A classic red and green Christmas tree decorated with plaid ribbon, red beaded garland, red berries, pine cones, bird ornaments, and beautiful mercury glass accents.
My sunporch is one of my favorite spaces to decorate for the holidays. It gets beautiful light, feels cozy in every season, and becomes especially magical once the Christmas tree is glowing. This year, I wanted the room to feel warm, traditional, and timeless, so I chose a red and green Christmas tree theme inspired by a gorgeous plaid ribbon.
To me, nothing says classic Christmas quite like red, green, and plaid. The combination feels nostalgic without looking outdated, and it works beautifully with natural textures like pine cones, berry picks, and greenery. I also love mixing in a little shine with mercury glass ornaments to give the tree a soft, elegant sparkle.
Looking for more Christmas decorating inspiration? I decorate 3-5 Christmas trees every year, and each one has its own personality. Some of my favorites include this year’s Elegant Christmas Tree, my Teal Christmas Tree, a bold Red Christmas Tree, and one of my all-time favorites, this Green Christmas Tree.
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Artificial Christmas Tree
I love decorating with artificial Christmas trees. In fact, I have never had a real Christmas tree. This tree is a blue spruce artificial Christmas tree from King of Christmas, and it has such a full, realistic look once it is fluffed and decorated.
This is now my fourth tree from King of Christmas. I have been really happy with the quality of their trees, and I appreciate that their styles often go on sale. Sometimes you can also find open-box options, which can be a great way to get a beautiful artificial Christmas tree at a better price.
If you are thinking about investing in an artificial tree, it helps to know what to look for before you buy. Height, width, branch style, lighting, and storage all matter. You can read my guide to buying an artificial Christmas tree for more helpful tips.
Plaid Ribbon
The plaid ribbon was the starting point for the entire Christmas tree design. It was the first piece of holiday decor I bought this year, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to build a traditional red and green tree around it. I found the ribbon at Joann Fabrics. It is a 4-inch wired ribbon with a cream background and a red and green plaid pattern.
Wired ribbon is ideal for decorating a Christmas tree because it holds its shape and is easy to tuck between branches. The cream base keeps the tree from feeling too heavy, while the red and green plaid adds that classic holiday charm. It also ties in perfectly with the red pillows and warm tones in the sunporch.
I like to layer beaded garland between sections of ribbon because it gives the tree more depth and texture. For this Christmas tree, I used five strands of red bead garland. The red beads catch the light beautifully and add another festive layer without overwhelming the ornaments.
If you want to add ribbon to your tree but are not sure where to start, here is how I add ribbon to my Christmas tree.
Mirrored Star Christmas Tree Topper
This mirrored star is one of my favorite pieces to use as a Christmas tree topper. Can I let you in on a little secret? It was not originally made to be a tree topper at all. It was actually a wall hanging that I found at a local vintage shop years ago, and I modified it so it could sit at the top of a tree.
I love using unexpected pieces in holiday decorating. A tree topper does not always have to come from the Christmas aisle. Vintage finds, wall decor, oversized ornaments, or meaningful keepsakes can all become beautiful focal points when used creatively. This mirrored star reflects the tree lights and adds just the right amount of sparkle to the traditional red and green design.
Bird Ornaments
Bird ornaments always make a Christmas tree feel special to me. Growing up, my parents had two white doves on their Christmas tree. The doves were connected by a ring that they carried in their beaks, and I always remember seeing them on the family tree. Because of that memory, I like to include at least one bird ornament on every tree I decorate, and often more than one.
This year, I placed a beautiful cardinal ornament front and center. The red cardinal fits perfectly with the red and green Christmas tree color scheme, and it adds a sweet nostalgic touch. The bright red bird stands out against the greenery, plaid ribbon, and mercury glass ornaments without feeling too bold or out of place.
How To Make Your Christmas Tree Look Fuller
One of the easiest ways to make a Christmas tree look fuller is to add floral picks. This is especially helpful if you have an older artificial tree that has lost some of its fullness over time. Picks fill in open spaces, add texture, and create visual interest throughout the tree.
For this red and green Christmas tree, I used pine cones and red berries. The pine cones add a natural, woodsy feel, while the berries bring in more red and help repeat the color throughout the tree. When you tuck them deep into the branches and angle them outward, they help the tree look layered and professionally styled.
You can usually find floral picks on sale at craft stores during the holiday season. One of the best things about using them is that they can be reused year after year. I have had some of my Christmas picks for about 10 years, and they still work beautifully in different tree designs.
Tree Collar
I love using a Christmas tree collar or basket instead of a traditional tree skirt. A tree collar gives the base of the tree a clean, finished look and helps hide the stand. For this tree, I used a galvanized tree collar that I have had for probably about five years. It is beautiful and works well with many different Christmas decorating styles.
The only downside is that my tree collar is one solid piece, which makes it a little more difficult to store. I found a similar one that comes in two pieces, which would be much easier to pack away after the holidays.
If you are looking for more Christmas tree collars or baskets, I’ve gathered some of my favorites. A collar, basket, or decorative base can make a big difference in the overall look of your Christmas tree.
There is nothing that makes me happier during the holiday season than coming home from work and seeing this Christmas tree all lit up as I pull into the driveway. The red and green colors, plaid ribbon, glowing lights, and sentimental ornaments make it one of my favorite sights in the house.