Beach Christmas Tree Ideas for a Coastal Holiday

A beach Christmas tree brings the serene beauty of the coast right into your home, making your holiday decor feel fresh, calming, and unique.

Incorporating coastal colors like blues and greens and DIY ornaments that reflect seaside elements can transform your tree into a stunning centerpiece for the season.

A decorated Christmas tree with tree and star ornaments, blue ribbons, and white lights.
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Beach Christmas Tree Ideas for a Coastal Holiday

A decorated Christmas tree with blue and white ornaments and lights stands in a corner by a curtained window. The tree skirt is striped.

I am thrilled to share my Coastal Holiday-themed Christmas tree. I created it using coastal colors, DIY ornaments, and easy techniques like decoupage to personalize clear glass balls and oyster shells.

Bowls arranged with holiday decorations including green pinecone ornaments, leaf-patterned ornaments, white starfish, and blue assorted ornaments on a light wood surface.

Whether you live by the shore or want to bring coastal charm to your home, these ideas will inspire you to design a tree that captures the magic of a seaside holiday.

Choosing Your Coastal Color Palette

Colorful, marine-themed ornaments in bowls, including blue glass balls, starfish, and decorative shells.

A beach-themed Christmas tree typically features soft, muted tones inspired by the ocean and natural coastal elements. Here’s how to build your palette:

  • Blues: Incorporate shades of aqua, seafoam, and deep navy to mimic the ocean waves.
  • Greens: Use soft sage and pale mint tones to evoke coastal greenery and beach grass.
  • Neutrals: Add sandy beige, ivory, and white to ground the tree and balance brighter colors.
  • Metallics: Accent your palette with shimmering gold or silver to create a festive touch reminiscent of sunlight on water.

When decorating your tree, layer these colors through ornaments, ribbons, garlands, and lights for a cohesive and elegant coastal look.

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Creating DIY Ornaments for Your Beach Christmas Tree

A handmade ornament with a painted green Christmas tree design hangs on a string, placed against a backdrop of a frosted tree branch.

DIY ornaments are the perfect way to personalize your beach-themed Christmas tree. Here are two fun and easy projects: decoupage glass ball ornaments and oyster shell ornaments.


Decoupage Clear Glass Christmas Ball

A woven basket holds several transparent glass ornaments with green foliage patterns, displayed on a light wooden surface.

Decoupage is a simple yet stunning way to turn clear glass ornaments into coastal treasures. You can create ornaments that beautifully reflect your theme using paper napkins with beach-inspired patterns.

Materials Needed:

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Ornaments: Remove the tops from the clear ornaments and set them aside. Clean the surface of the ornaments to ensure the glue adheres properly.
  2. Cut the Napkins: Separate the printed top layer of your napkin from the plain backing. If desired, cut out sections of the pattern you’d like to use, such as individual shells, starfish, or abstract designs. Otherwise, cut the napkin in a strip wide enough to wrap the ball with the napkin without too much extra napkin.
  3. Apply the Glue: Thin the Mod Podge with water. Use a foam brush to apply a thin, even layer to the outside of the ornament.
  1. Place the Napkin: Gently press the napkin piece onto the glue, smoothing it out with your fingers or the foam brush to eliminate air bubbles and wrinkles.
  2. Seal the Design: Once the napkin is adhered, apply another thin layer of Mod Podge over the top to seal it. Allow it to dry completely.
  3. Add Glitter (Optional): While the glue is still tacky, sprinkle fine glitter onto the ornament for a touch of sparkle. This works especially well around the edges of the napkin pieces.
  4. Reattach the Tops: Once dry, replace the ornament tops and hang them on your tree.
A white pedestal bowl holds several translucent ornaments with blue and green leaf patterns.

These decoupaged ornaments are a gorgeous way to incorporate coastal patterns and colors into your decor while adding a handmade touch.


Oyster Shell Ornaments with Decoupage

Seven painted oyster shells with green Christmas tree designs arranged on a wooden surface.

Oyster shells are a quintessential coastal element, and turning them into ornaments adds an authentic seaside vibe to your tree. Decoupage and paper napkins can transform plain shells into beautiful, decorative pieces.

Check back tomorrow as I share how easy it is to make these (and other) oyster shell ornaments.

Starfish Ornaments

A white bowl filled with star-shaped decorative ornaments, each attached to a piece of twine.

Technically, I can say that I made these ornaments, but the DIY part is a bit of a stretch!

A clear plastic jar with starfish beside a ball of twine on a light wooden surface.

I bought these starfish ornaments and used a glue gun to glue them on twine for hanging. That’s it!

Assembling Your Beach Christmas Tree

A tall Christmas tree adorned with blue and silver ornaments stands by a window. The base is wrapped in a striped fabric.

Now that you’ve created your DIY ornaments, it’s time to assemble your beach-themed tree. Follow these steps to achieve a beautifully layered look:

  1. Start with Lights: Use soft white or warm-toned string lights to create a subtle glow. Add a strand of blue or green lights for a more playful look.
  2. Add Ribbon and Garlands: Drape ribbons in shades of blue, green, and metallics throughout the tree. Natural garlands, such as faux seaweed or starfish garlands, add texture and tie in the coastal theme. (I found my blue bow-ribbons on Amazon)
  3. Layer Ornaments: Begin with larger ornaments like the decoupaged glass balls and oyster shells, spacing them evenly around the tree. Fill with smaller ornaments like starfish, sand dollars, oyster shells, and glittery baubles.
  4. Incorporate Natural Elements: To emphasize the beachy vibe further, add sprigs of faux coral, driftwood pieces, or shells.
  5. Top It Off: For a coastal tree topper, consider using a large starfish, a cluster of shells, or a nautical bow made from burlap or sheer ribbon.
  6. Finish with a Themed Tree Skirt: A sandy beige or aqua tree skirt ties the whole look together. For added texture, you can use burlap or a lightweight throw blanket. I used sage green striped cotton fabric I bought in Provence a few summers ago.

Additional Ideas for Beach Christmas Tree Decor

Sea Glass Collecting
  • Driftwood Ornaments: Collect small pieces of driftwood and hot glue them into the shape of stars or mini trees. Add a twine loop for hanging.
  • Mini Buoy Ornaments: Paint small wooden dowels in blue, white, and red stripes to mimic the look of buoys.
  • Sea Glass Accents: String pieces of faux sea glass onto fishing line to create delicate garlands.
  • Shell Garlands: To make a coastal garland, drill small holes in shells and string them together with fishing line or twine.

A frosted Christmas tree decorated with blue ribbons, round ornaments, and star-shaped decorations stands indoors.

A beach-themed Christmas tree is a stunning way to celebrate the holidays with coastal charm. You can create a unique tree by incorporating blues, greens, and natural elements, along with your DIY ornaments like decoupaged glass balls and oyster shells. Handmade decor and seaside inspiration will fill your home with warmth and beauty, making this holiday season truly special.

Whether you live by the beach or want to bring a touch of the ocean to your Christmas celebrations, these ideas will help you craft a festive and serene tree. So grab your supplies, let your creativity shine, and enjoy decorating your coastal Christmas masterpiece!

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Blogger’s Best-Themed Christmas Trees

Here are more themed Christmas trees to inspire your holiday decorating.

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Burgundy Christmas Tree | Craftberry Bush

Beautiful burgundies and antique rose Christmas tree with handmade ornaments.

A decorated Christmas tree stands in a cozy room beside a stone fireplace, showcasing brown and gold ribbons alongside white and black ornaments with glowing lights. Stockings hang from the mantel, while a window provides natural light to the festive decorations.

Little Women Themed Christmas Tree | Twelve on Main

By using handmade elements on my Christmas tree I created a Little Women themed Christmas tree. Using handmade velvet ribbons, homemade beaded garland, and dried apple garland gives this tree a nostalgic look that is low maintenance and beautiful at the same time.

A festive room showcases a large Christmas tree with white and gold Christmas decorations and elegant ribbons. A smaller tree nearby glows with warm lights. The background displays a shelf of decorative items, while wrapped gifts rest at the base of the dazzling trees.

Brown and Gold Christmas Tree Decorations | Happy Happy Nester

Creating a warm, festive feel is easy with Brown and Gold Christmas Tree Decorations that add a touch of elegance and coziness to your holiday decor! These earthy brown tones mixed with shimmering gold bring out a naturally chic and sophisticated look that feels both classic and unique.

A decorated Christmas tree stands in a modern living room, adorned with brown and gold Christmas tree decorations, wooden stars, and beaded garlands. Sunlight filters through large windows, highlighting the tree's festive charm and the greenery outside.

Elegant Christmas Tree Decor Ideas | My Sweet Savannah

This year’s Christmas tree combines elegant velvet accents, handcrafted ornaments, and timeless details for a cozy yet sophisticated look. With soft velvet balls, wooden bead garlands, and touches of gold, it’s the perfect blend of modern charm and holiday warmth.

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Simple Scandinavian Inspired Christmas Tree | Most Lovely Things

I made different types of house ornaments for my simple Scandinavian inspired Christmas tree.

Gorgeous Sage Green Christmas Decor

Collage of sage green Christmas decor, including stockings, ornaments, trees, garlands, a blanket, and pillows with tree patterns. Text says "Amazon Holiday Sage Green Christmas.
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3 Comments

  1. Oh my, these are so darling! I have a friend who is renovating her Jersey shore home and these would make a wonderful gift! Thank you so much for these beautiful ideas! I’m excited to make these for her! I already have shells that I bought from Amazon and IOD has a mould with seashells that will make beautiful ornaments as well! Happy Holidays! xo

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