Big ideas come in small packages for this year's Christmas tree

Expressing the spirit of the season does not have to be time or budget consuming, it simply requires a little planning and some creative ideas.  Fortunately, Christmas colours are warm and appealing. As green is the most pleasing colour to the eye, it serves as a great starter to a tasteful celebration of the season.

[Photo via Niriti]                                                             [Photo via Shelterness]

The traditional Christmas tree is often adorned with a multitude of colours, with no need to be perfectly balanced. In fact, it is often this imperfection and colourful palette that give a tree its charm.  When starting out, one way to keep it simple is to decide on a look and colour scheme. A gold colour palette provides warmth and flaunts a traditional style, while a pop of colour such as bright blue adds a fun, non-traditional element to holiday decorating.

  [Photo via Shelterness]            [Photo via Homezinterior]

[Photo via BHG]        

Christmas bulbs come in many different shapes, colours and sizes, bringing life to small bare Christmas trees.  Keeping with a theme of simplicity by using one colour lets you introduce a high contrast, such as a punch of red or the creation of a soft tone palette by using creamy coloured bulbs.

       [Photo via Shelterness]                      [Photo via Homezinterior]              

[Photo via BHG]

In more recent years, white Christmas trees seem to be gaining in popularity.  The white palette serves as a canvas for traditional red and green Christmas tones, or it can also highlight the sparkle of golds and silvers.  An advantage to small Christmas trees is the ability to get creative with the bases. Planters create a traditional base but can also be dressed up with ribbons or placed upon a silver plate. The copper bucket is another way to include a reflective, glistening material that most often appears in decorative bulbs.  An alternative to buying a white tree is spraying the existing one, making it appear to have branches full of freshly fallen snow.

[Photo via BHG]                      [Photo via Shelterness]

A great festive and cost-efficient way to create a base for a small Christmas tree is to cut up a burlap sack and add a simple tie to hold it all together. The natural material compliments the green tree and adds another texture to the mix.

[Photo via Shelterness]                                          [Photo via BHG]

This festive idea is pretty much as small as it gets. The pinecones provide a very creative centrepiece to adorn a table-top or even a fireplace mantel.  With a few decorative bulbs and stars, this project can be completed with a lovely, finished look.

[Photo via Bumimmusese]

[Main photos and more ideas from BHG]