When most people talk about trimming their Christmas tree, they mean festooning it with ornaments and lights. But when we trimmed our tree, we actually cut off about half its branches. And the point of doing that was to create space for plenty of ornaments.
For over a decade, we’ve had a fake tree to avoid dealing with dried, fallen needles on the floor.
But this year I remembered a Christmas tree from 2011 that inspired me to go “au natural.”
My inspiration was a Victorian style tree over at An Urban Cottage.
I didn’t want a fat, rounded tree. I wanted something a little more old fashioned
But I still wanted plenty of sparkle and bling. Cutting off branches made sense.
We found a Norway Pine at a local tree farm and cut it down.
When we got her home we cut off about half the branches.
I have to admit, I wasn’t brave enough to cut off as many branches as the inspiration tree.
After stringing the lights I loaded her up with ornaments.
I used landscape burlap for the skirt. No sewing required!
Gotta have a kitty cat ornament!
Several Santas are on the tree, along with plenty of vintage ornaments.
Strings of glass beads were draped ’round the tree.
A few snowmen make their appearance, too.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas as we remember the holy birth of Christ!
You can see our entire Holiday Home Tour here.
Hi! I'm Jennifer and I'm happy to have you here! I live where the suburbs meet the country, which affords me the best of both worlds. Come along on my journey where I share decorating, cooking, gardening and more as it relates to both city and rural life. 
I love your tree! I love all the vintage and colored ornaments. Very enchanting. Merry Christmas!
I adore your fresh old fashioned looking tree. This reminds me of the trees of past Christmas’. Most the ones today are extremely full. My only problem is that I’m allergic to any juniper family of trees so it’s a faux one for me. I’d like to find a faux tree that looks like the one you created.
Ann
Oh what a pretty tree. I would like a real tree :-/ But alas allergies.
But I can enjoy yours 🙂 The vintage ornaments are a treat as well.
Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Gee
Oh I love it what a great idea! I have pictures from my Grandparents trees from the 1940’s and I love the way it is thinner and the ornaments and tinsel hang so nice.
Merry Christmas!
Love your tree. Never thought about trimming branches but it does bring the focus onto the ornaments and other trimmings.
May you have a blessed Christmas.
Love it Jennifer…. and totally love your ornaments.
It’s already Christmas Eve here and we are getting ready for Carols by Candlelight.
Merry Christmas my friend,
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Oh my goodness, SO pretty.
What a great idea! We’ll have to do that next year. It’s so hard to find a tree that gives you enough “depth” to put all your ornaments – thanks!!
That is sooooo pretty. If I ever get another real one I must remember about cutting out some of the branches. The ornaments hang better that way.
Merry Christmas!
Jennifer,
You did GREAT job! It looks just like an old-fashionied Christmas tree you’d see in an old movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Isn’t it scary when you’re cutting? I cut out about 50 percent of the branches on a second tree I did this year and it’s amazing how natural it still looks. I’m very impressed with what you did.
Merry Christmas!
Steve
Estimada Jennifer y demás amigas bloggers que vivÃs tan lejos, pero a las que , sin embargo, os siento tan cerca : Os deseo que paséis una muy Feliz Navidad. Os mando un abrazo.
What a fantastic idea! It’s perfect to trim those branches.
Your tree looks beautiful, Jennifer! I can’t even tell that you’ve cut off branches, but I’m guessing the ornaments fill that in {which is probably the point}. : ) Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I so want all those vintage ornaments. Love them all, I think I am swooning:) I like a trees with branches far apart too. My hubby says I pick a Charlie Brown tree every year, the ugliest one in the forest. LOL Yours turned out so beautiful.
Beautiful vintage Christmas Tree. Love all those vintage ornaments and the pearl beeds strings.
Bye,
have a happy holiday,
Marian
Hi Jennifer! I see what you mean, your inspiration tree is magnificent! Yours turned out really good, it looks pretty. Did you see my feather tree in my last post? It reminds me of your inspiration tree. Take a look and let me know what you think. Merry Christmas! Gina
Beautiful tree Jennifer!! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
I love the look–it must have taken some brave action to do that trimming! My fake tree looses lots of needles now, because it is old. This year I had to make it fit in a smaller place so I left a few of the lower branches off and the remaining branches I bent a bit more upwards ;-). Have a blessed Christmas too!
You just can’t beat a real Christmas tree…gorgeous!
Cindy
Very pretty! Wish I’d known about cutting the branches. We’ve had real trees every year except this one when I finally got a fake white one!
Jennifer, Your tree is beautiful. I just love traditional trees.
I’m having a PINTEREST Social hop. I’d love for you to hop on over, grab a button and link up your Pinterest. If you don’t have Pinterest it’s ok, come link up your blog.
http://mydailyphotojourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/pinterest-party.html
I’m also looking for Pinterest Pinners to feature every week beginning in January. If you are on Pinterest and are interested in being featured come link up! Who knows you might meet some other great pinners and gain a few great ideas.
http://mydailyphotojourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/looking-for-pinners.html
Have a crazy beautiful week!
What a fabulous idea, Jennifer! I never would have dared cutting off some branches to make the tree look more airy and vintage. But it’s just perfect! It’s just beautiful…. 🙂 Hope you had a blessed Christmas day, my friend!
xoxo laurie
Your tree is just beautiful, Jennifer!
Oh you TRIMMED the tree! Well done as it is stunning:}
Just gorgeous!
Wishing you a happy and blessed new year.
Hugs,
Patti
It’s beautiful!
I may try the tree pruning thing next year. Yours looks great.
-Revi
Just found your blog through Nita’s. Thank you for the kind words to her. Although she and I do not know each other personally, I follow her through her words and photo’s and seem to know her heart as well.
Your tree is wonderful and I certainly hope your Christmas was the same.
May your new year be of health and such ease and peace….
Holiday hugs from Idaho
You took a chance by cutting branches off your tree, but the results are stunning!
I love the “Victorian” feel of the pine tree and your beaded garland – lovely!
Your ‘Victorian’ tree turned out beautiful. Love all the vintage ornies.
I just love your tree! 🙂
Love the tree, and the ornaments are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Karie
What a great idea to take some of the branches out. So much easier to decorate and it looks beautiful.
Happy New Year.
Audrey Z.
Timeless Treasures
Thank you Jennifer to visit my blog your decorations are simply perfect! I wish you an happy New Year!
very pretty!!
Love it!!! And definitely putting that tip on my “christmas tips and wants to do list” for next year. I think Frazier firs are so pretty but a spruce tree gives you lots more space to dangle the ornaments but I rarely see spruce trees on the lots around here. Your ornaments are just fabulous. Happy New Year
Jennifer, your trimmed tree is most gorgeous! My favorite trees are always the ones that look sparse and are festooned with old fashioned looking ornaments. I never seem to find those sparse trees and wouldn’t have thought of creating the look myself. I’m going to tuck away your post (pin it) and see if I can swing doing this next year. I absolutely love your tree. Glad you went natural rather than artificial this year. The result is beautiful.
Liz
Thank you for linking up to party. It will go live again this Monday and be a general decorating party. Hope to see you there.
Wow, very nice!
Happy New Year !
Kiss
Serena
What a gorgeous vintage tree! Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year!
Jody
Just divine!!! xxx
http://promisestokeepbeforeisleep.blogspot.co.uk/
I’ve been away from my favorite blogs for a couple of months and today am catching up. You know how, by the first week of January you’ve kind-of had enough of Christmas and are ready to pack it away and move on to the new year? Well, I thought I was there, until I looked at your gorgeous holiday decorated house photos today, and now I want to start all over again!! Yours truly has been my favorite of all the wonderful decorated homes I saw this year. You constantly inspire me with the beauty of your home. Happy New Year!
I love this tree, I tell everyone I’m very particular about my xmas tree. I’ve always loved yours and always will and will continue to decorate mine similar to yours
It turned out amazing Jennifer!! I will have to remember this for when we go live again.
4 years later but any advice for doing this?? I’ve always wanted to cut out branches too!!