A red and gold Christmas tree creates a classic, festive look that works beautifully with both traditional and elegant Christmas decor. In this post, I’ll show you how I decorated our artificial Christmas tree with red and gold ornaments, burlap ribbon, beaded garland, and a vintage-inspired angel tree topper. You’ll also find tips for layering ornaments, adding ribbon, and creating a beautifully balanced Christmas tree.

Our red and gold decorated tree graces the bonus room for everyone to enjoy. It’s a hang-out place when the house is full, so I want to always create a festive atmosphere during the holiday season.

It took me days to finally settle on decorating this tree in Red and Gold for Christmas this year. I don’t usually decorate my Christmas trees the same every year. Before I share the process for decorating this tree, take a look at this same tree when it was decorated in blue and white.

Visit my Christmas tree decorating page for more ideas, including theme trees.

How to decorate a red and gold Christmas Tree

What you will need

Preparing an artificial Christmas tree

I am using an artificial tree, which requires some preparation before decorating can begin. After putting the tree together, fluff and shape all of the branches. Most artificial tree branches have some amount of bendability to them that allows you to move them around a tad.

How do you make a Christmas tree look full?

Fluff the branches thoroughly before you begin decorating, then tuck some of the larger ornaments deeper into the tree. Placing ornaments at different depths helps fill empty spaces and gives your Christmas tree a fuller, more dimensional look.

If your artificial tree is older but still has plenty of life left in it, there is an easy way to fill in sparse areas. Wrap green garland that closely matches the color of the tree branches around the inside, concentrating on any bare spots you want to disguise. Since the garland will be tucked inside the tree and won’t be very noticeable, there is no need to spend much money on it. You can even find inexpensive garland at Dollar Tree.

Add Christmas tree lights first

After the fluffing, you are ready to begin decorating. If you do not have a pre-lit tree, add your lights first before any ornaments. Test them to make sure they all work. It is a terrible feeling to get your tree fully decorated only to find out there are light strings that don’t work.

How to add ribbon to a Christmas tree

If you are using pretty ribbon wrapped around your tree, it goes on after the lights and before the ornaments.

I used a burlap chevron ribbon for my red and gold tree. The burlap is a nice change of fabric, and the chevron adds a little fun pattern.

Choosing red and gold Christmas ornaments

Mix different ornament shapes and sizes

Use all types of ornaments for creativity and depth. I have used a lot of the traditional round-shaped Christmas ball ornaments, but have also included those shaped like bells, teardrops, angels, and other festive pieces.

I also added some ornaments that had other colors on them, but either red or gold is the predominant color.

How to layer Christmas ornaments for depth

Red and gold create a stunning combination of festive colors for the holiday season. Because you are mixing ornament patterns and sizes, you create beautiful layers of ornaments that show depth.

Start by sorting your ornaments according to size, color, and style. This will help you be able to visualize what you want the outcome of your decorated Christmas tree to look like.

Begin by hanging the larger ornaments first. They will serve as the foundation of your design. Place them strategically around the tree, ensuring they are spaced out to create balance and symmetry.

Don’t hang all of the ornaments on the ends of branches. Tuck some into the branches as well. Larger ornaments are great for hiding any ‘holes’ in your tree.

Adding garland and tinsel

After you have finished adding the ornaments, it is time for the garland and tinsel. Of course, garland and tinsel are optional.

I used a shiny red and gold beaded garland on this tree that I had in my stash of Christmas decorations.

Choosing a Christmas Tree Topper and Skirt

Where to find affordable Christmas ornaments

You can shop for Christmas tree ornaments year-round online. One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to visit a Christmas store and buy a new ornament that we can remember from that trip.

Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find ornaments. My pretty gold angel tree topper came from a yard sale for a whopping $1.

Always shop the clearance sales at the end of the season in late December for the best deals on new ornaments.

My $1 Angel Christmas Tree Topper

My angel tree topper was a happy find. It took me several years of searching for the perfect Angel tree topper that brought to life the childhood memories in my mind.

There are many Christmas tree toppers to choose from these days, but not many are angels, and they are far too expensive for the most part.

Amazingly, we found this one at a yard sale for $1! What a hoot that she checked all my boxes. She is perfect to top my Christmas tree, decorated in red and gold. Her porcelain head makes her a little top-heavy, but positioned just right, she stays in place.

Some of the Christmas balls on the tree are glass, but most of them are plastic. They remind me of childhood Christmas trees when all of the balls on the tree were made of glass, and they were just beautiful.

It is fun to give a nod to the vintage looks and style of Christmas trees I grew up with by using mostly round balls.

I love how this red and gold Christmas tree brings a traditional, festive feeling to our bonus room. Mixing red and gold ornaments in different shapes and sizes, adding burlap ribbon and beaded garland, and finishing it with my $1 angel tree topper created a Christmas tree that feels both classic and personal. Our grandchildren and family will feel the Christmas spirit with such a festive, decorated Christmas tree in the corner this year.

Quick Christmas tree decorating tips

• Start with lights before adding decorations.
• Add ribbon before hanging ornaments.
• Place larger ornaments deeper into the tree.
• Mix ornament shapes and sizes for visual interest.
• Use ornaments with small amounts of other colors to add dimension.
• Don’t put every ornament on the tips of the branches.
• Use garland sparingly so it doesn’t compete with the ornaments.
• Finish with a tree topper and skirt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What colors go well with a red and gold Christmas tree?

Red and gold pair beautifully with traditional Christmas colors. Depending on the look you want, you can also incorporate small amounts of green, white, ivory, burlap, or another accent color. I paired burlap ribbon with a red and natural color on this tree.

How do you decorate a red and gold Christmas tree?

Start with lights, followed by ribbon if you’re using it. Then add larger ornaments, smaller ornaments, garland, and finally the tree topper and skirt. Distribute decorations throughout the tree rather than placing everything on the outer tips of the branches.

What kind of ribbon looks good on a red and gold Christmas tree?

We like our Burlap chevron ribbon on this tree. Also consider that velvet, wired ribbon, and patterned ribbon can all work well. A red burlap ribbon, like the chevron ribbon used on this tree, adds texture and a casual traditional feel.

Where can you find inexpensive Christmas ornaments?

Christmas ornaments are something we tend to accumulate over time. Shop the Thrift stores, yard sales, end-of-season clearance sales, and Christmas shops for affordable ornaments. In recent years, I have found some beautiful ornaments at Walmart online and in the store.

The holidays can easily become overwhelming with so many things to do. I am sharing my Holiday Season Survival Guide. It includes tips from many years of experience hosting the celebrations in our home during the holiday season. I have included Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas.

More Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

• DIY Chilly The Snowman Ornament
• 21 DIY Christmas Ornaments To Start Making Now
• Bright Red & Green Elf Themed Christmas Tree
• Candy Cane Themed Christmas Tree
• The Easy Way I Make A Bow With Ribbon
• Mason Jar Lid Santa Ornament