How to Decorate a Stylish Earth Tones Christmas Tree

How to Choose an Earthy Color Palette

The key to decorating a beautiful earth tones Christmas tree is creating warmth through contrast and texture, not just color. I started with a warm base of cream, terracotta, and rich espresso brown. To bring out that sparkle of the lights, I added subtle touches of antique gold and metallic brass.

To keep the palette cohesive, I avoided bright reds or stark whites and instead leaned into muted tones found in nature like pinecones, cinnamon sticks, and eucalyptus, which matched the sage green tone of the tree.

💡 Stylist Tip!: If your tree leans too dark, add a touch of soft metallic or glass ornaments to reflect light and prevent it from feeling heavy.

Mixing textures gives your tree a "collected" look-sophisticated without trying too hard. If you are looking for some ideas on how to pull this type of tree together, here is how I layered this look:

• Ribbon - I generally use at least one 4-inch-wide wired ribbon (similar to mine). I buy about 30-40 yards to have extra. I keep wider ribbons uncut so I can adjust the layout each year, but slimmer ones (like 2-inch grosgrain) are easy to work with in 3-4 foot sections.
• Natural Elements - I included 5-7 each of eucalyptus, bronze berry branches, icy curly willows, mini-pinecone branches, and frosted champagne sugar berry branches.
• Themed Ornaments – A few themed ornaments add interest so look for different shapes. In previous years, I have used collections of stars, woodland animals, gingerbread snowflakes, handmade clay ornaments and large pinecones to change it up from just having balls on the tree.
• Candle Lanterns - I stumbled upon these gems at Kirkland’s clearance. They are about 8 inches tall and large enough for a tea light. They're perfect for filling larger gaps and add cozy charm (just note they're on the heavier side).
• Assorted Metallic Ornaments - To finish, I reused metallic accents I already owned-muted gold and bronze balls, icy birch spheres, and even a few polar bear snow globes-for subtle sparkle without overpowering the palette.

Ornament Placement and Layering

Most of the ornaments are from previous years, but I also hand painted a batch of 3.5-inch shatterproof ornaments in terracotta, maui sand, and chocolate brown.

I was going to do a tutorial, but they are almost too simple. I mixed in about a ½ teaspoon of baking soda to a few tablespoons of paint to create some subtle texture. After the paint was dry, I dry brushed on a tiny bit of gold leaf metallic wax.

Group ornaments in threes for depth. I often pair a matte ornament, a metallic accent, and a natural texture to build visual rhythm. Ornaments should be layered, some being deeper into the tree with branches curling around.

Tips for Creating a Balanced Look

• Step back often to check balance. Sometimes less is more.
• Mix shine and matte finishes.
• Hang each type of ornament in a loose zigzag pattern around the tree. This helps create a more natural, balanced look. (for example, notice the orange ornaments spacing in the photo above.)
• Vary ribbon widths for a layered, professional appearance.
• Add a tree skirt or basket base in woven natural tones to complete the look.

Wrapping It Up

And this frosty and natural earth toned Christmas tree is a wrap! It’s definitely one of my favorites because it is festive but with a non-traditional Christmas color scheme.

If you have questions, you can always ask in the comments below. 

May it shower your holiday preparations with a touch of inspiration and joy. Merry decorating!