Bring on the clashing colors, mixed patterns, and neutral-toned foliage.
If you're looking to buck tradition and go beyond the red, green, and gold Christmas tree this season, consider running with the boho-style tree aesthetic. This free-spirited look mixes different cultures and eclectic styles to create a laid-back look that is unapologetically cozy, texture happy, and neutral toned (when not embracing pattern clashing and color mixing with joyful abandon). white and silver christmas stockings
Boho is all about leaning into each individual dweller’s personal joys rather than following a particular set of rules. That said, there are a few tried-and-true elements that feel distinctly boho. Boho places an emphasis on organic elements that evoke nature. Think florals, ribbons, and dried pampas branches. A boho Christmas tree will fit the aesthetic’s relaxed vibe that, when done right, is at no expense to sophistication.
Wondering where to begin? Interior designer Kristin Marino, who heads her bohemian-focused design firm KozyKasa, starts by considering an earthy color palette—browns, neutrals, desaturated tones—when shopping for ornaments and ribbon. She then abides by that palette when styling the tree base. “I love to bring in a vintage mud cloth as a tree skirt, or opt for more natural elements for the tree base,” she says, noting that a flourish of wooden and tassel garlands is always a great complement to the ornaments.
Whether you’re going for an earth-toned wonderland or something more colorfully unrestrained and even unorthodox, here you’ll find 16 of our favorite boho-chic Christmas trees for inspiration. Who says Christmas isn’t a time to let your hair down?
This neutral tree made entirely of pampas uses about 200 stems of locally grown and foraged pampas grass. Little surprise that floral decorator Laura Wilson was behind this mammoth of a Tannenbaum. Wilson created this look by adding painted palm leaves and dried Lunaria flowers at the top and weaving yellow colored lights throughout.
Designer Kim Purvis got personal with this California boho chic tree. “I love vintage items and global patterns in neutral colors,” she confesses. “I wanted my holiday tree to blend in with the rest of my home decor.” She fell in love with some tribal ornaments she had found abroad, which served as inspiration for this year’s tree. She then handcrafted five other rustic boho-style ornaments to bring the look together.
For a light and bright tree, Traditionally Cozy’s Claire Shaffer used white ornaments in varying sizes and textures to create this look. “The beaded garland adds that modern vibe that I love,” she says. The rattan star and tree mat complete the look.
Digital creator Amanda Watkins wanted to create a woodland theme Christmas tree that was inspired by her time in Germany. “I included animals I’ve seen for typical woodland-themed trees,” she explains. Other natural elements include the wooden bead garlands, woven mushroom ornaments (which she handmade herself), faux fruit, and a fabulously unbridled sprig of pine in place of a tree star. Bohemian-meets-Nordic-woodland just might be the look of 2024.
Florist Rose Moss collected pampas that fell to the ground around her home for her tree this year. “It took a lot of pampas grass, a few hundred stems at least,” she explains. “Using a white faux tree we attached the pampas with floral wire to the branches.” Her pro tip is to add some hairspray to avoid shedding and hold it up (one of this polymer’s many purposes, right, ladies?). “It was the perfect touch to a bohemian themed holiday season,” Moss adds.
Home decorator Erika Kikola’s vintage ornaments are her most prized possession. “I load the tree up with them, every single branch all the way back to the trunk,” she says. The layering of colors, patterns, sizes, and shapes paired with all of the lights creates a visual depth that is “pure magic.” To top it off, she adds mismatched glass beaded garlands and tinsel—the very definition of splendor.
Blogger and wedding expert Jen Campbell from Green Wedding Shoes decorated this small accent tree with pampas branches on top of the traditional pine for an elevated look. “So unique and boho perfect!” she says.
Interior designer Sarah Phillipps encourages everyone to add a Christmas tree in their primary room. “Seriously, I think it’s so dreamy to get to sleep by tree light, she says.” For this look, Phillipps went for a less-is-more approach by sparsely adding white candles to give the look of floating candles around the tree.
Wedding florist Arianna Rose stuck to a neutral and light-toned color palette for her pretty pink boho tree. She added pampas branches, dried leaves, pale pink ornaments, and felt rainbows. It’s the stuff of a little girls’ daydreams.
Bay Area interior designer and artist Amanda Holstein believes that natural textures are key for bohemian style. “When I was started creating the look, pine cones first came to mind,” she notes. “Plus, they’re so easy to find in the form of ornaments.” Holstein also found some faux cotton stems to place around the tree, alongside wooden beads woven throughout. Instead of a star, a peace and love sign is giving us ’70s nostalgia in all the right ways.
For this decadent tree, designer Maggie Overby started at the top and worked down. She discovered this stunning peacock tree topper at a fancy department store and despite it being out of her budget, a post-Christmas clearance made it a bargain. “It’s been gracing the top of my ever-changing peacock tree for years,” she says. “It has set the tone for the ornaments with deep teal blues, greens, luxurious purples, and gold hues.” We’re birds of a feather, those of us who love avian accents.
Adorned with pom-pom ornaments and colorful handmade tassels, this medium pencil tree that blogger Amy Gramlich decorated aligns with the “any color goes” attitude that is boho decor at its best. The variety of colorful strings of bead and pom-pom garlands lace the tree from top to bottom creating a happy and bright look.
Home decorator Amy Suter loves a nontraditional look for the holidays. “I wanted to create a warm, cozy, and moody look for our tree,” she says. To get that, she used luxurious velvet textures and earthy colors with a touch of bronze and gold metallics to give it a rich and high-end vibe.
For the focus of her tree, decorator Kelsie Ferguson used large and small, neutral-colored ornaments. “I used four strands of wooden beaded garlands and mini antique gold bells as accents,” she says. She kept the entire tree in earthy tones by using velvet ribbons to attach the ornaments to the branches, as well as ribbon to tie bows on some of the branches.
Neutral boho Christmas decor is blogger Laura Hall’s favorite style. “My tree is characterized by its warm feel,” she says. “I chose a color palette consisting of neutral hues like beige, brown, and white, enhancing the natural and rustic look.” The tree light gives a wam glow, perfect for those cozy Christmas nights in!
For this tree, Stephanie Holdaway from furniture store and interior design studio Gatehouse No 1., used a prelit tree that allowed the branches to take center stage with the minimal boho aesthetic. “We layered three wrinkled silk and satin ribbons in tones of gold, silver, and taupe, tying them deep down the length of the tree,” she explains. For a more dramatic feel, she left the tails extra long. “For the finishing touch, we added a variety of stunning aged metallic ornaments.”
Sofia Quintero is the Editorial Assistant for ELLE DECOR. She helps out with all aspects of print production and is a frequent contributor to elledecor.com. She graduated from university in Paris, and is originally from Costa Rica.
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