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How to Decorate a Christmas Tree With Ribbon: 4 Easy Ideas From Home Decor Pros

Plus, discover the best ribbon for the job

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For many of us, an essential part of decking the halls for the holidays is getting our Christmas tree to look as festive as can be. Not only is it a fun family activity that helps get everyone get into the holiday spirit, it’s a great way to incorporate the beautiful ornaments and trinkets you’ve collected over the years. And if you’re looking to really up the luxe, lush and texture of your tree, adding ribbon to your decor arsenal will do the trick. Never used ribbon before? No worries! To help, we asked seasoned interior design experts for their best tips, tricks and advice on how to decorate a Christmas tree with ribbon so it looks like it was done by a pro — with little effort. Read on to discover the simple methods.

And for all things Christmas, click here!

Why decorate with ribbon? 

“As an interior designer, I recommend using ribbons on Christmas trees as it adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall look. It’s also a fun and creative way to personalize your tree and make it stand out,” says Jonathan Faccone, founder of Halo Homebuyers. “Ribbons can be used as a focal point or to accentuate the other decorations on the tree. It also helps to create a cohesive look by tying in all the different elements on the tree,” he explains.  “It’s a versatile and beautiful addition to any Christmas tree.” Plus, they can be sparkly as tinsel but without the shedding mess.

How to decorate a Christmas tree with ribbon: This is a closeup of a fully decorated Christmas tree as a cheerful mid adult woman hangs an ornament in her living room.
SDI Productions/Getty

Interior design expert Raf Michalowski at Meble Furniture, agrees. “I would recommend using ribbon as an additional accent to complement the overall theme and decor of your tree,” he explains. “It adds a touch of elegance and can help tie together different elements on the tree.” 

How to know which ribbon to use

Michaloswki says you can’t go wrong with the classics. “Anything red and gold, silver and white or a more natural look with earthy tones like brown and green work well.” For another option, Faccone recommends these color combos: “If your ornaments are mostly gold and red, then using ribbons in similar colors would tie everything together nicely. The idea is to go for a monochromatic look with different shades of one color or mix and match complementary colors such as blue and silver or green and gold.”

Related: Experts Reveal The Perfect Time to Decorate for Christmas

What to look out for when decorating a tree with ribbon

“In my experience , people often overlook the length of the ribbons when decorating their trees. It’s important to choose ribbons that are long enough to wrap around the tree and create a full effect,” Faccone says, Otherwise you end up spending a lot of time cutting. “Also you should also be aware of the texture and thickness of the ribbon as it can affect how it appears on the tree.”

Sara McDaniel, an interior designer, home renovation expert and owner of Simply Southern Cottage, adds: “The best ribbon to use when decorating is the type that is framed with metal wire like 2.5” Christmas Tree Ribbon Wired (Buy from Amazon, $11.99 for 3 rolls) This allows for maximum bending and shaping when styling the ribbon on your tree and makes for easy reuse the next year.”

“If using both ribbons and ornaments it’s smart to add the ribbon first and then decorate with your favorite ornaments,” she adds. This avoids knocking any precious or fragile pieces while wrapping the ribbon. “You can then more safely and artistically place your ornaments.”

Related: Decorating Pros: Brilliant Hacks That Make Putting Up Christmas Tree Lights Easy

How to decorate a Christmas tree with ribbon: 4 easy ideas

1. Use the wrap and tuck method

Grab your ribbon and unfurl it. Then, starting at the top of the tree, wrap the start of the ribbon ream around a branch, then pull the ribbon abut 3-4 inches down and twist it around the branch so it looks like a loop, continue down another 3-4 inches and repeat, continuing to weave these loops in a spiral motion as you go down, Michaloswki explains. “This will create a beautiful cascading effect that adds depth and dimension to your tree. You can also try crisscrossing the ribbon or creating a draping effect, depending on the look you want to achieve.” 

To see this method in action, watch this video from Oksana FancyBloom:

2. Use the spiral-the-ribbon method

“Start at the top of the tree and wrap the ribbon around the branches in a spiral motion, gradually, tucking as you move down towards the bottom,” Michaloswki says. “This will create a beautiful cascading effect that adds depth and dimension to your tree.” 

For more on this technique, watch the TikTok video from @madisonriddolls below:

@madisonriddolls

Replying to @Macy here’s how I put the ribbon on my Christmas tree! The ribbon is from walmart + the garland is from Michael’s! 🎄✨🫶 @madison @madison #homedepot #christmastree #homedepottree #xmastree #viralchristmastree #homedepotchristmastree #sparklingchristmas #ribbongarland #ribbonontree

♬ Elf – Main Theme – Geek Music

3. Use the bows and shapes method

If you’d rather dot your tree with ribbon rather than wrap it, you’ll like this method. Simply grab some wired ribbon and cut off a 2-foot section. Then, from that cut ribbon piece, make two bunny ears and tie them together before pulling the tails to the length you want. Once done, place that in your selected tree branch, and voilà, your tree has been decorated with ribbon. Add as many as you like.

To see the method in action, watch the TikTok video from @emilyburn01 below:

And for another bow design idea, check out this YouTube video from Nick’s Seasonal Décor below:

4. Use the coil method

Begin by cutting the ribbon into 2-3 foot sections and then wrap the ribbon around your hand to create a nice tight coil. Once it is nice and tight, gently pull it apart to loosen the coil until it’s curled the way you like; place it on the tree. Do one or as many as you like!

For more on this, and for exactly where to place the ribbon on the tree watch the video from @emilyburn01 on TikTok below:


For more on Christmas decorations, click through the links below:

Decorating Pros Share Their Top Gingerbread House Ideas, Tricks and Tips

Experts Reveal The Perfect Time to Decorate for Christmas

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