christmas Crafts

You can read the “how-to card” above for directions on how to make these darling lamps for your tree.

5. Dried Orange Ornaments

Add a burst of warmth and fragrance to your tree with dried orange ornaments.

  • Dried stacked orange Ornament hanging on the Christmas tree.
  • Dried orange sliced ornaments hanging on a fir noble Christmas tree.
  • Dried orange slice ornament with velvet ribbon hanging in the tree.

For even more inspiration, don’t miss my post featuring 13 unique ideas for decorating your tree with citrus this holiday season!

6. Natural Mushroom Ornaments

Embrace fairytale woodland charm with natural mushroom ornaments.

DIY natural mushroom hanging in the tree with a bit of moss and velvet ribbon.
Whole dried oranges are placed in a teacup with moss hanging on the Christmas tree.

Pair them with other nature-inspired decorations like pinecones, acorns, or wooden accents to complete the enchanting look. These simple yet magical touches create a cozy, forest-inspired theme perfect for the holiday season.

7. Neutral Plates and Cups

Integrate elegance into your tree with neutral plates and cups, a unique and unexpected ornament choice.

These pieces are not only beautiful but also a great find when you’re out thrifting—keep an eye out for small, lightweight dishes that can easily hang from your tree. They’re a creative way to give new life to vintage treasures while enhancing your holiday decor.

8. Pinecones

Classic and versatile, pinecones bring a touch of nature to your neutral Christmas tree theme.

A cozy living room features a large, neutral Christmas tree adorned with lights, pinecones, and ornaments. A blue-striped armchair with a small tree pillow sits next to a wicker basket filled with pinecones. A side table holds a small tree and lamp.
Pinecones with velvet ribbon and wood beaded garland hanging in the Christmas tree.

Add an eyescrew to the bottom of some foraged baked pinecones, weave a ribbon through the eye, and tie the pine cone to the tree.

9. Wood Bead Garlands

String wood bead garlands for a boho-chic flair; an easy way to introduce a hint of playfulness.

10. Antlers

Adding antlers is a great way to bring a rustic feel to your neutral holiday display.

Antlers and pine cones in a Christmas tree draped with velvet ribbon.
Bird in a bird nest hanging on the Christmas tree.

They add a touch of natural charm and texture that pairs beautifully with cozy winter decor.

11. Birds

Give your Christmas tree a special touch with some beautiful bird ornaments in soft, neutral colors.

These little decorations look amazing with other nature-inspired decor like pinecones, dried flowers, or bits of greenery. Together, they create a calm and pretty look.

12. Natural Branches

Bring the outdoors in by adding natural branches to your decor. It’s an easy way to create a look that’s both dynamic and natural.

You can use bare branches for a minimalist look or choose ones with berries, pinecones, or even a bit of moss for added texture.

For a little extra sparkle, you can spray them with faux snow or add twinkle lights.

13. Feathers

Feathers bring a soft, light, and airy feel to the bird nests on your Christmas tree, adding a touch of nature that’s both delicate and charming.

Feathers and twigs in a Christmas tree.
Rustic bells at the top of a Christmas Tree with velvet ribbon.

You can tuck them into the branches or use them to accent ornaments for an extra whimsical touch

14. Rustic Bells

Add a festive jingle with rustic bells, bringing in a cozy and nostalgic charm. You can see how I used them previously in our green and gold inspired Christmas tree.

15. Velvet Ribbon

Introduce luxury with velvet ribbon.

Close-up of a Christmas tree decorated with dried orange slices, star anise, and a pinecone. A ribbon-tied ornament is hanging nearby, surrounded by lush green branches and soft lighting.
Velvet ribbon streaming down from the top of a Christmas tree with pinecones and rusty bells.

You can tie it into bows on the branches of your Christmas tree or drape it gracefully for a touch of opulence against the neutral backdrop.

16. Mercury Glass Ornaments

Reflect light with the elegance of mercury glass ornaments, adding a vintage touch to your tree.

17. Wooden Ornaments

Embrace a rustic feel with wooden ornaments, each piece bringing a piece of nature’s beauty.

A wooden jingle bell ornament is hanging in the Christmas tree.
A large white acorn ornament with a touch of greenery on the top.

I used these charming wood bell and acorn ornaments to decorate a woodland-themed tree, creating a cozy, natural feel.

Tassel ornament hanging on the Christmas tree.
A small tabletop Christmas tree adorned with various rustic ornaments, including tags with phrases like "Merry & Bright," "Believe," and "Noel." In the background of this cozy she shed, there are other festive decorations and potted plants on a wooden shelf.

You can also try making your own DIY wood tassel ornaments for a personal touch or hang cute wood tags, like I did on this mini tree in my she shed, for a playful and rustic look.

18. White Ornaments

Keep it classic and elegant this year with a mix of white ornaments—they’re the perfect way to create a serene, timeless look that ties everything together.

Close-up of a decorated Christmas tree with a white, textured glass ornament hanging from a branch. The tree is adorned with green needles and small, twinkling lights in the background, adding a festive glow.
A close-up of a Christmas tree adorned with white, felt magnolia flowers, blue ribbon, and warm twinkling lights. Snow-like textures cover the branches, creating a frosty, elegant winter atmosphere.

I loved using white ornaments like the ones pictured above to decorate my blue and white Christmas tree this year. They add such a clean, polished feel while keeping things light and airy.

19. Woodland Animals

Invite whimsy with woodland animal ornaments, adding a playful element to your neutral Christmas decor.

A white squirrel in the Christmas tree.
A white fur ball ornament hanging on the Christmas tree.

20. Candles

Let there be light! Add a warm, cozy feel to your space with battery-operated candles.

Candles suspended in the Christmas tree.
Candle suspended in the Christmas tree.

They are very easy to use and create the perfect intimate glow without any hassle. Suspend them within your Christmas tree using a discreet fishing line for a whimsical touch of holiday magic.

21. Vintage Clocks

Rekindle the magic of Christmas past with these easy DIY vintage clock ornaments.

A frosted Christmas tree stands on a porch, adorned with large letters spelling “Porch Time,” gold baubles, and silver DIY vintage Christmas ornaments. The tree is set against a blue house with white railings, while green foliage adds charm in the foreground.
A vintage clock ornament with Roman numerals is hanging on a frosted Christmas tree. The clock hands are near midnight. Snow-covered branches and blurred background suggest a festive, winter setting.

My love affair for all things vintage has led me to create these unique Christmas ornaments that work perfectly for any style tree. Or keep them up after Christmas to decorate a one-of-a-kind neutral tree for New Year’s eve!

My Neutral Christmas Tree Decor

Now that I’ve shared these neutral decor ideas with you, it’s time for a little festive fun! I’m taking you on a mini tour of our home to show how I’ve decorated Christmas trees in different rooms.

With seven trees—some big and some small—each has its own unique theme and decorations. While every tree has its own personality, they all come together beautifully with a cohesive neutral color palette and showcase many of the ideas I’ve shared above.

Neutral Gingerbread-Inspired Christmas Tree in the Kitchen

In my kitchen, you’ll find the cutest little Christmas tree in the center of my island. Here, my DIY air-dried clay gingerbread ornaments are the stars of the show.

Kitchen gingerbread tree with air dry clay ornaments.

To create this look, I strung my new ornaments with velvet ribbon. Not only were they easy and so much fun to make, but they are also the perfect unique pieces for neutral Christmas decorating in the kitchen.

Christmas Coffee Table Styling with a Mini Neutral Tree

Some people find tabletop trees challenging to decorate, but I enjoy decorating them. This small tree lives on the coffee table in my home’s family room and is decorated with another DIY neutral Christmas tree decoration: 3D printable gingerbread houses and I have made these available to download for free to my e-mail subscribers.

I love the simple but impactful statement they make when strung up with velvet ribbon. If you’re looking for more coffee table decor ideas, check out my post about how to style the best Christmas decor for coffee tables.

Neutral Rustic Christmas Tree Trio in the Family Room

Moving on to the large trees, you’ll also find these beauties in the family room. My woodland trees are decked out in all sorts of neutral Christmas tree decor, including pinecones, velvet ribbon, wooden bead garland, antlers, natural mushrooms, wool felt garland, and rustic bells.

Another fun feature is that the trees are nestled inside a genuine wood tree box, giving it an even more impressive overall look for the neutral Christmas theme.

(P.s. You can find more unique Christmas tree stand ideas here)

The family room mantel has greenery, curly willow branches, pinecones, and natural stockings.

I tied the mantel decor in to match the tree with simple greenery, curly willow, and pinecones tied with raw-edged velvet ribbon.

A Neutral Woodland Christmas Tree in Our Living Room

The neutral tree in my living room is a flocked tree decorated with various textures that make for an elegant display.

Christmas tree in the living room. Flocked with natural ornaments and suspended candles.
A BLUE AND WHITE LIVING ROOM WITH A NATURAL THEMED CHRISTMAS TREE WITH DRIED HYDRANGEAS, CANDLES, RUSTY BELLS AND MORE.

This cozy Christmas tree features natural dried hydrangeas from my garden, twine garland, branches of rustic bells, white woodland animals, candles, tassels, fur ornaments, birds, and white felt poinsettias.

While this might seem like a lot of decorating ideas, the combination of neutral colors and layers of different textures is truly stunning.

This is the original fireplace in our home, built in 1898. I decorated it with both mercury glass and moss trees, a moss birdhouse, a green garland, brass bells, dehydrated oranges, and our blue and white stockings.

Neutral Citrus and Nature-Inspired Christmas Trees in the Dining Room

The theme of my dining room tree is dried oranges. This natural tree is full of handmade orange slice ornaments. You’ll also find white ironstone pieces, including pitchers, plates, and cups filled with dried oranges, in addition to pine cones, velvet ribbon, feathers, bird nest candle lamps, wooden ornaments, white berries, and orange Christmas tree ribbons.

This collection of neutral Christmas tree decorating ideas looks particularly pretty against the natural greenery of this tree.

A wood goose, pinecones and greenery adorn the dining room table for the holidays.
The dining room table is decorated with a wooden goose, greenery, and wood candlesticks. There is a stack of vintage plates on the table with dried oranges and pinecones. A neutral Christmas tree sits in the back.

Mini Butler’s Pantry Tree

Finally, I extended a touch of orange throughout the dining room and butler’s pantry, ensuring a cohesive look for the entire house.

To achieve this, I delicately dehydrated whole oranges, including both green and orange varieties, using the air fryer at a low and gradual pace.

A Small Christmas tree in the butler's pantry with whole dried oranges hanging on it.

Afterward, I affixed an eye screw to the top of each dried fruit and threaded a piece of velvet ribbon through it, elegantly securing them to the tree.

Wrapping Up

Now it is time to move on to Yvonne @stonegableblog. Yvonne is very talented and will show you how to transform your old ornaments into works of art.

When it comes to decorating a neutral Christmas tree, it’s all about mixing textures, finishes, and a little sparkle to make it really stand out. Let your creativity flow as you decorate your tree with pieces that make you smile and bring the magic of the season to life!

Now that we’re wrapping up this little tour of neutral Christmas tree ideas, I hope you’re feeling inspired. As you turn on some Christmas tunes and dive into decorating, remember—it’s those personal touches that make your tree and home extra special. Here’s to creating a cozy, beautiful space to enjoy the holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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THREE IMAGES OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS SHOW A NATURAL THEME WITH NEUTRAL COLORS.

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26 Comments

  1. Love the neutral colors and natural elements Wendy! Pinned!

    Reply

  2. Oh my goodness Wendy! Everything looks so warm and inviting! I nearly jumped for joy when I saw the bird lights, I am swooning over them. Birds are near and dear to my heart, my grandfather was a bird watcher, and they always remind me of him. I am looking up that lightshade now. My grandmother would really enjoy one, I am sure of it. I just hope I can make it look as enticing as yours look. Merry Christmas my dear!

    Reply

  3. Wendy, you’ve outdone yourself! Your trees, and the rest of your holiday decor, is simply stunning! Have a wonderful Christmas my friend xx

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Cindy! Merry Christmas to you as well.

      Reply

  4. Over the top amazingly beautiful, Wendy! I especially love the dining room with the more rustic vibe. And those dehydrated whole oranges in green-wow! Will definitely have to give that a tray; never would have thought about the air fryer. Your orange decor this year is absolutely beautiful-makes sense that you live in CA!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Lora. I have had a great time dehydrating all of the oranges this year. Merry Christmas.

      Reply

  5. Oh my goodness! Everything is beautiful in this post! After going on a Christmas Tour of Homes a few weeks ago, I think your house should be in one next year. It is beautiful!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Susan, I have been on tours in the past, its a lot of fun, but a lot of work, lol

      Reply

  6. Wendy, your trees are simply spectacular! You’ve outdone yourself, my friend! And those bird’s nest lights — quite fabulous!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Kim. I always enjoy decorating the trees each year. Merry Christmas friend.

      Reply

  7. Wendy, Your home is decorated beautifully for the holidays! I love your choice of neutral decor and all of the natural elements are so warm and welcoming! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Chloe. It was a fun change this year, and I have not grown tired of it yet, which is nice.

      Reply

  8. All is calm, all is bright! Those words came to mind when I was reading your post. Your home, filled with beautiful things from nature, has such a calming effect. The dried fruit, nest candles, the cups filled with whole dried fruit, and all those beautiful trees are perfection in your home, Wendy! Thanks for all the Christmas inspiration! xo Yvonne

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Yvonne, that is so sweet of you. I adored your ornaments and can’t wait to try them. They would go so well on my trees. Merry Christmas friend!

      Reply

  9. You’ve shared so many beautiful neutral Christmas tree ideas, Wendy. Your dried orange ornaments and gingerbread houses are my favorites. Thank you for the holiday inspiration.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Kim! The natural theme is always in and it was a fun change for me. Merry Christmas Kim.

      Reply

  10. Wendy I am just breathless over all the beauty found within this post. All of your trees are truly inspiring. Thank you so much for adding such beauty to the hop. Have a wonderful holiday season!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Laura, I appreciate you having me so much. Let’s plan a few for next year. Merry Christmas.

      Reply

  11. Wendy, you are making my head spin with ideas that I want to add to my woodland tree, such as the cute bird nest lights. Absolutely darling! Such a fun post!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Michelle, your woodland tree was truly dreamy! I adored your felt ornaments, they were picture-perfect.

      Reply

  12. So many beautiful and creative trees, Wendy! I love how you mixed the natural pieces against the neutral backgrounds. It lets all your gorgeous ornaments and garlands stand out and shine bright. I hope you and your family have a warm and happy Christmas. Big hugs, CoCo

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much CoCo! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

      Reply

  13. Wendy, I’m always mesmerized with your attention to detail and creativity. Your neutral Christmas decor is so gorgeous and that Hydrangea tree with candles is absolutely my favorite. I adore those nest lamps with shades! They are so unique and definitely something I’d love to try. Thanks for sharing all your ideas and sharing the diys. It’s all amazing! I hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas Season.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Debra. It was a nice change to do the neutral this year. It has a calming effect.
      I am sorry I tried to comment again on your blog and had no luck… Your toolbox centerpiece was so cute.
      I love vintage kitchen tools; you made them so festive for the holidays.

      Reply

  14. Those bird nest lights are SO COOL! I’ve never seen anything like it before!
    Such pretty ideas in this post, Wendy. You do neutral Christmas decor in such an eloquent way. Merry Christmas!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Rachel. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

      Reply

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