Christmas trees, what’s not to love?
But sadly, living in a small apartment doesn’t allow me to partake in a 3 metre high tree with all the trimmings, unless Ben and I want to sleep out in the liftwell.
Instead, in the last few years we’re usually forced to find an alternative, with varying levels of success (post it note one was ok although a bit wonky, book shelf one didn’t work that well). This year, I decided to step up to the plate on the Christmas-tree-for-a-small-apartment front. Armed with one of the new Bosch IXO cordless screwdrivers I decided to combine a few of my favourite things – getting crafty, pine wood and fairy/string lights. Enter, the minimalist light tree, perfectly 2D for those of you with space constraints, and with all the drama of an actual Christmas tree, but without the messy clean up. Read on to see how.
DIY String Light Christmas Tree
You Need
For the piece of pine, mine was 1 metre x 2 metres (1.1 yards x 2.2 yards) but you can make it as big or small as you want. For the screws, I used 25 x 2.5cm long screws as well as 5m of fairy lights.
1
Work out where the top of your tree will sit - I measured about 30cm (12 inches) down from the top edge of the pine and used the measuring tape to find the middle point. Drill in a screw here.
2
Using your twine, work out the shape of your tree. Add two screws at the bottom and tie the triangle tree shape to use as a guide when you add the rest of your screws.
3
Drill the crews in down the sides of the triangle shape around 10cm (4 inches) apart. You'll want to do one side first, and then move over to the other side, placing those screws roughly between the ones on the other side so the zip zag of the string lights will work. It would be a pretty daunting task if you were mailing them in (although still completely do-able), but the drill had be finished in 5 minutes.
5
Take your fairy lights and, starting from the top, wind the cord around the outside of the screws.
7
Tuck the cord to the back of the piece of pine, and plug it into a socket (we used an extension cord to do this), then turn on the lights.
Ping!
Make sure you keep your lights and socket well ventilated and don’t leave it on when you go out!
Stay tuned for lots more home projects, this Bosch cordless screwdriver has so many great attachments including for the home, office, on a boat or really wherever! I can’t wait to experiment more. #pineandcoppereverything
This post is in collaboration with Bosch
That is again such a cool and simple idea, and it looks amazing. I just love your projects!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
That looks amazing and it is such a nice way to help the environment also because it can be used over and over. It looks great and easy to put away later also.
Wow this is definitely a very creative alternative to a traditional Christmas tree! 🙂 I really like how simple it looks and how easy it is to pull off! <3 Thank you so much for always sharing such wonderful ideas!
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
Great to here you like it 🙂
This is such a cute idea! X
http://www.thoughtsinstyle.com/
Oh, this is so cute! I’ve put up my tree already, but might put this somewhere else in my house!
http://www.ashrealasitgets.blogspot.com
You must! You can do it small too if you like. x
Oh what a lovely idea!
This is great!
xx
ani from ani hearts
♥
That’s pretty!:-)
Thanks so much, I’m glad you think so.
What a great idea! I love how it’s a bit minimalist and it looks fairly easy to make.
It totally is! 🙂
This is so nice. Can it be done with masking tape or normal cello tape? Like can I just cello tape it to the wall? Will it hold?
You totally could, I think it would be ok for a week or so?
what a creative idea! never thought of that
http://www.sincerelyeman.blogspot.com
I ADORE THIS! I wish I hadn’t got an actual tree now 🙁 This is SUCH a cute idea!! May suggest this for my mums house though, the final result looks great!
Love a bit of DIY christmas!
Lucy xo
http://lucyannblog.blogspot.co.uk
Great idea! You could make it together, or even have two trees?
How Stunning and fun!! I wish I had the wall space to pull this off! =)
Thats the only tricky bit 🙂
I love the idea and your all stuff is so simple………… Thanks for the awesome inspiration
http://www.thedailyweeklyblog.com
I’m glad you can see it’s simple, sometime picking up a drill can seem daunting but it so isn’t.
Love this idea so much! Would also be cool to do on a smaller scale (or maybe the same size depending!) for a mantle or bookshelf!
I agree! I meant to say that it could be done small or big 🙂
Thank you for this tutorial! Can’t wait to try it.
http://www.kelseymarie.co
Great to hear!
What a brilliant, brilliant idea!
Thanks Mun! I’m so glad you like it. I just love home projects at the moment.
This is so clever and beautiful! I need to do this!
x Sarah
http://www.bohochiccafe.com
Agreed, you so do!
Шикарно)
http://lanabest-diy.blogspot.com/
I love the idea. Its simple and cute, and it free up a lot of space a tree would take.Great diy for someone with a minimalism aesthetic.
http://threesacompany.net
Thanks so much, glad you like 🙂
It is really amazing!.
Kisses.
Gemeladas
Thanks so much, I’m glad you like it. x
Wow such a great idea, instead of using a xmas tree, so simple yet awesome! Very unique indeed!
x
StephC
http://sstephcc.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much Stephanie, glad to hear you like it.
Geneva
Wow! Beautiful! Looks so beautiful!
Love,
Kisses and hugs from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}
Absolutely love your tree!!!!!!!! What a great idea for small spaces.
What a great idea!!!! This is so pretty and a fantastic space saver in a small apartment. Just love it.
Love it !
xo Charlotte – aliceroxy
Brilliant! (no pun intended:)
Wow, I’m seeing great recycling opportunities here! Fantastic way to reuse some old stuff I have from other projects. Thank you for the wonderful post!
Great idea!
[…] Il tutorial per realizzarlo è di A pair & a spare […]
[…] Il tutorial per realizzarlo è di A pair & a spare […]
Perfect for someone who don’t have a lot of space, so it’s perfect for me. Thanks, Geneva!
Cheers from the Philippines!
– Seyra
http://www.pavementsarerunways.com
I just wanted to say what a beautiful and simple tree .
Love it. Love it . Love it.
Thanks for showing us how to make it.
This is such a cool idea! The final product looks so so pretty!!
-Albertine x
[…] String Light Christmas Tree – A cute design you can do with your lights. […]
This is so creative! I love how it looks and I’m totally trying it!
Always simple yet very clever and nice. Great DIY idea, I’m stealing it!
Such a gorgeous creative idea!!!
[…] Click Here To Go To DIY Site: a pair & a spare […]
Love this! what pine do you use?
Love this! What pine do you use
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I can’t imagine not having a tree, but this looks quite lovely! Well done!
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Now that’s really creative! May try it but with clear hooks on the wall! x
This is such a fantastic idea, and so easy! I reckon even I could do this without burning my house down or anything.
http://www.thereyouaresibby.co.uk
Love your Christmas tree lights http://www.kblossoms.etsy.com
this plant of yours is getting eaten by worms, I think
one of the best DIY , thanks for sharing =D
[…] DIY STRING LIGHT CHRISTMAS TREE […]
Awwwwwwnnnnnn ds is pretty….
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