Sparse Christmas Tree Guide

Learn all about our slender, sparse Christmas tree that nestles into any space with ease. This pre-lit tree offers a magical glow and makes decorating a breeze! This is a sparse artificial Christmas tree look that you can enjoy for years to come.

Our skinny, sparse artificial Christmas tree might just be my favorite Christmas tree ever! It fits in beautifully with our warm and cozy minimalist home, and I’ve got tips and tricks for how to style it with love, plus shopping links for TEN of the cutest sparse trees on the market right now.

This post was originally published November 23, 2018 and updated with fresh content and links October 19, 2021.

Over the past few years, we’ve done a lot to make our cozy living room feel larger, including removing the built in wet bar. It sat directly behind the corner where this sparse Christmas tree is now located! See the full before and after of our St. Louis home.

We’ve also removed a wall between the foyer and living room, but the footprint hasn’t changed. It’s a small Neutral Living Room which demands a slim Christmas tree – and that works beautifully for our family!

Today’s post is dedicated to this charming sparse Christmas tree style, but you can read more about the Frame TV seen in these photos, along with our Fireplace Mantel, our Built in Bookshelves and Bookshelf Decor Ideas, and even our new Pottery Barn Sofas here!

Check out this gorgeous Sisal Rug, too, for more living room decor inspiration you’ll love.

A sparse artificial Christmas tree is perfect for small spaces, breakfast rooms, kitchens, and even bedrooms!

It has an alpine-inspired, mountain feeling that I just love. It shows ornaments off so beautifully because there’s so much room in between the layered branches.

Sparse Christmas Tree

Of course we all dream of grand spaces with high (coffered) ceilings, but it isn’t always a reality, so I chose a grand 7′ pre-lit sparse artificial Christmas tree that feels magical and is the perfect scale for the space.

It doesn’t overwhelm our living room but adds so much whimsy and charm!

This is no Charlie Brown sparse Christmas tree, my friends. It feels special, magical, and perfectly fitting for the style of our simple home.

This tree nestles perfectly in the corner between our living room and kitchen. It’s seen from the moment you walk into our home and because it’s a pre-lit tree, you can also get a glimpse passing by on the street.

A pre-lit tree is always magical with lights strung throughout each and every branch – which is difficult to achieve with a real tree.

I chose this 7.5′ Alpine Balsalm Fir and adorned it with pretty pink ornaments, jeweled Christmas tree garland, a starburst tree topper and platinum tree skirt.

How to Decorate a Sparse Artificial Christmas Tree

There’s an incredible variety of options for how to decorate your sparse Christmas tree! You can go opulent, as shown in these living room images. This tree allows every ornament, twinkling light and garland to truly shine.

Or, go equally minimal with a Scandinavian Christmas look, with less ornaments and glitz.

We’ve approached our sparse Christmas tree in three different ways over the last few years, as you’ll see below.

Glitzy Sparse Tree

The first year, we went glamorous! We used sparkling ornaments, bejeweled garlands, silk ribbons and more.

The pearl and crystal garlands drape so effortlessly and have a sweet little bell at the end. The glow of the lights of the pre-lit tree make them twinkle.

I also tied a few silk bows to the ends of branches throughout for a touch of effortless elegance. Don’t forget to come over and see how this Christmas tree looks all lit up at night in our nighttime Christmas tour!

Minimalist Sparse Christmas Tree

We’ve also used this sparse Christmas tree in our Christmas bedroom! When we used it in this space, I knew it would need very minimal decorating to feel warm and special.

So with that in mind, we added only the crystal garlands from our glitzy tree year, swagging them from branch to branch as casually as we could.

Didn’t it turn out just beautiful? As much as I love an over the top Christmas tree, this one might be my favorite look of all!

Scandinavian Christmas Tree

Most recently, we used our sparse Christmas tree at our lake cottage. (See the full before and after of our lake home here!)

I created a Scandinavian Inspired Christmas, using tons of soft velvety blues, creams, raw wood garlands and aged brass. It felt natural, soft and beautiful, reflecting the view of the water through our living room windows.

The sparse Christmas tree felt equally at home in this setting, because we treasure our calming view and the minimalist, Coastal Modern style we’ve embraced here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sparse Christmas Tree Sources

I absolutely love real trees; however, given my job I tend to decorate a couple weeks prior to Thanksgiving and they just don’t last through Christmas.

Here’s 10 of my very favorite charming sparse Christmas trees, if you’re in the market for one this year!

1. Our 7.5′ Alpine Balsalm Fir (as pictured in this post, 7×5 foot pre-lit)
2. The flocked version of our tree
3. 7.5′ Green Fir Artificial Christmas Tree with 450 Clear/White Lights
4. Bed Rock 7′ Pine Artificial Christmas Tree
5. 6.5 foot Sparse Norwegian Pine
6. Faux Pre-Lit Big + Bright Noble Fir
7. Aspen Flocked 7.5′ White/Green Fir Artificial Christmas Tree with 700 Warm White Lights
8. 24 inch miniature pre-lit sparse Christmas tree (just $27.99 shipped – so cute!)
9. Vickerman Unlit Sparse Tree
10. 6 foot Alpine Pre-lit
11. Faux Silvertip Fir

Let the season begin! How are you decorating for the holidays this year?

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• Cedar Garland
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• Scandinavian Christmas Decorations
• The Best Christmas Cocktails
• 50+ Christmas Recipes
• Fairy Light Trees
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• Christmas Cocktails
• 50+ Christmas Cookie Recipes