We’re back with the second half of our tree-decorating adventure, sped up and set to some festive music to get you in the holiday spirit. We left off in the previous video when we discovered a strand of lights in the middle of our pre-lit artificial tree was out. Fixing it was simple: we listened for the buzzing bulb and replaced it with one of the extras that came with the tree. Next came the ornaments. This year we stepped away from our usual white, glass and silver scheme and chose a bright citrus palette—orange, lime green and lemon yellow—rather than our typical look. It might have been a pregnancy craving, but suddenly I was craving vivid oranges and zesty greens, and the color scheme stuck. We mixed store-bought ornaments with inexpensive DIY pieces and ended up with a cheerful, unexpected tree. There’s also a quick shot of the baby bump at the end for anyone keeping an eye on that.
For those at work who can’t play the video, here’s the rundown. Our tree went full citrus thanks to a bunch of orange and lime green ornaments we found on clearance, paired with DIY ornaments we made to emphasize the lemon-and-lime theme—an idea that traces back to our backyard wedding. The pops of orange really complemented the green tree, creating a festive and playful result.
Along with glittering store-bought pieces, we wanted some natural accents. John suggested drying orange and lemon slices to turn into ornaments—such a great, simple idea. He’s definitely the brain behind a lot of our crafty moves.
It was an inexpensive way to add citrus color—only a few dollars for two oranges and three lemons at the grocery store.
We found a straightforward tutorial for drying citrus. Step 1: slice fruit into quarter-inch rounds.
Step 2: bake the slices on a cookie sheet (or a rack if you have one) at 225–250°F (about 107–121°C) for 2–3 hours, checking often so they don’t burn. Cracking the oven door occasionally helps release heat so the slices dry instead of singe.
After a few hours and plenty of checking, we ended up with beautiful dried orange slices that were perfect for the tree.
The lemon slices were a bit more uneven and the seeds sometimes affected the look, so we recommend oranges if you want a consistently pretty result. That said, some lemon slices dried up translucent and stunning—like tiny stained-glass pieces—so we used the good ones too.
We hooked the dried slices onto silver ornament hooks we picked up for a few dollars. The silver hooks looked nicer and more finished than basic green wire. When hung a few inches in front of a white bulb, the slices caught the light and glowed beautifully. This ended up being one of our favorite, most budget-friendly projects—dozens of ornaments for very little money.
*Bonus: citrus scents and peels are reportedly a deterrent for curious cats, so dried citrus slices might help protect your tree from feline investigations.
We also wired three dozen faux lemons—two large tubs purchased affordably—onto the ends of branches to add more yellow and reinforce the citrus theme. It was simple: we used a spool of green craft wire, poked a “v” shape into each foam lemon, and wrapped the wire around the branch to secure it. The faux lemons look like they’re sitting on the branch tips, which complements the hanging ornaments nicely. The result is almost mouthwatering—maybe that’s the pregnancy talking—but the bright pops of color are irresistible.
We also repurposed some green faux pears we found on sale last year as hanging ornaments. They were originally meant as vase filler, but a loop of silver ribbon on the stems turned them into charming tree decorations. They’re not citrus, but they fit the edible, playful vibe and complement the green, orange and yellow palette.
That’s the full rundown: a mix of homemade ornaments made from vase filler, faux fruit and real dried fruit, plus store-bought pieces for a bright, cohesive look.
We love the punchy colors—which coordinate with our living room’s lemon-yellow rug—and the cheerful vibe they bring to our home for the holidays. Stay tuned for more seasonal decorating posts and an upcoming roundup of budget-friendly holiday gifts.
Now we want to hear about your holiday decor. Are you trying a new color scheme this year, or sticking with a favorite theme that makes you smile? Do you prefer a themed tree or a mix-and-match look? Any fans of popcorn garlands or edible ornaments? Tell us about your traditions and ideas—we love to swap inspiration.
Update: We’ve rounded up favorite holiday decor finds, many under $15, that you might want to check out for easy seasonal sparkle.