Celebrate Christmas magic while respecting the environment and reducing waste — it’s possible! Even beloved Christmas tree can go green. In our step-by-step guide, we reveal how to make an eco-responsible Christmas tree, an alternative as charming as it is kind to the planet. Made with materials gathered on walks or recovered from your garden, this handmade tree embodies a sustainable, waste-free Christmas.

natural DIY decoration

Step 1: Project preparation

Before starting, gather in your garden or on a walk dead branches that will serve as the base for your tree. And don’t hesitate to also collect pine cones that will bring a woody scent to your home.

You can also gather natural materials, such as dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise that will give off gentle Christmas scents.

Tip: you can replace dried oranges with their peels; for that, read our tutorial: How to make a garland of dried orange peels?

You can also add shapes (stars, Christmas tree, heart, etc.) cut and decorated from cardboard, ribbons from an old piece of fabric, gingerbread biscuits or any other Christmas decorations you have to hand.

Also arm yourself with a pair of scissors and natural string or cord.

pine cone, dried oranges, clementine peel, cinnamon and star anise

Step 2: Assembling wall-mounted Christmas tree

  • Select branches of different lengths to create a graduated effect. If necessary, clean branches of any dirt or loose bark.
  • Lay out flat, place the longest branch at the bottom, which will serve as the base for your tree, then arrange branches in descending order of size to form a triangle evoking the shape of a Christmas tree. Space branches about 15 centimetres apart.
  • Use string to tie the ends of each branch. Leave some length of string at the very top of the tree so you can fix it to the wall.
  • Once your tree is attached to the wall or a door, hang the various Christmas decorations. Tip: start with the heaviest elements, such as pine cones, to distribute weight and avoid unbalancing the tree. Then continue with lighter decorations.
  • Step back to admire your work and adjust if necessary.
hanging natural decorations

Decoration ideas

To decorate your tree, let your creativity run free. Citrus trees, such as oranges and lemons, can be sliced and oven-dried for a fragrant, colourful decoration. Pine cones can be hung as they are or painted with eco-friendly paints. Walnuts, cinnamon sticks and star anise add a rustic touch and can be tied on with string. Organise a pom-pom workshop with wool for your children. Don’t forget to place a star made from recycled or natural materials at the top of your tree to complete the traditional silhouette. And although this tree is perfectly fine on its own, you may consider (though not eco-friendly) finishing with a few LED lights.