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.
Beach Christmas Tree Ideas for a Coastal Holiday
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.
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
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
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
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:
- Clear glass or plastic Christmas ball ornaments
- Beach-themed paper napkins (look for patterns like seashells, waves, or starfish)
- Mod Podge or another decoupage glue
- Foam brush
- Scissors
- Glitter (optional)
Instructions:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Reattach the Tops: Once dry, replace the ornament tops and hang them on your tree.
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
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
Technically, I can say that I made these ornaments, but the DIY part is a bit of a stretch!
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
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:
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- Incorporate Natural Elements: To emphasize the beachy vibe further, add sprigs of faux coral, driftwood pieces, or shells.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 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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Here are more themed Christmas trees to inspire your holiday decorating.
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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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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
Yay! They would make a perfect gift, so happy about this. Happy crafting and let me know how they turn out ☺️
I love all your beach inspired ornaments. the colors, shapes and the velvet ribbons on the tree. All so pretty!
Thanks so much Annie! I’m so happy with how it turned out!
Love your handmade ornaments! xo
Thanks so much! So fun to make!
Love your beach themed Christmas tree and diy ornaments. You are very talented and gracious!!!
Thanks so much Gail! So much fun to craft all of these- so happy with it all!