Materials and the sequence of the job sit together on this page.
Learn how to build an ornament display tree to hold your go-to Christmas ornaments, following our direct woodworking plan. This straightforward triangle Christmas tree ornament holder looks great on a mantel or shelf.
Whether you display sentimental ornaments, vintage ornaments, or just a few of your go-to ornaments, this Handmade ornament display tree is a direct Christmas decoration to make for yourself or as a gift for friends or neighbors.
Handmade Ornament Display Tree
When we first teamed up with HerToolbelt in 2014 to design and build this Handmade ornament tree, we knew you’d like it, but now we know that you LOVE it as much as we do!
We put together a video showing the assembly process the direct triangle trees we built, which follow a very similar build process.
The video also shows how to use a jig to make irregular angled cuts, so watch that here and then scroll down to get the printable building plan to make your own ornament display tree (or two).
How to Make an Ornament Display Tree
(and how to cut a wide angle on a miter saw)
Subscribe to the Bekob YouTube channel for more great Handmade projects
open this to get the ornament tree woodworking plan PDF
Bundle and save! This plan is also available in the Wooden Christmas Tree Woodworking Plan Bundle. 4 plans, save 30% over buying individually!
Hello Bekob! I am Lorene, and I am thrilled to be making my first official appearance here at Bekob. I work here with Cassity and Justin behind the scenes and in the shop.
Between crafting spurts (like the Doctor Who themed Christmas tree I made, yes I’m a bit of a geek!) and keeping busy with my 5 little ones (with straightforward creative projects like this clearly straightforward Christmas ornament advent) — I do make time for an occasional weekend project — like today’s vivid (if I do say so myself) ornament display tree.
Handmade Ornament Tree for Vintage Glass Ornaments
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When my husband’s grandmother passed away, we were fortunate enough to inherit some of her striking and authentically vintage glass ornaments.
Besides being lovely, they hold many family memories, so they are cherished and priceless — and NOT going on my regular Christmas tree with my littles around!
I had been looking for a safe way to display my vintage glass ornament collection when I ran across this ornament tree from Crate and Barrel —
BUT… it’s no longer available in wood, only in metal. And I LOVE the rustic feel of the deep stained wood.
So I called up the solid Amy from Hertoolbelt and she worked up the plans for me and figured out all the tricky angles.
Justin made the cuts for me (see his detailed explanation of cuts and a walkthrough for creating a jig to make the non-standard cuts above in the video), and then it was up to me to turn this pile of wood and steel rod into something identifiable:
And trust me — if I can do this, anyone can do this! Just find a friend with a miter saw to make the cuts for you, and use a method saw and vice (or something else to hold it firmly) to cut the steel rod, and then it’s a direct as drilling a few holes and gluing and nailing/screwing/stapling things together.
I opted for glue plus staples at the corners and screws in the base, and it is nice and sturdy! It has even survived 3 moves fully intact and striking… with only one ornament injury, and that was at the hands of a curious and well-meaning 2 year old.
I stained mine with one coat of Minwax in Dark Walnut and then tied the ornaments on using thin jute twine.
Paired with our family heirloom angel, Sweet Angie, and one of dear Grandma’s nutcrackers, it makes a lovely festive and memory-filled vignette on my mantel.
Just follow the building plan below for the large or small ornament tree (or both!), and you, too, can have a striking ornament display — for MUCH less than buying it at Crate and Barrel! And you could easily leave this up all winter and display photos or other small decor items, too.
How to Build an Ornament Tree
open this to get the printable woodworking plan in the shop.
The printable building plan contains full instructions and detailed diagrams, including a cut list and materials list, to make a large ornament display tree (standing approximately 27″ tall, 19″ wide) and a small ornament display tree (standing approximately 16″ tall, 11.5″ wide).
The large wood tree features 5 ornament holder rods, for 12+ ornaments (of average sizes). The small wood tree features 4 ornament holder rods, for 10+ ornaments (of averages sizes.) Rod lengths and placement locations are included in the printed plans.
The 11-page printable PDF instructions also include how to make a jig to cut the accurate angle to make the triangle tree frame.
Build more sizes with our triangle tree woodworking plan, too!
Handmade Ornament Display Tree Materials
- 1″ x 2″ board (actual ~3/4″ x 1 1/2″)
- 1″ x 4″ board (actual ~3/4″ x 3 1/2″)
- 1/8″ x 48″ steel round rod
- Jump rings or ribbon/twine
- J-B weld
- wood glue
- 1 1/2″ brad nails
- 1 1/4″ screws (2 or 3)
- wood filler
- sand paper
- stain/paint
Note: Plans are provided for a Large Ornament Tree and/or a Small Ornament Tree. If you plan on making both, purchase an extra 1″ x 2″ board and 1/8″ steel rod.
Tools
- miter saw
- (optional) angle jig – building instructions included in the woodworking plan
- brad nailer (or hammer and finish nails, or staple gun)
- drill/driver
How to Use a Wooden Ornament Tree
While we designed this wooden Christmas tree to be an ornament holder, the possibilities are endless! Use it as an advent calendar with a bucket of ornaments for each day, clip Christmas cards or printable art to the rods, or skip the rods and hang some greenery (like mistletoe, mwah!) in the center of the triangle tree for straightforward Handmade Christmas decorating.
More straightforward Christmas decorations:
- printable Christmas decorations and ornaments
- straightforward Handmade chalkboard signs for Christmas
- dollar store Christmas tree decorating (times FOUR!)
This post was originally published on Dec 8, 2014. Last updated Nov 25, 2019.
