A few rolls of ribbon on a Christmas tree can do more for its style than almost anything else you can buy. It is the fastest, most budget-friendly way to transform the tree: colorful, patterned, or full of sparkle, ribbon puts the finishing touch on your holiday decor that makes the whole room look professionally styled.
The tree-trimming experts at St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles put this guide together to answer the questions we hear at the ribbon wall every season: how much ribbon you need, which kinds work best, and how to place it. Decorated evergreens go back centuries (the history of the Christmas tree is worth a read), but ribbon remains one of the simplest upgrades there is.
Using Ribbon to Enhance Your Christmas Tree
Ribbon shows up on traditionally decorated Christmas trees, but it is not limited to a classic look. With the right widths and combinations you can design something completely personal, and change it every year without replacing a single ornament. Here is everything you need to know, including how much to buy and five ways to place it.
How Much Ribbon Do I Need for My Christmas Tree?
The most common question first. The amount depends on the tree, but for an average Christmas tree around 7 to 7.5 feet tall, these guidelines are a good place to start:
- Wider ribbon styles (about 4 inches wide): about 7 rolls
- Narrower ribbon styles (1 to 2 inches wide): 4 to 6 rolls
Many decorators use a wide style as the central focus and narrower styles as accents. If you prefer ribbon as a tree topper, plan on about 1 yard for a single-loop medium bow, 3 yards for a three-loop bow, and 5 to 7 yards for a larger tree-topper bow, including a few feet for the tails.
You can sharpen those estimates by asking a few questions:
- How tall is your tree?
- Is it slender, medium, or full?
- Do you want a dramatic look with lots of ribbon, or just a subtle touch?
- How will the ribbon go on: wrapped, cascading, or as bows?
Another decorator shortcut is to figure 2 to 3 yards of ribbon per foot of tree for a wrapped or cascading look, then round up to whole rolls based on the length each roll carries. A 7.5-foot tree at 3 yards per foot comes to roughly 22 yards, which is exactly why the 7-roll guideline for standard 10-foot rolls lands where it does.
Check the length printed on each roll before you buy. The most common roll length is 10 feet, but some designer ribbons run 5 feet, and some solid colors come in rolls up to 50 feet. Buy a little extra so you do not run short in the middle of decorating; leftovers are never wasted, because ribbon is half of good gift wrapping anyway.
What Kind of Ribbon Is Used on a Christmas Tree?
Wired ribbon is the workhorse. The thin wire along each edge lets you shape loops and waves that hold their position on the branches, which is what gives a professionally dressed tree its structure. Sheers add softness, velvets add depth, and patterns like plaid or snowflakes set a theme the rest of the tree can build on.
Ribbon is also a wonderfully inexpensive way to change the tree’s personality every year. Your cherished holiday ornaments stay the same while the ribbon shifts with new trends or tastes. St. Nick’s carries dozens of ribbon styles, from contemporary chic to vintage-inspired to traditional, so you can absolutely find your look here.
Decorating professionals also lean on accent mesh. About three rolls covers a 7.5-foot tree: tuck it into interior spaces to fill empty spots and add color and dimension, then decorate over it.
Choosing Colors and Themes
The easiest path to a cohesive tree is picking the ribbon first and letting it set the palette. Classic red, green, and gold never misses; silver and icy blue build a winter wonderland; buffalo plaid leans farmhouse; jewel tones read glam. If your ornament collection already has a strong personality, reverse the order and choose a ribbon that repeats one or two of its colors. The ribbon does not need to match everything on the tree. It needs to agree with it, and one repeated color is usually enough to make the whole tree look planned.
When to Add the Ribbon
Order of operations matters. Lights go on first, ribbon second, ornaments last. Placing the ribbon before the ornaments lets you shape it against open branches and tuck the ends deep into the tree, and the ornaments then hide any anchor points. If something looks off, adjust it now; ribbon is much harder to reshape once the ornaments are hanging.
Anchor as you go: start the ribbon at the top, secure the first end to a branch (a twist of the branch tip or a piece of floral wire both work), and step back every few loops to check the spacing from across the room. The view from the doorway is the one your guests get, so judge the tree from there rather than from six inches away.
Five Ways to Put Ribbon on a Christmas Tree
There is no wrong way to do this, but these five placements cover nearly every look:
- Wrap the ribbon around the tree like a garland, starting at the back of the top and spiraling down and around.
- Cascade ribbon down from the top in elegant vertical waves, tucking a twist into the branches every foot or so.
- Tie bows and place them throughout the tree for a sweet, spirited touch.
- Build one oversized bow as a stunning tree topper.
- Swap standard ornament hooks for narrow ribbon loops to upgrade the whole tree at a glance.
For a professionally styled look, run two or three widths together: a sheer and a solid in the same color reads understated, while a bold pattern like red plaid with coordinating solids makes a statement. A single style works too if you prefer minimal. If it is your first time decorating a Christmas tree with ribbon, expect a practice lap or two, and get the whole family involved; reshaping wired ribbon is half the fun.
Tree shape matters too. Slim and pencil trees favor vertical cascades, which draw the eye up and make the tree feel taller. Full trees carry wide garland-style wraps beautifully because there is depth to tuck into. Flocked trees pair especially well with velvet and rich saturated colors, where the contrast against the snow-white branches does most of the work for you.
Tree Decorating Necessities from St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles
Whether you are after holiday ribbons, personalized Christmas ornaments, or a brand-new artificial tree, St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles has everything you need to fill your home with festive cheer. Shopping at our famous Colorado Christmas store has been a tradition for generations of families, and you can shop the whole selection online as well.
Your holiday decor should be beautiful, meaningful, and true to your style, and affordable is always a plus. From vintage flair to traditional chic, our Christmas products come in every style imaginable. And because ribbon is the least expensive piece of the whole display, it is the easiest place to try something new each season without touching the collection you already love.
Find all of your seasonal necessities when you browse our full selection of holiday decor, gifts, and more. Visit our Christmas store in Denver or start shopping online now.
Frequently Asked Questions
For an average tree around 7 to 7.5 feet, plan on about 7 rolls of wide ribbon (around 4 inches) or 4 to 6 rolls of narrower styles. Check the length printed on each roll: 10 feet is common, but designer ribbons can run 5 feet and some solids come in 50-foot rolls. Buy one roll more than the math says.
Wired ribbon. The thin wire along each edge lets you shape loops and waves that hold their position on the branches, which is the difference between a styled tree and a draped one. From there, pick by texture and theme: sheers for softness, velvets for depth, plaids and prints to set the tone.
Lights first, ribbon second, ornaments last. Shaping ribbon against open branches is far easier, the ends tuck deep into the tree, and the ornaments then hide your anchor points. If the ribbon placement looks off, fix it before a single ornament goes on.
Use wired ribbon, work in generous loops instead of tight wraps, tuck a twist into the branches every foot or so, and vary the depth so some ribbon sits deep in the tree and some floats near the surface. Depth is the real trick: ribbon pressed flat against the outside reads as an afterthought.
Yes, and the pros usually do. Two or three widths together add visual interest: try a sheer and a solid in the same color for an understated look, or a bold pattern like red plaid with coordinating solids. Keep one ribbon dominant and let the others accent it so the tree reads intentional.
About 1 yard for a single-loop medium bow, 3 yards for a three-loop bow, and 5 to 7 yards for a large tree-topper bow, including a few feet for the tails that trail down into the tree. Wired ribbon is strongly recommended here so the loops keep their shape all season.
Accent mesh is an open-weave decorating material that decorators tuck into the interior of the tree to fill empty spots and add color and dimension before the ornaments go on. About three rolls covers a 7.5-foot tree. It is especially useful on slimmer or sparser trees.
Both work; they just read differently. Wrapping around the tree like a garland is the classic look and easiest to keep even. Cascading from top to bottom reads more modern and is forgiving for beginners because each strip is placed independently. On big trees, some decorators combine the two.
Usually, yes. Wired ribbon reshapes well: smooth it out, roll it back onto the spool or around a piece of cardboard, and store it flat and dry with your decorations. Pieces that are past their prime still earn their keep as gift-wrap accents and package bows.
Everywhere the tree look should carry: woven through garlands on the mantel or staircase, tied into wreath bows, wrapped around candle bases and lanterns, and on the presents themselves. Using the same ribbon on the tree and the gift wrap pulls the whole room together.
Find It at St. Nick's
St. Nick’s Christmas and Collectibles has been Littleton, Colorado’s Christmas store since 1976. Shop online, visit us in person, or call 1-800-875-8865 with any questions.
