We’re back with the second half of our tree-decorating adventure, sped up and set to a little festive music to get you in the mood. In the previous post we showed the video of us setting up our pre-lit artificial tree and discovering that one strand of lights near the center wasn’t working. Fixing it was simple: we listened for the faint buzz, swapped in a spare bulb that came with the tree, and got the lights glowing again. Then came the ornaments.
This year we decided to stray from our usual white, glass, and silver palette and try something brighter. Maybe it was an odd pregnancy craving for citrus, but suddenly I was craving bold oranges, lime greens, and sunny lemon yellows. That craving turned into a color scheme: a citrus-themed Christmas tree. We mixed store-bought ornaments with inexpensive DIY pieces to pull the look together, and the result felt playful, fresh, and festive.
We picked up lots of orange and lime green ornaments—many were clearance finds—and supplemented them with handmade accents to reinforce the lemon-and-lime vibe (a nod to the theme from our backyard wedding). The bright orange elements really popped against the green tree and gave the whole room a cheerful, modern twist on holiday color.
One of our favorite DIY ideas was drying real citrus slices to use as ornaments. John suggested it, and he deserves credit for the clever idea—he’s often the brain behind these projects. Dried citrus brought a natural, warm touch to the tree and cost almost nothing: just a couple of oranges and a few lemons from the grocery store.
The process was simple. We sliced the fruit into roughly quarter-inch rounds and baked them on a cookie sheet at a low temperature. If you have a cooling rack, use that; we didn’t, so a cookie sheet worked fine. Bake at 225–250°F for two to three hours, checking frequently so they dry instead of burn. Propping the oven door open occasionally helps release steam so the slices dehydrate rather than singe.
After a few hours we had beautifully dried orange slices that looked fantastic on the tree. The lemon slices were a little less consistent—some dried unevenly and the seeds were more visible—so for a uniformly attractive result we recommend oranges over lemons. That said, some lemon slices dried like translucent stained glass and made lovely ornaments, so they weren’t wasted.
We hung the dried fruit on simple silver ornament hooks to let them dangle in front of the lights. When positioned a few inches in front of a white bulb, the slices took on a warm, glowing effect that was especially pretty. This project gave us dozens of unique ornaments for just a few dollars and became a fast favorite.
As a bonus tip, dried citrus can sometimes deter curious cats from climbing the tree, so if you’re dealing with feline tree challenges, these ornaments might help protect your display.
To boost the lemon tones even more, we bought two large tubs of faux lemons and wired them onto branch tips so they looked like they were perched on the ends of the tree. We used inexpensive green craft wire, cut into V-shaped pieces, pushed into each foamy lemon, and wrapped the wire around branch tips to secure them. The effect is playful and almost edible-looking—perfect for the citrus theme.
We also repurposed some decorative green pears purchased as vase filler. By tying a loop of silver ribbon around the stem of each pear, we transformed them into hanging ornaments. They weren’t citrus, but their shape and color fit the edible, fresh aesthetic while adding another layer of texture and interest.
Altogether the tree combined store-bought sparkle with natural and faux fruit accents—dried citrus, wired faux lemons, and tied pears—to create a cohesive citrus holiday tree. The bold color choices blend well with our living room, especially with the lemon-yellow rug, and bring a bright, happy energy to our home during the season.
We’ll be sharing more seasonal decorating posts and a roundup of affordable holiday gift ideas soon. But we’d love to hear from you: do you have a new color scheme you’re excited to try this year, or a beloved theme that makes you smile each season? Are you someone who prefers a perfectly themed tree, or do you celebrate chaos with popcorn garlands and candy cane ornaments? Tell us about your holiday decorating traditions and ideas.
Update: We’ve shared a collection of favorite holiday decor finds and budget-friendly pieces in another post, so if you’re hunting for ideas, you might enjoy that roundup.