We've rounded up the best alternative Christmas tree ideas for if you don’t fancy a traditional fir.

There are plenty of stylish alternatives, from festively adorned DIY stepladder trees to minimalist Scandi-chic twig trees.

Nothing sets the festive mood quite like a Christmas tree. Adorned with lights and baubles and surrounded by gifts, it’s the centrepiece of most seasonal interiors. You don’t need to go for a traditional pine or fir tree, though. Instead, opt for an alternative that will give your celebrations a unique twist-think strings of lights, sleek Modernist hoops, or even pretty twigs.

Or, if you don’t have enough space for a traditional tree, go for a space-saving alternative to a Christmas tree, such as a wall decal or a hanging “ladder” tree. Whether you want to put your creative skills to the test with a fun DIY project, or buy a tree that will add a creative touch to your interior, read on to discover our pick of the best alternative Christmas tree ideas.

Microlight Hanging Christmas Tree

            

Why settle for lights around a traditional tree when you can create a sparkling tree entirely from a string of lights? This alternative Christmas tree idea is perfect for small living rooms as it won’t take up any floor space.

Create your own tree shape with a long string of lights, or buy an elegant readymade tree with lights wrapped around a frame. This one from Lights4Fun features 200 warm white LEDs that will light up the coldest of winter nights.

Oak wood Christmas Tree

            

Make Christmas a bit more sustainable this year with this stylish timber tree by Natural Wood Company that can be used year after year. “I want to get as close to a waste-free Christmas as possible this year,” says Holly Harper, Head of Inspiration at Not on the High Street. “This wooden tree is the perfect star of the show-handmade from sustainably forested oak, it will look amazing with upcycled paper baubles and statement tree toppers.” You can either spread the arms out to create a rounded tree, or fold it flat if you need to save space.

DIY Paint-Splattered Christmas Trees

            

Looking for a tiny tree this year? Craft a tabletop forest of these paint-splattered cone trees with an easy DIY tutorial from the Fall for DIY blog.

“When I made these trees I wanted to add something to my festive decor that felt completely unique,” says craft blogger Francesca Stone. “Miniature trees are always a good idea scattered over a mantle or shelving. Each tree is different due to the nature of the paint splatters and you can choose a colour scheme to fit your own Christmas theme.”

Sparkle Tree

            

A Christmas tree doesn’t need green foliage to be festive. Take this elegant, six-foot tree from The White Company. Handcrafted from PVC, steel wire and plastic, the snow-white branches are subtly embellished with LED lights to make a minimalist, contemporary statement.

Place it in the living room as an alternative to a traditional tree and adorn the branches with some equally enchanting baubles, or use it to give the garden a festive touch. If you’re feeling crafty, you could even make your own with the right branch, some paint and a string of lights.

Golden Deco Silhouette Tree

            

Put the focus on your favourite baubles with this beautiful Art Deco-inspired tree-which looks stunning as either an alternative tree for a smaller space or the centrepiece for a Christmas table. Crafted from iron with a gold powder-coated finish, the tiered frame allows you to display ornaments that will form a tree shape, topped with a pretty star.

Keep to the Art Deco theme with a curated selection of simple ornaments in sophisticated gold and black, or add lights and ribbons for a more ornate look.

The Scandi Tree

            

Looking for a tree you can get delivered through the letterbox? You’ll love this Scandi-style “tree” from Bloom & Wild that can be displayed in a vase. “We’ve paired delicate gold stars and tiny confetti baubles against a backdrop of deep navy to capture the essence of a dark, starry night’s sky,” says Olivia Harvey, from Bloom & Wild. “It’s a great gift for friends who love a bit of contemporary-cool, or for those who love to celebrate the magic of Christmas but, because of pets or allergies, a real tree isn’t right for them.” The branches are fully dried, so once Christmas is over, you can pop it back in the slimline box to store until next year.

Christmas Wall “Tattoo”

            

This fun and colourful removable wall decal by MYK Berlin is perfect for small spaces. “Ever since I was young I have used decorations, toys and souvenirs and attached them to the wall in the shape of a Christmas tree,” says designer Myra von Busekist, the brains behind this decal. “It took around three days, so then I had the idea to develop a wall ‘tattoo’ to make life easier!”

There are over 200 items in the photo sticker, with shadows that bring them to life on the wall.

Outdoor Light Up Tree

            

We love any form of modern garden lighting ideas, especially when they're festive. Create a sparkling winter wonderland in your garden with a spectacular light up tree-and you won’t have to worry about ceiling height so you can opt for a tree that’s truly impressive in size.

This tree from Cox & Cox stands at three-metres tall and is adorned with 300 warm white LED lights that can be programmed to twinkle in the night. The twelve light strings are arranged around a slender metal pole and the tree is topped with a bright LED star.

Collapsible Christmas Tree

            

This architect-designed tree dates back to 1966, when Lawrence “Bud” Stoecker created a Modernist Christmas tree to fit with the contemporary A-frame homes he loved to design. In 2011, his grandson Matt Bliss recreated his sleek design and made it available to the public.

“The Modern Christmas tree is a line of artificial holiday trees made from collapsible concentric rings that make them easy to put up, take down, and even store flat,” says Matt. “My Grandpa would have never guessed his trees have come this far!”

Birch Christmas Tree Hanger

            

Wall hanging trees-also known as “ladder” trees-are perfect for smaller spaces as they offer all the magic of Christmas without taking over your living space. It’s easy to make your own, or there are plenty of pretty options on the market, like this birch hanger from Lights4Fun.

“It’s essential to add your own accessories so that the tree mirrors your decorative style,” recommends Becky Tasker from Lights4Fun. “Once the wall hanging tree is set in place, add elegant micro fairy lights by entwining the silver cable around the branches for a subtle yet effective glow and dot your favourite baubles along the branches to complete your alternative tree styling.”