Beloved since the early 1600’s, our Christmas tree tradition is as classic as it gets. Classic doesn’t mean boring per se - but with hundreds of years of history under its belt, it seems high time for our favorite festive symbol to enjoy a little creativity.
We’ve spotted innovation on how to decorate a Christmas tree here and there: minimalist trees, tinsel trees, ones dressed in monochromatic white… Though, nothing has really given us the change we’ve been seeking - until now.
Behold the viral “floating tree” - the brainchild of LA-based artist Juan Reteria and multi-hyphenate content creator-interior design expert, Marco Zamora. And jump to the bottom for how to simplify this majestic effort.
No tree is complete without the perfect ornaments! Peruse my edit of the best Christmas tree decorations.
@want.zamora ♬ original sound - Marco Zamora
Marco initially thought to hold a tree with a shower rod - expanding it between his living room’s beams - thus allowing him to suspend the tree, sans nails or holes. Though, it was Juan who conceived the ingenious idea of a spiral-shaped tree, cascading down from ceiling to floor.
To achieve this innovative concept, the duo rolled chicken wire into a spiral. Next, they expanded three shower curtain rods in between Marco’s living room beams, finishing off the spiral structure with clear fishing line.
Price: $29.26
Was: $34.44
This tension curtain rod is quite similar to the one Marco used. Purchase three if you wish to execute the same technique.
Price: $15.98
Was: $19.98
We bet you weren’t expecting to buy chicken wire today. Yet, here we are! Roll tightly to form your spiral structure.
Price: $5.99
Was: $12.99
Fishing line is a decorator’s best-kept secret. With its translucent, barely-there appearance, it works wonders for hanging just about everything.
Now comes the fun part: decorating! The pair added different layers of pine trees for a forest-like look, adorning the foliage with jewel-toned flowers like amaranthus, orchids, and anthuriums. The finishing touch? A sprinkle of snow, “for the magic,” says Marco. Voila!
Price: $129
This ultra-luxe looking garland features long, feathery needles. Offering tremendous value, these nine-foot long strands come in a set of two.
Price: $42.99
Was: $49.46
This bundle of amaranthus is absolutely stunning. Preserved to last, you can decorate with the eye-catching herb for holidays to come.
Price: $15.95
Was: $23.95
Customers are raving about the realistic appearance of this faux snow. It comes in a sizable bag, leaving extra to sprinkle throughout your home. Consider adding to a wreath or alongside a candlescape for ample festivity.
Price: $17.99
Was: $18.99
Marco opted for merlot orchids, though we think white ones like these would look lovely, too. They’re faux, but appear incredibly life-like.
Price: $111.30
Was: $159
At 14" wide, this pine garland is about as lush as it gets. Its bendable wire stem is designed with maximum durability, allowing you to repurpose it for future creative holiday projects.
Price: $20.99
These faux anthuriums are just stunning. After your DIY, use as supplementary flowers for bouquets, or display in a vase on their own.
How to simplify the floating tree
Juan and Marco are professionals, so we understand that recreating the whimsical tree for yourself could feel quite daunting.
We spoke with DIY expert James Bryant at Cut My on how to simplify the "floating" tree-making process: “You could make this on a smaller scale, which could have just as much of a visual impact, while being a little more beginner-friendly, with less weight hanging from the ceiling - especially if you don’t have anywhere to put tension rods to support it.”
James adds, “Instead of creating the chicken wire frame, you could attach fishing wire to your ornaments, or foliage as he has done, as suspend them individually from the ceiling. You can recreate the spiral shape by hanging them at different heights, or make a more traditional Christmas tree shape by starting with the lowest ornaments in a circle, and work your way up to the top point, making the fishing wire shorter as you get further up the ‘tree.’”
There you have it! The tree of your dreams awaits.
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