The canonical Christmas tree is a triangle-shaped evergreen, covered in colorful ornaments and lights, but what if we weren't limited by tradition? Martha Stewart shows exactly what can happen when we are willing to think outside of the box on holiday decor, and the result is stunning.
In addition to a classic Christmas tree idea, Martha expanded the festivities into the backyard of her farm in Bedford, New York. The homemaking media mogul states: 'Perhaps my favorite outdoor lighting project ever! We decorated one of the ancient apple trees in Bedford, illuminating it with hundreds of small white lights and many kugels of varying sizes.'
The finished outdoor Christmas decor has an almost angelic quality - it's simple yet bright and bold yet understated. Even better, Martha created the tree with just two ingredients: warm white lights and clear glass 'kugel' ornaments (like these gorgeous carved ones from Target).
Martha uses the phrase 'Kugel' to describe the clear Christmas ornaments on her outdoor tree, referring to the heavy, antique decorations originating in 1800s Germany. 'Kugel' means 'ball' in German, and these traditional decorations are made of thick blown glass with a characteristic brass cap. Whether or not you're looking for true vintage pieces, it's easy to shop the look.
Recreate Martha's Look at Home
These subtle yet clear Christmas lights provide an understated take on a holiday classic. Unlike brighter options, they offer a soft twinkle that blends effortlessly into your space, allowing your red and gold ornaments to shine.
These beautiful fluted glass ornaments have that same 'kugel' look that Martha Stewart mentioned. They are the ideal pairing with white lights and sloping branches.
These clear plastic ornaments are the perfect addition to your Christmas tree this year. They can be filled with glittery or other crafty bits for a custom approach to the holidays.
These are some of the most beautiful ornaments I've ever seen. They would be a gorgeous complement to a grouping of smoother baubles.
Enhance your tree with layered elegance using this set of six winter white ornaments. The boxed set includes six ball ornaments in two sizes, featuring three glittery, iridescent textures, each accented with twine for a touch of natural warmth. Coordinating without being identical, the white and metallic glass ornaments add a subtle, wintry glamour to your tree.
Mercury glass is usually the star of the show on its own, but here, its designer, Joanna Gaines, ups the ante with gold-etched pine needles and wintry botanical motifs layered over top. The painterly effect gives the entire treescape a richer, more storied presence.
Martha makes the apple tree look so beautiful by alternating the kugel size. She uses a mix of spherical and teardrop-shaped ornaments to create a textured landscape on the branches. She hangs them at different heights to enhance this effect. If you wanted a bolder look, you could integrate colorful ornaments as well to break it up.
The other key to Martha's beautiful look is the perfect Christmas lights. She selected an extremely warm light that is suited for the outdoors, and reflects gorgeously off the surrounding snow. It's evidence of how far the right lighting can go.
This year, Christmas decor is about tapping into nostalgia and personality, and this unique take on outdoor decor definitely taps into that. It goes to show that decorating doesn't need to be complicated to be impactful.
