Oh Christmas Tree, No Christmas Tree

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Fresh boxwood, ivy or rosemary topiaries can be planted into all sorts of containers and placed throughout the home for a truly festive look.

— Leanne Michael, Leanne Michael Florals and Interiors, Montecito, California

Deck the Halls

Katrina Giles, owner of Seaside Interiors in St. John's, Newfoundland, says she thinks a tree is certainly not essential for appealing holiday decor. "Many spaces cannot accommodate a large tree, but there are so many [other] wonderful ways to bring Christmas into your home."

Giles advocates moving away from making a tree the central focus of your decorating and bringing touches of holiday decor into other rooms throughout your home.

"I just love to incorporate the feel of the Christmas season throughout my home," Giles said. "You can, of course, decorate mantels and stairways with some festive sparkle. I just love to see it in rooms beyond the living room."

Montecito, California-based interior designer Leanne Michael of Leanne Michael Florals and Interiors says she also enjoys getting creative with tree-free holiday decor. She uses natural greens, herbs and fruits to decorate her home for a sumptuous yet rustic feel.

"My favorite tree alternative would have to be fresh wreaths and topiaries," Michael said. "I tend to purchase wreaths in all sizes of fresh mixes that can include small rosemary or dried rose hips for all the kitchen windows. I hang them with a simple wide bow from the window frames. You can even double them up by hanging one from the other in the same window if space will allow."

However, if fresh foliage is a little on the pricey or allergy-provoking side for you, there are plenty of other options. Giles says she enjoys incorporating general household items for budget-friendly decor.

"You can use items you already have, such as glass jars and bowls and easily fill them with shiny ornaments to add a holiday flair. Sometimes less is more, and just a few well-positioned ornaments can create a warm and welcoming seasonal feel," said Giles.

Do It Yourself

Creating your own innovative and charming decorations is not as difficult as it might seem. Giles explains how she likes to create a special ornament that would rival a tree.

"One of my favorite decorations is an ornament swag," she said. "It can be used on a mantel or any wall and is so fun and easy to do. I start with some unbreakable ornaments and then I add some letter decals to spell out a seasonal greeting, such as 'Merry Christmas,' 'Noel,' 'Seasons Greetings,' etc.  Then I just string the ornaments and letters together on a piece of pretty ribbon and voila! It's a beautiful way to welcome the season."

Michael also suggests some simple yet effective methods that are easy to put together.

"Fresh boxwood, ivy or rosemary topiaries can be planted into all sorts of containers and placed throughout the home for a truly festive look," said Michael. "I just purchased silver ice buckets with stag-head handles for my topiaries. First, moss the soil and then tie beautiful ribbon into a full, crisp bow just under the head of the topiary with the tails hanging down. They are great in pairs or a grouping and can be placed in any room."

Color Me Festive

You might be wondering how interior designers make their holiday schemes look so pulled together. Color choice is an important element. While Giles says not to go crazy with matching everything, it's important to have some threads of the same color throughout the scheme.

"You don't always have to choose a careful color scheme, but you should make sure to have some consistent elements, such as many of the same shiny ornaments and a coordinating ribbon to make things flow," said Giles. "If you start with a basic color scheme, such as silver or gold, any color of ornaments will work with it."

Michael also says she likes to work within a carefully chosen color palette. "I adore selecting a theme for a family household that matches their personality," she said. "Or I select a color scheme that complements the interior design of the home. My only rule of thumb is that I prefer not to mix true reds with cranberry or burgundy tones."

If You Must Have a Tree ...

Despite the abundance of other options, some just have to have a traditional tree. Both of our experts say they like to choose a theme for trimmed trees.

"I'm a big fan of color-themed trees," Giles said. "Right now I'm loving the look of a sparkly tree using white lights with shiny, mixed metallics such as silver, gold and bronze. It looks great in any space."

In contrast, Michael says she likes the more whimsical style. "One of my all-time favorite tree themes is an 'antique toy story,'" she said. "I search high and low for old vintage toys that can be used year after year in my design scape. Old pedal cars, wind-up toys, vintage stuffed bears or dolls, spinning tops -- anything goes. Pair them with a collection of multicolored balls and you're set. Let the toys take center stage and the other ornaments [be a] complement to your overall design."

Michael offers a great tree-decorating tip. "Make sure that when you put your ornaments on your tree that you do not allow them to hang freely from the string loop that is attached to them from the manufacturer," she said. "For a truly professional look, you must wrap the string loop tightly around the branch so that the ornaments fit snug against the branch. Also give your tree better dimension by taking your largest ornaments and tucking them deep into the tree branches -- don't just put ornaments on the outside of the tree, tuck them in, too."

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