DIY Small Wooden Christmas Trees

Are you thinking what adorable decorations to add to your home for the upcoming holidays? These DIY small wooden Christmas trees are just what you need! Not only are they a fun and easy project, but they also make for great DIY farmhouse Christmas decor.

These DIY wooden trees are so easy to make and cost less than $30 for all three! You’ll have them put together in no time! Here’s how to make wooden Christmas trees to add to your holiday decor.

I love how these driftwood Christmas trees are full of texture and interest. They are also a little on the whimsical side but can be used for beachy Christmas decor or farmhouse rustic Christmas decor. Each tree took about 30 minutes, but they sure pack a punch!

My favorite thing about wooden Christmas trees as decor is that you can use them all winter long in your decor. They aren’t just for Christmas! You could even stain the driftwood to make a weathered wood Christmas tree, or get oval wood slices that have bark left on them for a more rustic feel.

You can also customize them to fit your decor style. You can paint them any color or add different types of embellishments like ribbons, glitter or small ornaments. So let’s dive in and make these cute DIY wood Christmas trees!

Supplies Used for DIY Small Wooden Christmas Trees

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• 6″ Foam Cone
• 9″ Foam Cone
• 12″ Foam Cone
• Black or Brown Paint
• Paint Brush
• Driftwood Chips
• Hot Glue
• 1/2″ Wood Dowel
• Small Wood Slices
• Small Saw (optional)
• 1/2″ Drill Bit and Drill (optional)

Here are some more oval wood slices that I found around the web! I tried to find wood slices that are small like these driftwood slices used on these Christmas trees. ( I haven’t bought any of these, but they look like great substitutes!)

• Unfinished Wood Slices
• Wood Log Slices

You could also use tiny little branches from your yard to create a fun rustic look! Seriously, there are so many options with these small wooden Christmas trees!

Paint Foam Cone Trees

Get your foam cone trees and paint them with black or brown paint. The type of paint isn’t very important here. We just want the cone to be a dark color to blend in with the wood. Just make sure to cover the entire cone and let the paint dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Glue Driftwood Chips to Foam Cone Trees

Glue the driftwood chips onto the base of the foam cone, keeping the center of the chip with the edge of the base of the cone. Space the driftwood chips evenly so you don’t have a gap when you get back to the first piece of driftwood.

Layer the next row of driftwood over the bottom layer. Build the layers all the way up to the top of the Christmas tree. Place a broken piece of driftwood in the top of the foam to help support the top row of driftwood chips.

Make Base for Foam Cone Trees

To make a sturdy base for your foam cone trees, you’ll need to cut wooden dowels into short lengths (no more than 6″ long). You can find wooden dowels at most craft stores or home improvement stores. If you don’t have a saw, you can ask the staff at the store to cut the dowel for you into the desired length.

Next, drill holes into small wood slices using a 1/2″ drill bit or one that is the same size as your dowel. This will allow you to insert the dowel into the slices and form a sturdy base. Make sure the dowel fits snugly into the hole.

Then glue your dowel into the wood slice, then glue your wood slices together. Push the wood dowel into the bottom center of the foam cone. Make sure it’s as straight as possible and then glue it into place.

And that’s it! You now have your very own rustic driftwood Christmas trees you can display on your mantel, shelf, or as part of a holiday centerpiece. These trees would also make great gifts for friends and family who love farmhouse decor.

Tips for Making Small Wooden Christmas Trees

You can also get even more creative to create your own unique set of trees. Check out these other ideas for inspiration:

Choosing Foam Cones

I added the base to these trees to make the 6″ Christmas trees different heights. The different heights are more pleasing in any decor! If I were to do these again, I would purchase 3 different sizes of foam cones instead of 2. A 6″, 9″ and a 12″ cone. Then I wouldn’t add the little dowels and wood slices.

Here are driftwood Christmas trees that come in different sizes if you’re looking for something eco friendly, stylish, and rustic.

How to Place the Driftwood Chips

The bottom row of the driftwood chips was laid opposite of the rest of the chips. If you look closely, the beveled edge is hidden on the bottom row, but on the edge shows on the bottom of the chips on the rest of the rows. This helps the driftwood Christmas tree limbs lay better.

Optional Christmas Tree Base

The little base with the dowels and the wood slices are totally optional! I love the driftwood trees without them, and with them! I needed a way to make my trees different heights, so I added the bases.

Large Wood Slices Vs Small Wood Slices

There are large wood slices and small wood slices available in store and online. I grabbed both because that’s all they had in store. I mostly used the small wood slices, but I used some large wood slices on the top of the tallest Christmas tree. If you look closely, you’ll see some wood slices that are longer. You could use the long ones or the shorter ones! I really like the look of the shorter ones.

Here are more adorable and charming small wooden Christmas trees you can make! You can also check out our list of DIY wood Christmas trees for more inspiration in making a truly unique and eye catching centerpiece.

Making wooden Christmas trees is really fun and you can do it with your entire family. Gather everyone and make this wood Christmas tree DIY too!

Pair these trees up with rustic Christmas decor and farmhouse Christmas decor like this DIY farmhouse Christmas wreath for a welcoming and nostalgic atmosphere. And if you want, add a dash of humor to your festive decor with these funny Christmas signs that will have your guests in stitches.

So place these small wooden trees on your TV stand, as a centerpiece on your dining table, on your fireplace mantle, or on a shelf in your home. They can be placed in your living room, kitchen, bedroom or seriously anywhere in your home especially this Christmas season.

Driftwood Christmas Trees

Yield: 3 wood Christmas trees

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $30

Print

Materials

• 6" Foam Cone
• 9" Foam Cone
• 12" Foam Cone
• Brown Craft Paint
• Hot Glue
• Driftwood Chips
• 1/2" Wood Dowel
• Small Wood Slices

Tools

• Paint Brush
• Small Saw (optional)
• 1/2" Drill Bit and Drill (optional)

Instructions

1. Get your foam cone trees and paint them with black or brown paint. Make sure to cover the entire cone and let the paint dry completely before moving on to the next step.
2. Glue the driftwood chips onto the base of the foam cone, keeping the center of the chip with the edge of the base of the cone. Space them evenly so you don't have a gap when you get back to the first piece.
3. Layer another row of driftwood over the bottom layer. Continue building layers all the way up to the top of the tree, using a broken piece of driftwood in the top for support.
4. Cut wooden dowels into short lengths and drill holes into small wood slices using a 1/2" drill bit. This will create the base for your trees.
5. Glue the dowel into the wood slice, then glue multiple slices together to form a sturdy base. Insert the dowel into the bottom center of the foam cone and glue it into place.
6. Now you have your own rustic driftwood Christmas trees to display in your home. These also make great gifts for friends and family who love farmhouse decor.

Notes

I used 3.5 bags of the driftwood chips for my 3 small wood Christmas trees.

I recommend using 6", 9" and 12" foam cones if you don't want to have a base on the Christmas trees. I used (2) 6" cones and (1) 12" cone.

Recommended Products

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• 
  6″ Foam Cone
• 
  Brown Paint
• 
  Hot Glue

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