How to Decorate a
Western Christmas Tree

Decorating a Western Christmas for the holidays has never been so much fun!

Deciding how to decorate a western Christmas tree whether it is a traditional evergreen tree or one of the custom western trees made of sage brush, tumble weeds or antler shed is all about choosing the right theme and how much Cowboy-up you want to give your western holidays.

Western Lighting:

As with any Christmas tree décor you will start with the lighting if you choose to light the tree.  Many authentic or custom old west trees do not require lighting.  The simple small white twinkle lights look great on the sage brush, antler and tumble weed trees, of course the look great on the traditional evergreen tree too.  Small white lights tend to give the western tree the simple natural look.  Red Hot Chili pepper lights are a fun option and can add a lot of catchy-color to south western theme.  Specialty lighting that may fit your western theme might include one of the cowboy boot or cacti light strings.

Western Garlands:

Cut up old jeans (all colors) into 8” long strips about 1” wide and tie to ½” hemp or natural looking rope, for the rhinestone cowboy look add colorful red glass barrel beads to the denim garland, for a rustic western look stars out of plastic or corrugated card board spray painted rust brown.

Latch old western belts together with western belt buckles.  Adds the western rodeo cowboy touch (consider hot gluing the leathers together behind the buckles for added durability.)

Twist and hitch together several bandanas of one or alternating colors.  Let the tips hang down a bit.  Slide on Conchos at various locations, or sew the tips together with silver or gold western buttons available in hats – boots – bear paws – arrow heads – horses – saddles - cactus.

Used lariats come in a variety of colors from blues, green, yellow, pinkish-red and white to the natural earthy colors of browns and tans.  The older ropes will lay out nice where as the new ones are to stiff to keep open as a garland.  Start at the top of the tree placing the Hondo over the top tip and grace the tree in western rope.

Western Style Ornaments:

Rustic Western Horse, Rodeo and Wildlife ornaments (sold by Trailwood Western Store); old bolo ties; small horses, cowboys, steers, cowboy boots or western hats; cut and painted aluminum home made ornaments such as stars and horseshoes, reduce on a color copier or all-in-one color machine western baked bean can labels and wrap around small round objects like pieces of paper towel tubes, use small diameter rope or jute to make lasso ornaments or ornament hangers, miniature six-shooters, sheriff badges, stars, cowbells, bits, spurs, cowboy Santa’s,

Western Ice cycles:

Tie small groups of raffia to the tree tips, tie or alligator clip to tree tips ¼’ strips of Christmas fabric – white denim – leather latigo – bandana material – strings of turquoise beads.  Aluminum foil wrapped around a pencil for curly-cycles clipping them to the tree with costume or vintage looking dance hall girl clip on rhinestone or Cabochon earrings.  Fold over the tips of new horseshoe nails using a pair of pliers or needle nose pliers.

Western Skirt: 

For a 4’ tree skirt use about 4 feet of standard 45” wide western themed or solid color fabric, light to medium weight ultra suede, ducking or canvas and about 8 yards of contrasting fringe. Fringe is available in faux leathers, synthetic rope, and ultra suede fringes.  Fringes do look fantastic on western tree skirts.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, and then in half again to make four layers.  From the corner with all the folds of the fabric pull a 45” long string down one side fairly taught and draw a quarter arc circle to the other side holding the string tight for a smooth line.  Cut the fabric layers on that line.  Do the same for the inner circle cut out at 3-4” from the folded corner to make a 6-8” inner opening to surround the tree trunk or base. 

Bigger in the West?  Use about 5 yards of fabric to make a 7-8’ skirt and about 16 yards of a wider 4-6” fringe for the trim. 

Sew four 45” quarter circles together at three of the side seams.  Roll and hem all raw edges.    I do a lot of craft sewing with iron on hemming tape or spray glue!  To add optional weight to the tree skirt, line it with worn or faded bath towels stitched to the back side of the skirt.

Another option that is truly western is the Western Tree Cozy.  Using two to three old saddle blankets whip stitched together on the shorter sides to get the length desired, wrap or drape the saddle blankets around the base of the tree is a soft casual circle like a neck scarf. 

Western Topper:

Wrap white lights around a white or black cowboy hat and use it as your tree topper.  Use a standard old worn western felt hat, brightly colored straw hat or a full sequin and rhinestone western rodeo hat.

Top your tree with a rustic looking lone star or a new star tree topper spray painted in rust brown. 

Fold and crimp rustic barb wire into a star.  Use baling wire to position and hold firm the inner points of the star.  Add a piece of baling wire across the center of the star.  Wire twist a 3-4” long 1” wide sprung or springy spring to put on the top tip of tree.  These old stars also look great with a single cluster of a few dried flowers like blue-bonnets, Indian paint brush or other wild desert flowers.

Southwestern skull topper made from a small deer or calf skull.  Paint it with sun and earth colors in southwestern geometric stripes – waves – stripes – zigzags – arcs with dots … or tie on leather latigo finished of with either eagle or pheasant feather or silver and turquoise beads.  Place to amber lights from a standard light string in each eye socket for more desert drama.

Trailwood Western Store

Decorating Western Homes for the comfort of authentic western style living.