A bent little tree with one bright red ornament on top has somehow become one of the most recognizable holiday decorations of the last few years, and it costs almost nothing to make yourself.
The diy grinch christmas tree trend took off because it’s genuinely simple — a live cypress or an artificial tree, some wire or zip ties to curve the trunk, and one pop of color at the tip is really all it takes. Whether you want a living plant that doubles as decor or a permanent wooden version for your porch every year, there’s a version of this project that fits your budget and your skill level. Here are fifteen ways to make your own this holiday season.
1. Classic Bent Lemon Cypress Tree
The original version of this trend starts with a live lemon cypress, which already has a nice, narrow shape and a fresh citrusy scent that fills a room. Plant it at a slight angle in a colorful pot rather than straight up, then wrap green floral wire around the trunk from bottom to top, looping it about an inch apart as you go. Bend the top section into a soft curve once the wire is in place, then wrap back down to the base so the loops cross for extra hold. A single bright ornament clipped to the very tip gives the whole tree its signature lean. Best of all, the wire comes off after the season and the tree can go straight into the ground.
2. Tabletop Potted Version With Moss and Lights
For a slightly more finished tabletop display, add a layer of decorative moss over the soil once your tree is planted at an angle. Wind a strand of battery-powered lights around the trunk starting at the base, then follow the same path back down with a length of ribbon or wire for a garland effect. Tuck the loose ends in as you go so nothing hangs loose. One oversized ornament at the top, angled to hang down toward the pot, finishes the classic silhouette. A festive bow tied around the pot itself is the small detail that makes the whole thing look intentional rather than thrown together.
3. Wooden Board Cutout Version
If you’d rather have a permanent piece than a live plant, cutting the shape from wood is a sturdy alternative that holds up outdoors year after year. Cut a pine board into graduating angled lengths, sand the edges, then glue and screw the pieces together in order from longest to shortest so they fan out into the familiar lopsided tree shape. Stain the wood first so a bit of color peeks through once it’s painted, then brush on a bright, uneven coat of paint for a slightly rustic, hand-painted look. A small wooden star glued at an angle near the top and a coat of antiquing wax to seal it finish the project.
4. Dollar Store Artificial Tree Hack
For a version that costs next to nothing, two inexpensive artificial trees from a budget store can be combined into one. Use a taller tree as the base and a smaller tabletop tree as the top section, bending the smaller tree’s internal wire frame slowly with pliers to get that curved, lopsided shape. Zip tie the two pieces together where they meet, trimming the excess ends so nothing shows. A full can of spray paint in a bright green covers both trees evenly, and one single red ornament at the top completes the look for a total cost of well under twenty dollars.
5. Cedar Bough Version (Non-Living Alternative)
Instead of a living plant, some versions of this trend use bundled cedar or fir boughs shaped over a simple frame, which skips the ongoing watering that live cypress needs. Bundle several boughs together at the base and wire them into a loose cone shape, bending the top section over to one side the same way you would with a live tree. This version tends to be simpler for anyone who’s had trouble keeping a potted cypress alive indoors, and it can be composted at the end of the season instead of needing aftercare like a living plant would.
6. Colorful Painted Wood Trees
Once you’ve built the basic wooden cutout shape, painting it is where the real personality comes in. Skip a single solid color and instead paint each board a slightly different bright shade — teal, magenta, mustard, deep purple — for a genuinely whimsical, almost candy-colored effect. Brush the paint on unevenly rather than smoothly so a bit of the stained wood shows through underneath, which keeps the finish looking hand-done rather than factory-perfect. A cluster of these in different color combinations lined up along a porch rail makes for a much bolder display than a single tree on its own.
7. Mini Gift-Giving Version
A small tabletop version of this tree makes a genuinely memorable gift, especially for someone who could use a little extra holiday cheer. Keep the pot small enough to fit easily in a car or on a counter, and skip anything too delicate that might not survive a trip. A simple ribbon around the pot and one ornament at the top are really all it needs, since the shape itself does most of the work. Bringing one to a friend or leaving it on a neighbor’s porch is a small gesture that tends to get a much bigger reaction than the effort it took to make.
8. Trio of Trees for the Porch
Once you’ve made one, a matching set of three in graduating sizes makes a much bigger visual statement for an entryway or porch. Line them up unevenly rather than in a perfectly straight row, with the tallest one slightly behind the other two, so the grouping feels more like a little forest than a matched set. Using the same ornament color across all three ties the group together even if the trees themselves vary in height or material. This is a good next project once you’ve gotten comfortable with the basic bending technique on a single tree.
9. Wire-Wrapped Garland Detail
The wire wrap itself is worth paying attention to, since it’s what gives this style its signature texture. Choose a wire color that either blends into the greenery or stands out as its own decorative element — a metallic gold or red wire reads as an intentional garland rather than just a structural support. Space the loops evenly, about an inch apart, and keep the tension consistent as you wrap so the tree doesn’t end up lopsided in the wrong way. Crossing the wire on the way back down, rather than only wrapping in one direction, gives the trunk a woven look instead of a simple spiral.
10. Single Red Ornament Topper Trick
The one design detail nearly every version of this tree shares is a single oversized ornament at the very top, usually in a bold red or a color that stands out sharply against the green. The weight of the ornament is actually functional — it helps pull the top of the tree into that signature curved lean rather than sitting stiffly upright. Choose an ornament with enough heft to bend the top branch slightly on its own, and attach it securely with wire or a sturdy hook so it doesn’t slip off after a few days of the tree settling into its new shape.
11. Oversized Outdoor Version
For a real statement piece, this same technique scales up dramatically using a tall artificial tree or a large evergreen instead of a small tabletop version. A taller tree needs a heavier gauge wire or even zip ties to hold the curve, since thin floral wire won’t have enough strength to bend and support a larger trunk. This size works well as a freestanding porch feature or even a front yard focal point, though it usually takes a bit more trial and error to get the proportions of the curve looking right at a much bigger scale.
12. Kid-Friendly Simplified Version
A simplified version of this project works well as a craft for kids, especially using the dollar store artificial tree method rather than anything that requires a miter saw or spray paint fumes. Let kids help fluff the branches and pick out the single ornament that goes on top, even if the actual bending and zip-tying is handled by an adult. Because the finished tree can survive being handled and doesn’t require any drying time indoors, it’s a low-stress project to finish start to finish in one sitting, which matters if patience is running short.
13. Reusing an Old Artificial Tree
If you already have a small artificial tree sitting in storage that’s a little worse for wear, this is a good excuse to give it a second life instead of replacing it. Strip off any old decorations, bend the frame using the same wire-and-pliers method as a brand-new tree, and give it a fresh coat of spray paint to cover any faded or yellowed spots. This approach costs next to nothing since you’re only buying paint and one ornament, and it keeps a tree that might otherwise get thrown away in the seasonal rotation for a few more years.
14. Budget Spray-Paint Refresh
Spray paint does most of the visual work in the budget versions of this project, so it’s worth taking a little extra time to get even coverage. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space, and rotate the tree slowly so every angle gets coated, including the base, which is easy to miss. Letting it dry fully — ideally overnight — before handling keeps the finish from smudging or transferring paint onto whatever it’s set against. A single full can is usually enough for a tabletop-sized tree, though a taller version may need a second can for full coverage.
15. Year-Round Replanting (Living Version Care)
If you went the living plant route, the wire trunk wrap is meant to come off once the season ends rather than staying on indefinitely, since it can eventually restrict the tree’s growth. Unwind it gently, then transition the plant to a slightly bigger pot or a spot in the garden if your climate allows it to survive outdoors. Some varieties need consistent watering and humidity to stay healthy indoors, so keep an eye on the soil and mist the branches occasionally if the tree starts looking dry. With the right care, the same plant can be shaped into a new version of the tree again next December.
Final Thoughts
Whichever version you decide to try, this is one of those projects that looks a lot more complicated than it actually is once you’ve done it a single time. Start with the smallest, cheapest version — a tabletop plant or a couple of dollar store trees zip-tied together — before committing to a full outdoor build with wood and power tools. Once you’ve got the bending technique down, making a second or third one takes barely any time at all. Grab a spool of wire or a can of spray paint this weekend and see how quickly a plain little tree turns into something with a whole lot of personality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of tree works best for a DIY grinch christmas tree?
A live lemon cypress is the most popular choice for its shape and scent, though inexpensive artificial trees work just as well for a budget version.
Q: How do you get the signature curved shape?
Wrap wire around the trunk from bottom to top, then bend the top section into a curve and wrap the wire back down to hold it in place.
Q: Can a DIY grinch christmas tree be reused every year?
Yes, a living version can be unwrapped and replanted after the holidays, while a wooden or artificial version can be stored and reused as is.