30 Chic Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas From Our Favorite Tastemakers

Why have one tree when you can have two? Florist Lewis Miller framed the fireplace in his Hudson Valley cottage with a pair of slender firs. The minimal decorations on the trees allow the garland of weeping willow and yarrow and blue walls to shine.

Set against a white backdrop, the freshly cut tree stands out in Peter Vitale's Pueblo-style home in Santa Fe. The tree is draped in glass garlands and an assortment of metallic ornaments, including Vitale's collection of heart-shaped ex-votos in gilded bronze.

Instead of trying to tame the unshorn beauty of the noble fir, florist Lewis Miller stuffed it with grapevine and smilax and added dried cecropia leaves and white statice, creating a bountiful Christmas scene. Oversized baubles extend from the top of the tree all the way down to the floor in a clever fashion.

Designers Jeffry Weisman and Andrew Fisher traded the traditional ornaments for freshly cut flowers and baby’s breath on their Christmas tree at their Mexican retreat. The creamy white buds appear almost like a dusting of snow on the cypress.

At designer Alessandra Branca's Chicago townhouse, twinkly lights and vintage ribbons dress up the towering tree for the holidays without overdoing it. The relaxed approach to decorating creates a setting where family traditions and memories to shine.

“We often sit around the living room and pull out all our treasured family ornaments, from those I had as a young bride to gifts from loved ones now gone but thankfully still in our memories,” says Branca, shown with (from left) daughter-in-law Georgia Uihlein, daughter Anna Lucia Uihlein, and son Andrew Uihlein.

In years past, decorator Richard Keith Langham hosted his usual holiday dinner for eight at his Manhattan design studio and showroom. He sets the table under an iron-wreath chandelier on an axis with a 20-foot-tall Christmas tree trimmed with silver tinsel, red ribbon, and tons (and tons) of globe ornaments. It doesn't get any merrier than this!

Sometimes the tree itself says it all. For an intimate holiday dinner party, event planner Keith Robinson converted his Georgia barn into a simple yet stunning venue with elemental decor like unadorned greenery and votive candles galore.

"The austerity of the space lent itself to a very simple expression," said Robinson. "I wanted to highlight the character of the bare wood walls."

But the spare backdrop still required a bit of spectacle. "You have to bring drama to the setting," he says. So under the barn's lofty ceilings, he installed a jaw-dropping, 19-foot-tall, local Christmas tree and left its boughs natural. As guests arrived, a sea of candles on the plank flooring—the only source of light in the barn—guided them to the table.

Why not be a little bold and move the party outside? Floral designer Emily Thompson dressed up the grounds of Long Island's Old Westbury Gardens in a quiet yet impactful way that seamlessly highlights sculptures and plants throughout. Delicate chamomile blossoms and Queen's Anne lace dance across the show-stopping Christmas tree at the center of the garden.

The Christmas tree holds equal parts sentimental and aesthetic value for Lyndsey Zorich, founder of the lifestyle brand The Avenue.

"I’m not about fussy; I want the tree to inspire a sense of wonder and inspiration and for those who lay eyes on it to feel like they discover something they weren’t expecting if they look long enough," Zorich says. "In other words, I exploit all the Christmas tree real estate I can to add character, layers and sometimes, sentiment and a story behind each bauble. Those little treasures are what light me up. I’m always scouring boutiques and markets for those gems when I’m traveling, and the internet and Instagram have allowed me to do the same from the comfort of my home."

Zorich replaces those all-too-finnicky (and unappealing) ornament hooks with silk ribbons to add an elegant touch. Even better, these ribbons serve as a place for her children to write their Christmas wishes on them in hopes they will all come true on that magical Christmas morning.

Danielle Norcross of Palm Beach Lately looked to her natural environment to create this fun and feminine tree. The flocked, faux tree is gorgeous on its own, but she adds a few key touches to evoke 1950s and '60s-era Florida style.

"The inspiration for my tree included a few of my favorite Florida-friendly pieces like citrus, palms, and birds in blush, green, and gold," Norcross says.

She sourced ornaments from a few of her favorite decor destinations—blush and green velvet bulbs are Terrain, the painted palm leaf bulbs and lemon ornaments are McGee & Co., the white bird ornaments are CB2, and the rattan lantern is Amanda Lindroth.

Anna Bond, co-founder and CCO of Rifle Paper Co., loves nothing more than donning her tree with nostalgic, eclectic ornaments that reflect precious holiday memories gone by.

"The tree is filled with numerous special ornaments from my childhood and throughout my adult life," she says. "Almost every one tells a story and has the date written on it. I have the glass ornament celebrating my first Christmas from my grandparents, the cork gingerbread man I made in first grade, the dried cinnamon cookie ornaments my mom and I made when I was a child—they still smell amazing!—and many more."

Bond continues this special tradition with her three young sons and has made a few new additions to her ornament collection in recent years. A few favorites include corn husk angel ornaments from Mexico City (similar, here) and classic popcorn strands she makes each year with her children.

“There is nothing more festive than the holiday season, and a Christmas tree helps bring that spirit to life," says tastemaker and business maven Aerin Lauder. "Our tree is always covered with sparkling lights and meaningful ornaments that my family has collected over the years."

Even if you're short on space, a mini Christmas tree can still dazzle your guests, especially when paired with an eclectic mix of decor.

"I love the simple elegance of decorating Christmas trees with velvet ribbons," says Ariane Bethea of Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. "Ribbon is so versatile and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. You can tie bows to the ends of the Christmas tree, cascade the ribbon from the top down all sides or spiral the ribbon around the tree."

Bethea likes to whimiscally tie her scene together (literally!) by adding ribbons to statues, lamps, and pieces of art throughout her home. She especially loves the velvet ribbons from Ballard Designs.

"I am a maximalist when it comes to decorating a Christmas tree, just like everything else I do," says renowned hostess and author Danielle Rollins. "I always try to let nature be my guide, but I take the color cues from those in my home."

Rollins says she loves to use real pine cones to decorate the tree and dips the edges in gold and silver glitter for a glamorous touch. She'll add white spray paint to a few of the tree branches and fill in the gaps with dried pepper berries, citrus branches, and other natural elements.

"Pheasant feathers always seem to make an appearance on my trees, and I’m crazy about real German lead tinsel that I beg friends to bring home from Europe for me or purchase vintage on Etsy," Rollins says.

Miniature trees are perfect for those who want some holiday cheer in their home but will be out-of-town for most of the season. Emily Hertz from Born on Fifth loves to display these simply elegant trees around her home for a festive touch. They can also double as hostess gifts!

"We always go to Blackberry Farm for the holidays but love the idea of being festive at our house too, so we decorate with mini trees," Hertz says. "They’re so fun and easy to trim—and also perfect to take along on your travels!

Whether you're spending Christmas in paradise or just dreaming of doing so, this tree brings a little seaside flair into your home without feeling kitschy.

"The inspiration for my tree was incorporating our signature Palm Beach style with a pineapple tree topper and ornaments," says Beth Aschenbach of Palm Beach Lately.

Aschenbach found a gorgeous faux flocked tree from Frontgate that only needed a modest amount of ornamentation with pineapple ornaments and matching tree-topper, plus some stunning Royal Blush ornaments to add a few pops of color.

Designer Darryl Carter hand-painted burlap ribbon and glittery glass ornaments to perfectly match the piece of artwork above a 19th-century daybed within the living room of his Washington, D.C. home. The monochromatic palette seamlessly ties the holiday decorations into the already established modern style of the space. The antique chair is in a Moore & Giles leather. The paneled ivory walls are in All White by Farrow & Ball.

This vibrant, full Christmas tree acts as the pièce de résistance in the living room of Christopher Spitzmiller’s Hudson Valley getaway. The tree ornaments by Wendy Addison, John Derian, and Creel and Gow pop against bright yellow walls. The Parish-Hadley slipper chair is upholstered in a Bennison Fabrics print. The wall paint color is Sweet Butter by Benjamin Moore.

At their farmhouse retreat in Connecticut, designer Bunny Williams and her husband, antiques dealer John Rosselli, decorate the dramatically tall tree with cherished ornaments from their travels around the world. The room’s pillows are covered in antique textiles and Robert Kime fabrics. The German wood stag head and a Regency convex mirror, both from Rosselli’s showroom, hang over an English mantel.

As a part of family tradition, Suzanne Rheinstein and her daughter, Kate Rheinstein Brodsky, decorate the living room’s Christmas tree in her Los Angeles home every year together. A feast of glowing lights reflects off satin ribbons and framed Chinese wallpaper. The chaise is English Regency.