DIY Network

Creative Christmas Trees Find new ways to display your holiday tree.

Michele Beschen shakes things up—and turns them upside down and hangs them off the wall. At least, that's what happens when she's working with Christmas trees. Scroll down for some of her more creative ideas on how you can B. Original with this year's tree.

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Figure A

Wall-Mounted Tree

• To hang an artificial tree on the wall, flatten it out on one side.

• Hang the tree using tube straps, which are sold alongside copper pipe and tubing (figure A). Fit the tube strap around the trunk of the tree and screw it into the wall .

• Depending on the tree's base, you may be able to remove the feet and install it to make it look like it's coming out of a sconce-like pocket in the wall (figure B). Or, you can leave the base as it is and cover it with some type of drape or skirt (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Upside-Down Trees

• Another way to mix up your holiday décor is to hang some artificial trees upside down from the ceiling or from a chandelier. Michele Beschen likes to do this with small artificial trees secured in decorative plastic pots.

• Fluff the tree out before hanging.

• Drill two small holes at opposite ends of the bottom of the pot. Screw eyebolts into the holes and reinforce with glue.

• Hang the tree using monofilament that is rated for the weight of the tree. Thread the monofilament through the eyebolts and hang from the chandelier, overhead lights or ceiling.

• Add some ornaments (figure D), and you've turned holiday decorating upside down!

• Upside-down Christmas trees are practical as well as fun: They get the tree up off the ground, a major plus of you're short on floor space. And some cat owners hang their trees upside down because their fluffy friends climb and knock over trees displayed on the floor.

Emergency Tree

• If you're in a pinch and need a tree fast, head outside with your hand saw. Cut off a branch—from any kind of tree—that has several smaller branches coming off of it.

• Put the branch in a pot and fill with some play sand to weigh it in place.

• Spray paint the branch a fun, festive color and add some sparkles, snow or glitter to the smaller branches.

• This is a simple, inexpensive way to create a nontraditional tree for the holidays. You can even leave it out all year long—just change the hanging décor to match the seasons.

	Figure E
	Figure F

B. Original with Ornaments

• If you’re looking for something a little edgier in the way of holiday tree trimmings, lightweight chain makes a good garland. Solder or armature wire can make for whimsical sprays.

• For a more organic look in your ornaments, use small log slices. Cut small logs into 1/2" wide discs, then add a small eyebolt and some ribbon to each (figure E).

• Make tiny snowglobes from aqua tubes, which are available wherever florist supplies are sold. Fill the tubes with some water and add glycerine, glitter or any other object you'd like to have float in the tube. Before putting on the lid, slide an ornament hanger through the hole in the lid and twist to secure. Put the lid on the tube and seal the lid and the hole in the ld with a little silicone caulk. Give the tube a good shake, and you have a slender little snowglobe for the tree (figure F).