It’s that tricky time of the year when the skies are grey, the Christmas cookies are all gone, and cheery winter decorations have lost their luster. However, the holiday celebrations are far from over! January is a month for resolutions and renewal. It’s a moment to focus on self-care, and then we jump into a month all about love. So instead of packing away the merry decor, perhaps this is the perfect moment to switch it up and decorate for Valentine’s Day.
Hear us out—don't take down the Christmas tree just yet. There are plenty of fun ways to jazz up your home using the existing decorations you already have out, mixed with some fresh new details. Pick a theme, pull out the DIY crafting materials, and keep the spirit of giving alive with thoughtful Valentine’s gifts from Cupid placed lovingly under the tree.
Read on for creative ideas on how to decorate a tree for Valentine’s Day and spruce up other spaces around the home for the upcoming late winter and early spring holidays.
What Kind of Tree Decor and Accessories to Use
A Christmas tree offers a blank canvas for so many fun accessories and decorations to play with. It’s not just about the ornaments—don’t forget about tree skirts, lighting, tree toppers, and decorative picks and sprays.
Christmas Tree Skirts to Set the Tone
Tree skirts set the tone for how the rest of the tree will look. Think carefully about balancing the base with the centerpiece. A multi-color tree skirt is perfect for a tree decorated in a single color scheme, while a white or gold tree skirt offers greater flexibility, allowing you to add a variety of other decor elements.
When selecting a tree skirt, it’s important to choose one that is at least 6 inches wider than the full width of your tree. For most trees, a skirt with a diameter of 48 to 60 inches works well, while larger trees may require a 72-inch skirt to provide complete coverage and a polished appearance.
A multi-color tree skirt is perfect for a tree that will be decorated in one color scheme, whereas a white or gold tree skirt allows for more flexibility when adding other decor.
Ornaments in Seasonal Colors
Switch your ornaments around to focus on Valentine’s Day colors. Simple glass balls in red, pink, and white can fill the tree alongside ornaments of various shapes in complementing colors. Now is the moment to remove the Santa Claus and reindeer ornaments, but leave the hearts and seasonless shapes and characters.
Warm Christmas Lights to Set the Mood
This chilly and romantic time of year calls for mood lighting, and what better way to do that than with a Christmas tree? Instead of multi-color or bright blue lights, wrap around a string of classic warm lights or twinkle lights to stimulate a magical and sensual ambiance.
The Secret to Adding Texture and Depth
The best-kept secret to making your existing Christmas tree look like an entirely new centerpiece is to add tree picks and sprays. These adorable floral and greenery elements painted in rich colors or coated with sparkles give volume and extra depth to the branches in unexpected ways. Picks and sprays are a great way to sneak in some extra red and give your tree that Valentine's Day touch.
Tree Toppers for the Final Loving Touch
A traditional star or angel on top of the tree is nice for Christmas, but for a Valentine's Day twist, consider a starburst tree topper to symbolize the burst of love that comes with the romantic season. Or, instead of investing in a new tree topper, you could also make your own with two hearts cut out from construction paper and taped along the edges to sit snug around the tip of the tree.
Decide on the Color Theme
Valentine’s Day Pink and Red
Pink and red are total Valentine's Day staples. A fun way to bring the season of love into your home is by decking out your tree with pink and red ornaments. Layer traditional ball ornaments with other fun figurines like dessert pastries, champagne ornaments in pink, and gem ornaments in red. Make the tree burst with love by adding pink and red picks and sprays all around.
Elegant White Christmas Tree
A white Christmas tree offers more than just the appearance of snow-covered branches. It will present a stunning canvas for your colorful red and pink ornaments. With its clean backdrop, the ornament will really pop against the white, making the centerpiece look both playful and elegant at the same time.
Love is Love Rainbow Array
Pride can be celebrated all year round, but it most certainly should get extra attention in the month of love! Rainbow Christmas ornaments can be hung alongside simple ball ornaments of every color and size. Hang glass "Love" word balloon ornaments on the tree to emphasize the uplifting message that love is love.
DIY Valentine’s Day Decorations
There are plenty of creative and budget-friendly ways to decorate for Valentine’s Day using just construction paper and string. Here are a few examples:
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Cut out paper hearts and secure a loop of jute twine tied around the top to make charming paper ornaments.
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Add dimension to the tree by cutting strips of paper and linking the ends through each other with tape to make a homemade chain garland.
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Make use of any wooden chopsticks or plastic straws lying around the kitchen drawers to create a cupid’s arrow by cutting out two hearts flipped upside down to form an arrowhead at the top and adding some feathers on the bottom.
Place Valentine’s Gifts Under the Tree
One of the most exciting moments of Christmas is seeing the pile of gifts beautifully wrapped and carefully placed underneath the tree. Why stop at Christmas? After all, no Valentine’s Day would be complete without a few tokens of love gifted to the people who mean the most to you.
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Alternate presents wrapped with red and pink wrapping paper.
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Tie up the gifts with sparkly bows.
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Add heart-shaped cards for the gift tags.
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As the centerpiece of the holiday, use the tree to display your heartfelt presents in a way that gives them even more significance.
Give Some Love to Other Spaces Around the Home
As you gradually transition the home from the end-of-year holidays to Valentine’s Day and spring celebrations, swap out the Christmas-y wreaths for those that are more spring-forward.
Roses, tulips, and ranunculus are charming blooms that recall signs of love. Around the house, bouquets of peonies and eucalyptus brighten the space to usher in the new seasons of the year. To tie everything together, incorporate wreaths and flowers that match back to the color theme chosen for the tree to tie it all together.
Conclusion
Don’t rush to pack up the Christmas tree just yet. Instead, transform it into an impressive Valentine’s Day centerpiece by making a few tweaks. To recap, here is how to decorate a tree for Valentine’s Day:
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Choose a color theme that suits your style like classic pink and red, elegant white, or a rainbow pride display.
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Add depth with decorative sprays, tree picks, and DIY creations like heart-shaped ornaments or chain garlands.
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Don’t forget to place wrapped Valentine’s gifts under the tree for a thoughtful touch, and
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extend the love beyond the tree by refreshing wreaths and floral arrangements to usher in spring.
For more inspiration, browse our shop for Valentine’s Day ornaments and spring artificial floral decoration to elevate your space for the holidays to come.
