Find inspiration for decorating a burlap and plaid Christmas tree this year. Create a cozy, rustic country look in your home for the holidays.
I hadn’t planned to share the big tree in my dining room this year. In fact, I briefly considered not decorating it at all. But once the season arrived, I couldn’t resist. I love having my 9-foot tree glowing in the front window and watching it sparkle as I pull up to the house in the evening.
This year I didn’t change much from last season, but I did add a few larger ornaments and some fresh ribbon to update the feel. The overall palette stays true to a country rustic style—burlap, buffalo check, and plaid—so it feels warm and timeless.
You might remember the poinsettias and mini wooden skis from the tree in my living room during my home tour. After sharing that tour, I actually swapped out the staged decor for our personal, sentimental ornaments—things we’ve collected over the years. Those sentimental pieces are lovely in real life, but they don’t always photograph as prettily.
Living Room Christmas Tree from a recent home tour
After the living room tree was photographed, I had those poinsettia ornaments and wooden skis still available, so I brought them over to the large dining-room tree. I also added plaid ribbon and buffalo-check bows I found at my local craft store. Those ribbons tied the rustic, country look together perfectly.
Some ornaments I’ve used for years: DIY chalkboard wood-slice ornaments, glittery deer, scrapbook-paper ornaments, mercury glass pieces, tin frame ornaments, and other small fillers. These layered textures—rustic wood, metallic shine, and soft burlap—create depth without feeling cluttered.
Close-up of ornaments from the plaid Christmas tree
I genuinely love the decorations I already own and don’t feel the need to replace them each year. Still, I enjoy adding one new element every season for variety, and ribbon is one of the easiest ways to refresh the tree’s look.
For this tree I reused a rustic jingle-bell burlap ribbon I loved last year. Because I didn’t want the look to be identical, I changed how I placed the ribbon—cutting it and letting it drape and loop in different spots. It felt risky to cut a nice ribbon, but the result was worth it: a looser, more organic flow that complements the tree’s rustic charm.
I varied the ribbon placement—some pieces start in the middle of the tree and cascade down, others stop before the bottom—curling and looping the fabric for texture. Small changes like these make a handmade tree feel curated instead of contrived.
Each year I add a few new ornaments and layer more lights, so the tree becomes fuller and more textured over time. Looking at a collage of trees from previous years makes those small changes obvious—this season I can clearly see the increase in lights and depth.
When I finished, the tree instantly reminded me of a cozy cabin in the Smoky Mountains: skis, buffalo check, plaid, burlap, and a rustic crate tree stand all combine to evoke that warm, woodsy feeling. I love how the tree turned out this year.
Do you enjoy decorating your Christmas tree? What do you look forward to most—the ribbon, sentimental ornaments, or the more decorative elements? Each of those parts plays a role in creating a tree that feels personal and beautiful.
Sources:
DIY Crate Tree Stand
Joy Sign – Target
Wooden White Distressed Christmas Tree – Hobby Lobby (previous season)
Poinsettia ornaments – Target
Wooden Ski ornaments – Target dollar spot
Leather Club Chair – Ballard Designs
Car with Tree Pillow – Target (previous season)
Burlap ribbon with jingle bells – Hobby Lobby
Plaid ribbon and buffalo check ribbon – Michael’s
Small potted faux tree – Pottery Barn