How To Make Rustic Wooden Christmas Trees (DIY Holiday Decor)

How I Made A Wood Christmas Tree Out Of Scrap Wood

This holiday season, I decided to try my hand at this easy project I saw on Pinterest. This DIY is beginner-friendly and doesn’t require a tree pattern. You use whatever boards you have on hand. Because I have lots of scraps, I used some 1×2 strips I had left over from a previous project. This will make a small tree.

But you can make larger trees using a 2×6 board, which would be the perfect size for free-standing wood trees for the front porch. The size of the wood you choose determines the size of the wooden trees you make. If you can cut a 45 degree angle, you can make this project. 

If you’d like to see my inspiration for this project, CLICK HERE for a darling, simple outdoor wood Christmas tree. I may have to make this one for my front porch. 

For More Christmas Decor Inspo

• Wood Christmas Tree Made The Easy Way
• How To Make A Rustic Christmas Tree Door
• DIY Wood Shim Christmas Trees (Farmhouse Style)
• Wood Block Christmas Trees | Scrap Wood Craft
• 12 Best Wood Christmas Crafts To Make And Sell

STEP 1: Cutting The Wood

Decide how wide you want the base of your wooden Christmas tree to be. Look around inside your home to get an idea of your space and where you want to display it. Once that has been determined, and you know the size trees you want, it’s go time! 

There are precisely 9 pieces, including the base, for this wood Christmas tree project. 

Here are the measurements for my wooden Christmas tree, starting with the first bottom board (the longest) of the tree and going up. Each board was cut at a 45 degree angle at the long point, measuring 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and ending with 3 inches (triangle) that made the top point of the tree.

Be sure to carefully measure and mark each board with a pencil mark before cutting. Remember, the mark will be the long point on each board. 

The second cut on board #2 is the same as the first. And so on and so on. To make it easier, I flipped each board over to the opposite side before cutting the 45 degree angle instead of changing the angle on the saw with each cut.    

STEP 2: Cut The Base For The Wooden Tree 

For the base (bottom piece) of the DIY Christmas tree, I used a 1×4 and cut it 2 inches longer (14 inches) than the bottom of the longest board of the wood Christmas tree. 

The base will need to be a bit larger and longer to give your wood Christmas decor the stability it needs to stand alone, much like a shelf sitter without the tree trunk.

STEP 3: Lightly Sand The Wood

Once the boards are cut, giving them a light sanding with a 220 abrasive is best. I do this to knock off the rough edges caused by the saw and to give it a more finished look.

You can sand the old-fashioned way by hand or with an electric sander. I like the quick and easy method because I have the amazing SurfPrep Sanding System. It’s the best! 

STEP 4: Assemble The Wooden Christmas Tree

Lay all your boards on a flat surface. Do a dry run and assemble the wooden Christmas tree to ensure all your cuts and angles are correct before gluing. If it looks good, It’s time to glue. 

Using wood glue, start with the bottom piece of the wooden Christmas tree and add a small amount to the connecting pieces. 

If you are fortunate enough to have a large clamp, you can glue all the pieces together simultaneously. My clamps are smaller, so I glued mine in two sections and allowed them to dry before connecting them.

Don’t sweat the small stuff if you don’t have a wood clamp. Glue the wood pieces of the tree together on a flat surface, pushing the top piece against a solid structure and securing it with something heavy so that it doesn’t move. 

Wood glue dries super strong, and it will work fine for decor. Just don’t use it as a football at Christmas with your kiddos. #boymom

STEP 5: Stencil, Paint and Decorate

Now that you have your wooden Christmas tree assembled, you can leave it as is or decorate it to suit your style. Choose your favorite festive paint color, or you could even stain the wood for a farmhouse-style finish. 

But for mine? I used the Christmas Cheer stencil by Dixie Belle Paint Co., and the icing on the cake (so to speak) is this beautiful, white, fluffy texture (Sea Spray Paint Additive) I used to create a wintery snow-kissed topping. Here’s how I did it. 

Before you begin your stencil project, remove any sawdust that may be left over from sanding.

Secure your stencil across the wooden Christmas tree using painter’s tape.

Using the paint of your choice (I used Chalk Mineral Paint), dab a small amount on a sponge or stencil brush and gently dab the paint over the stencil. Be sure to use a minimal amount of paint because using too much paint can cause the paint to bleed under the stencil, especially if you’re using a wood surface that doesn’t have a super smooth finish. Less is more, and you can always apply more as needed.

If you have an oops, wait until the paint is dried, gently sand away the paint on the wood, and try again.

Wash your stencil immediately after use with warm, soapy water. Rinse with clear water and pat dry on a soft towel to reuse for future projects.

After the stenciled design is dry, attach the base with wood glue and use nails for additional strength. Nail through the bottom up into the base of the tree. You can also use screws.

If you don’t have nails or screws, no worries. I have many DIY wood projects in my home held together with only wood glue.

Hey, thanks for joining me today. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to create your very own wooden Christmas trees to add to your favorite Christmas decor.

I love sustainable projects like this that can be used for years to come.

Like this project? Let me know what you think, or just say hi in the comment section so that I know you stopped by. Don’t forget to share this with your woodworking bestie and then PIN this idea on your favorite Christmas Projects Pinterest board.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, y’all!

Until the next project… xo, Do