Bored of the familiar old bottle green tree shedding needles in the corner year after year? Worried about the environmental impact of chopping down a fir for the festive season? Here are 19 alternatives to the traditional Christmas tree.

1. The fake tree:

These days fake trees can be as realistic or outrageous as you like. You can buy them with decorations already stuck on, adorned with fibre optic lights in an assortment of colours and made of a variety of different materials. Trends for these trees come and go, in the 1930s aluminium covered branches were all the rage; Over the millennium Christmas trees got the silver treatment and this Christmas blue lights and decorations are all the rage.

Edible

The big seasonal cleanup would be a lot easier if we could eat the evidence.

2. Chocolate:

A chocolate Christmas centre-piece is the ultimate extravagance. Chocolate fountains are fantastic for a one-off party or on a special occasion but if you’re not a fan of them then why not make a display of attractively packaged chocolate bars, candied fruit or sweets to tempt your guests. Check out the 11 feet tall Ferrero Roche Christmas tree in Covent Garden for super-sized inspiration.

3. Fruit:

For a healthier (but shorter-lived) option, make an attractive display of fruit. Use a large glass bowl wrapped with a bow and in it combine clementines, oranges, red and green apples, chestnuts and walnuts for a vibrant display.

4. Gingerbread:

You can’t help but be drawn in by a gingerbread house. You can buy one ready to assemble from Ikea’s food department or make your own with help from the recipe on Martha Stewart’s ‘How-to’ blog.

5. Yule log:

Popular all over Europe in the 20th century, Yule logs or blocks were traditionally brought in from the local area on Christmas Eve and lit from the remnants of the previous year’s log. As well as keeping the home warm, it was considered a symbol of good luck. If you don’t have your own hearth to keep you warm, why not make a chocolate log instead (Mary Cadogan’s recipe on BBC Good Food is a great one).

Living wood

You can still bring some living greenery into your home on a small scale without uprooting a fir tree.

6. Mistletoe:

A traditional symbol of male fertility, it’s well-known that two people who meet under a branch are traditionally obliged to kiss. Of course the 18th century custom of bringing big boughs of mistletoe inside is now rarely followed because of the poisonous trait of the plants berries. However, pre-prepared boughs can be purchased from some Christmas tree vendors.

7. Bonsai:

Why not make your tree a year-long gift. Bonsai trees can be bought at most garden centres and when decorated with miniature baubles they can bring the festive spirit into the smallest home or office. When the season’s over, the Bonsai can become a regular feature of your living space.

8. Pot plant:

You’ve probably already got plenty of leafy plants around the house. Why not promote one to Christmas tree status! Give it a good drink of water to perk it up and decorate according to its shape and size.

9. Living fir tree:

If you’re desperate to continue the old tradition of a live tree, why not keep it alive all year round and then re-use it next year. Potted trees tend to be smaller than the average Christmas tree but you won’t suffer the same problems with needles in the carpet and you’re doing the environment a favour.

Recycled

10. Beer bottle tree:

Perhaps one for the students. Why not collect up all of those empty Stella or ‘Bud’ bottles and put them to good use? Carefully arrange the bottle in a pyramid formation as you drink them and then decorate the top with a pizza-box star.

11. Cardboard:

Collect up cardboard or paper from your household waste and have a go at making your own decorations. Cut star shapes out of cereal boxes, spray silver and fix to the ceiling with wrapping-ribbon, hey presto – you’ve got your very own Christmas night sky.

Traditional displays

Of course there’s no need to have a tree at all, you could make a Christmas focal point around another seasonal item by putting it in a prominent position in the home.

12. Stockings:

Traditionally hung over the fireplace or at the end of the bed why not make your own stocking or re-decorate your current one. Find a prominent position for it in your home, (if you don’t have a fireplace how about dedicating some wall space). The more the merrier, you could experiment with stockings of different sizes or make a long line of similar ones.

13. Scenes:

The nativity scene is most commonly seen in churches and religious centres but why not have your own at home? It’s a great way of sharing the traditional Christian meaning of Christmas and it can be a great activity to share if you have kids to entertain. Why not buy some coloured clay and make the figurines together.

14. Windows:

As a child there was nothing I liked more at Christmas than seeing the lit up windows of local homes as we delivered our Christmas cards around the neighbourhood. It doesn’t have to be garish and loud, but decorating your window can be a lovely way of creating Christmas cheer. You can use a multitude of decorations to adorn your window; snow spray, tinsel, hand-cut snowflakes or fairy lights for example.

15. Advent:

Shops thrive at Christmas selling chocolate advent calendars to mark the countdown to Father Christmas’s big day but there are so many unusual ideas that could make excellent Christmas tree alternatives. Why not pimp your calendar? Make a wall-sized calendar with sheets of cardboard and hide jokes, photos or (if you still crave your sugar fix) even small bags of sweets behind them.

16. Christingles:

Another Christian symbol, (a large orange with a candle in the top) makes a fragrant and attractive temporary display. You may remember them from carol services as a child. To be traditional, add a red ribbon around the middle and skewered fruit. Place a few together on a heat-resistant plate.

For the smaller home

Perfect for a smaller home, two-dimensional decorations take up zero floor space and utilise empty surfaces.

17. Wall stickers:

Also known as decals, (in the US) wall stickers are effective and are made of peel-able vinyl which means easy cleanup. You can buy patterns with carol lyrics, pictures of snowmen and many more. Look on craft site Etsy for the best of the bunch but if you’re ordering from abroad be quick if you want to receive it by the big day!

18. Wreath:

Usually hung on the front door of a house why not make a feature of an attractive or over-sized wreath on the wall.

19. Collage:

Put together memories of previous Christmasses with a photograph montage. Photocopy and glue together photographs of friends, family and seasonal celebrations on pin them to a cork board. Pin fairy-lights or tinsel around the edge to add some sparkle.

Warning:

Be especially careful with candles and naked flames – especially around children, pets and home furnishings. Take due care.