Decorating with Multiple Trees

Today’s post is written by our StyleBlueprint Louisville writer, Heidi Potter:

A month ago I received a text from my favorite StyleBlueprint “source”- she who leads me to the trends. It read, “check out (friend’s) house for Christmas, she has multiple trees. And, they are all up and decorated by Thanksgiving.” So, I took a field trip out to her house. I had to see it. At this point in my own life, I still had my white pumpkins up from my Huber’s October adventure, and had them masquerading as a Thanksgiving centerpiece with some cranberries I didn’t use at Thanksgiving meal. I am ON IT, people. But secretly, I would love to have six or more trees. I could theme them all. I could make one white, one kids, one in each kid’s room….oh, dare to dream Heidi, dare to dream.

After my field trip, I took the temperature of my social media ladies on this multiple tree trend. Lots of confessions out there. A general theme from the decorators is “crazy, but true” as a self-description. However, I don’t think it’s crazy, I think its great. It’s ORGANIZED. Why overload one tree when they can all have categories and homes? (It is at this point when those of us with label makers could label all of our trees, as well.)

These could all be yours...

My initial question on Facebook:

Does anyone have multiple Christmas trees in their house? How many and what are the “themes?” I would love pictures if you would like to share.

Even a small table top tree is fun. Multiple trees are not excess-space dependent!

The responses were fast and furious – I have several friends who readily admit to having over 6 trees, with the winner having 8!  With pink, blue, flocked, rotating and themed trees all referenced, I was overwhelmed and equally jealous.

A rotating tree? I'm not sure what do with that one. I had no idea such a thing existed. How does this work with an electric cord? Mysteries aside, it does provide a fun thing to photograph and I'm sure my kids would love it more than my "all natural" Christmas tree with burlap. Image courtesy of Photography Blogger.

• I’m having a hard time getting up my one tree! You people are nuts!

I would like add, for the record, that NOT ONE PERSON sent me a picture. The confessionals on Facebook were fine. When it came to the proof, everyone headed for the Fraser Fir hills.

Confessional time

I have three trees this year. One big supreme in my foyer and tabletop trees in my girls’ rooms. My poor son still has not received his own tree, and he is almost five. (Thirdchilditis). But in past years, I have added a mid-size tree in our den for children’s ornaments (This was during pre-school, when ten ornaments were coming home a week. That has dropped off substantially with grade school-aged children.)

But, I’m here to tell you that it is not crazy to have multiple trees. Trees don’t just have to be in your main room. Here are some examples to inspire you.

The Main Tree

This is your supreme pizza of trees. It has a little bit of everything. In my house, every ornament was a gift, homemade or has some sentiment attached to it. Usually, this is your biggest tree.

Big tree.

Another big tree.

Louisvillians will love this tree topper.

A Formal Tree

This is a formal tree for your formal living room. Ornaments are “dressy” and uniform. This tree’s owners are known to keep the decorations on it and simply cover it and put it in the basement when Christmas is over.

Tree in formal living room.

Flowers and special lights. A formal tree for a formal space.

Kitchen or Bathroom trees

Don’t call me crazy. Considering you spend most of your life in the kitchen (hopefully not the bathroom as much) three little tabletop trees are perfect. I found this example on Pinterest.

Kitchen or Bathroom trees. Courtesy of Habitually Chic.

Or even better, a little magnolia made into a tree. A great gift as well.

Courtesy of seedsoflife.com.

Christmas Card display tree — great for kitchen, foyer or anywhere where people can see it.

Cheryl Parish, who contributed on our great Christmas Card post, has an entire full-sized tree devoted to Christmas cards.

Christmas Card picture tree.

Here is a smaller version you can make yourself. This idea is courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

Image courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

Front Porch

Outside Christmas trees.

Kids Bedroom Trees

My kids just have small table top trees, but I have seen some great trees in kids’ rooms. They are generally thinner and smaller than a regular tree. Perfect for a cozy corner in a bedroom. This tree has been perfectly decorated. If this were in my house, my kids would junk it up with silly bands, hair bows, ninja masks, you name it.

Girl's bedroom Christmas tree with pictures of all her friends. I love that.

Two trees in the same child's bedroom - score!

Other places to consider putting a tree:

Dining rooms:

A tree dressed for the rooms it's in: the dining room. Image courtesy of My Romantic Home Blog.

• Basements
• Master bedrooms
• Back patio or screened in porch

Themed trees

Now that you have your trees, whatever will you do with them? Consider a themed tree, just like that dining room tree above.

Do you collect something? Do you have too much of one kind of ornament, so much so that it takes over your “family” tree. Showcase it on its own tree.

Santa Tree:

Santa Claus-themed tree with Santa hat topper.

Fine Feathers

Such a pretty tree with Pheasant feathers. If you have cats, they will attack and destroy this tree.

Storybook tree

This was in a friend’s master bedroom. It had storybook characters and then framed personal pictures. Adorable.

Storybook character tree in master bedroom.

Close up of Wizard of Oz ornaments.

Old Photos

If I could get my photographs all in one place, I would do this in a minute. Love this idea from Pinterest and the dearlillie blog.

Courtesy of the dearlillie blog.

Have I made you feel worse or better about yourself?

If anything, I’ve changed the perspective!

This is my favorite place to put a tree. Why not?

Image courtesy of habitually chic.