Make your own outdoor Christmas tree

DIY Wooden Outdoor Christmas Trees: Because Regular Trees Are So Last Season

Are you tired of dragging a sappy, sticky, pine needle-spewing tree into your house every year? Or maybe your outdoor Christmas decor is looking more “meh” than magical? Well, friend, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, grab some wood (and maybe a hot cocoa), and craft your very own DIY wooden outdoor Christmas trees! They’re chic, customizable, and, best of all, don’t require cleaning up pine needles until Easter.

Let’s get to work and make your yard the envy of the neighborhood—because if you’re going to do Christmas, you might as well win Christmas.

Why Make a Wooden Outdoor Christmas Tree?

First, let’s address the obvious: real outdoor Christmas trees are fine…if you’re into cold trips to the tree farm and the constant threat of squirrels setting up camp in your yard. But wooden trees? They’re the gift that keeps on giving!

Money saving: Christmas decorations can be cha-ching, but these trees are made from cedar balusters which rang in at $2 per baluster, or $4 per tree! (2″x2″x48″)

Weatherproof and reusable: No worrying about frost or fading—these babies are built to last.
Customizable size and color: Want a pink tree? A 12-footer? Done.
Eco-friendly: Reuse your wooden tree year after year without the guilt of cutting down a living one.
Totally Instagram-worthy: Add some string lights, and you’ve got a Pinterest masterpiece.

Where the inspiration came from:

I came across this photo months ago and screenshot it to remind me to try to make them. As you’ll read, the trees in the photo are made of metal and stand at 7′ and 5′ tall – perfect for the grandeur of this house, but a bit tall for my little one-storey

What You’ll Need to Build Your DIY Wooden Outdoor Christmas Trees

Before we dive in, gather these supplies: (some of these are Amazon affiliate links to the products I use. For full affiliate disclosure, please see the bottom of the page)

Wooden balusters – cedar will patina beautifully over the years, but pressure treated are cheaper (time to raid your garage or befriend a lumberjack)
A mitre saw (manual or power—depending on how hardcore you want to feel)
Sandpaper (because splinters are not festive)
Outdoor paint or wood stain in your preferred holiday colors
Screws, nails, or wood glue
A drill or screwdriver
Decorations like lights, ornaments, or even a faux star for the top

Optional: A playlist of Christmas bangers to keep the vibes merry and bright.

How to Build Your Outdoor Wooden Christmas Tree

Step 1: Plan Your Design

I wanted my tree to look like a classic triangle (simple and sleek) and knew that I wanted it to stand on my existing outdoor planters. To get the maximum height from my 48″ balusters, but still stay within the 16″ footprint of the planter, I had to figure out some angles. Sketch it out or, if you’re a “wing it” type, just go for it. (I “winged it” about 6 times before getting it right lol)

Step 2: Cut Your Jig

Measure and cut your wooden boards to form the tree’s shape. Triangles are the go-to, but if you want to get fancy with curves or layers, go for it. Just remember: math is optional, but symmetry is not.

I cut some scrap plywood to cut a 60° angle to use as a jig.

Step 3: Cut Your Balusters

With the mitre saw set at 50°, AND the jig which accounts for another 60°, I very carefully cut the tops of the balusters.

Step 4: Cut Your Base

Set the tops (cut ends) of your balusters together to form the top of the tree, then measure down each side and mark at the same length.

Use a scrap bit of wood and line up the marks to give you the angle of your next cut lines.

You know I don’t know the math on triangles, but for my trees, the bottom angle ended up being right around 8°.

(which doesn’t seem right because all three angles of a triangle should equal 180° right? I have no idea, but it worked)

Step 5: Assemble Your Masterpiece

Screw, nail, or glue your tree parts together. Pro tip: If you’re using screws, pre-drill holes to avoid splitting the wood (or your holiday spirit). I drilled 2″ deck screws to connect the tree points together, then drilled up from the bottom of the base into the tree.

Step 6: Decorate

Add outdoor fairy lights, baubles, or even a garland. Go big or keep it minimalist—it’s your yard, your rules!

Step 7: Placement

Front yard statement piece: Perfect for wowing your neighbors.
Porch decor: Flank your front door with twin trees for a symmetrical holiday touch.
Garden corners: Bring a little cheer to those overlooked nooks.

Wherever you put it, make sure it’s visible from the street—you’re basically the Clark Griswold of wooden trees now.

You could stake these into your garden, or attach them to your deck, but I wanted the inspiration photo – which meant finding a way to attach them to my planters. I had originally planned to screw the base right into the planter itself, but after a bit of trial and error, I found that tucking some scrap wood inside the lip of the planter…

Then screwing down from the base of the tree into the scrap wood, I created a “pinch” that holds it in place perfectly without any damage to the planter!!

I love it when a plan comes together… after I try everything else first. lol

Amp up the Pretty

These are GORGEOUS at night, but needed a little “sumpin sumpin” (trying to be cool here) for the day. I brought out my Christmas sled, then tucked in some greenery at the base and now I think they are PERFECT!

A Final Pep Talk

Making your own DIY wooden outdoor Christmas tree might sound ambitious, but trust me, you’ll be the talk of the town. Plus, every time someone admires your handiwork, you get to say, “Oh, this? I made it.” And isn’t that the real reason we DIY – outside of champagne tastes and beer budgets I mean?

So grab your tools, channel your inner elf, and get to work. Your outdoor Christmas decor deserves an upgrade, and a wooden tree is the ultimate way to deck the (outdoor) halls in style.