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Every December I find myself saving photos of trees that look like they belong in a snowy lodge. Tartan ribbon, brass ornaments, velvet bows and a pile of plaid presents underneath. That classic, cozy look is what everyone calls a Ralph Lauren Christmas tree, and the good news is you can get it with a homestead budget.
Here are 22 Ralph Lauren Christmas tree ideas I gathered from bloggers who do this style beautifully, from navy velvet ribbon and Black Watch plaid to dried oranges, ski lodge trees and gifts wrapped to match. None of these come from the brand itself. They are real homes inspired by that look, and each one links to the blogger who made it. If you want more, our Christmas tree ideas for 2026, red Christmas tree ideas and 90s Christmas aesthetic ideas have plenty to mix in.
1. A library tree with navy velvet ribbon
SaveCredit: French Country Cottage
If I had to pick one tree that says Ralph Lauren Christmas, it would be a big full tree in a dark room lined with books. Navy ribbon hanging straight down the branches makes it feel tailored instead of busy.
She sums up the look as rich, moody colors like navy, deep green, red, black, brown and burgundy, with velvet ribbons, pinecones and berry picks mixed in. Her advice is to layer bold ornaments and let the ribbons do the talking.
2. Navy ribbon, pinecones and mushroom ornaments
SaveCredit: French Country Cottage
Up close, this tree is all natural texture. Pinecones, red mushroom ornaments and berries sit between long navy ribbons, and it reads like a cabin in the woods.
She suggests pinecones, branches, berries, orange slices, dried flowers and fresh cut greens as the natural touches for this style. You do not need all of them, so pick the ones you already have.
3. Plaid gifts with black velvet bows
SaveCredit: French Country Cottage
The presents count as decor in this style. Wrap everything in one red plaid paper and tie it with black velvet, and the whole base of the tree looks planned.
She points out that packages can be pretty in plaid and that a wool blanket makes a lovely tree skirt. I like this because it costs no more than regular wrapping paper.
4. Brass, silver and glass ornaments with red ribbon
SaveCredit: Room for Tuesday
This is the classic version, and it is the one I would copy first. Old brass and silver ornaments mixed with glass give it that collected over time feeling.
She lists exactly how she styled it. Mixed brass, silver and glass ornaments, red ribbon to set the color, felted garland and hand tied bows, warm lights and an oversized basket at the base with a blue and white garden stool beside it.
5. Red velvet ribbon streamers
SaveCredit: Room for Tuesday
Thin red velvet ribbon hung in long streamers is one of the easiest ways to get this look. It moves a little when you walk by, and it looks expensive even when it is not.
She calls her style a classic Christmas with Ralph Lauren influence, meaning rich color, layered textures, blue and white and red ribbon. Tie the ribbon to the branch near the trunk and let both tails hang.
6. A red tartan ribbon tree by the mantel
SaveCredit: First Day of Home
Red tartan ribbon wound around a green tree is the look most people picture when they hear Ralph Lauren Christmas. Match the mantel garland and it pulls the whole room together.
She has a simple formula for any themed tree. Bold ribbon or a combo of ribbons, sparkly floral picks and blooms, and glitzy ornaments mixed with sentimental pieces. She reused tartan ribbon from the year before, which saves money.
7. Faux magnolia blooms tucked into plaid
SaveCredit: First Day of Home
White flowers against red plaid give the tree a softer, more Southern feel. Magnolias were my grandmother’s favorite, so this one makes me smile.
She tucked a few large faux magnolia flowers around the tree and left the long stems on so she can reuse them. She also breaks each floral pick into two or three mini stems so it goes farther.
8. A slim tree in a basket with olive plaid ribbon
SaveCredit: On Sutton Place
A slim tree in a woven basket fits a small corner and still feels classic. The basket is the country touch I always want in my house.
After three years of red plaid, she switched to an olive green plaid ribbon with just a bit of red and added dried orange slices. She says including red is a timeless way to decorate, even when it is not on trend.
9. Dried orange slices with plaid ribbon
SaveCredit: On Sutton Place
Dried oranges are the homestead way to get warm amber color on a tree. They smell lovely and they cost almost nothing.
To dry your own, slice oranges about a quarter inch thick, blot them and bake them at the lowest oven setting for a few hours, turning them now and then until dry. Thread a ribbon or twine loop through each slice and hang them between red balls and plaid ribbon like she did.
10. Layered red, navy and gold plaids
SaveCredit: Kelley Nan
Mixing more than one plaid is what makes this look feel like a lodge instead of a store display. Red, navy and gold together are rich without being loud.
She mixed and layered plaids with red berries, frosted blueberries and gold, using ornaments she already had plus a few new larger balls. She twisted thinner ribbon into a corkscrew and layered it on top of wider ribbon.
11. A slim nostalgia tree with wood bead garland
SaveCredit: Kelley Nan
A small second tree full of family ornaments is my favorite kind of tree. Keep it simple and let the memories show.
She started with strands of wood bead garland and a little ribbon, then added the family ornaments. A few silver balls and red berries kept it classic and understated.
12. A Black Watch tree with gold bows
SaveCredit: DIY Decor Mom
Black Watch tartan, the deep navy and green one, is the most Ralph Lauren of all the plaids. With gold bows and warm lights it looks rich and cozy.
She ran six strands of plaid ribbon from the top of the tree down, added smaller bows on branch ends and one giant gold bow, then made a tree skirt from two Black Watch throws layered over a towel.
13. Marbled gold ornaments you paint yourself
SaveCredit: DIY Decor Mom
When you cannot find ornaments in the exact color you want, paint your own. This is a good kitchen table project for a cold evening.
Take the top off a clear plastic ornament, squirt metallic gold acrylic paint at several points inside, then tap and swirl it so the paint spreads. Add a second shade of gold for a marbled look, put the top back on and let it dry. She hung hers right on the tree to dry.
14. A rustic ski lodge tree
SaveCredit: The Craft Patch
If you love the lodge side of this style, go full ski cabin. Wooden skis and pinecones on a tree make me think of hot cocoa by the fire.
Her tree has oversized snowflakes, wooden skis, pinecones, buffalo check ribbon and red berries. She decorated the whole thing with things already in her Christmas totes, and the giant snowflakes fill the tree without needing many ornaments.
15. Kraft paper gifts with vintage bells
SaveCredit: The Craft Patch
Plain brown kraft paper is the thrifty way to wrap for a lodge tree. A strip of patterned ribbon and an old bell make each gift look special.
She wrapped her presents in kraft paper and added fun ribbon and vintage looking bells as toppers. She chose the red buffalo plaid on the tree because her dad wears plaid shirts almost every day.
16. A cozy lodge tree in red and white
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
Red and white knits and plaid make this tree feel like a sweater you never want to take off. It is cheerful and still very classic.
She calls it her Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree. It is topped with a vintage metal star she has used for years, and it sits on a faux fur tree skirt with red trim.
17. A plaid thermos and cocoa mug ornaments
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
Little novelty ornaments keep a classic tree from feeling too serious. A plaid thermos is exactly the kind of thing you would pack for a day at the cabin.
She filled her tree with glass ornaments that fit the theme, like a hot cocoa mug and a vintage plaid thermos, plus alpine ski ornaments she found at Balsam Hill.
18. An antique red picnic basket under the tree
SaveCredit: Inspired by Charm
An old picnic basket under the tree is such a good idea. It adds height to the gifts and it is something you can use all year.
She found the red picnic basket at a local antique shop, along with an old tin house and a tin tape holder. They sit with her plaid wrapped gifts under the tree.
19. A topper of oversized ornaments, berries and ribbon
SaveCredit: Worthing Court
Skip the star and build a topper instead. Big ornaments, berry picks and ribbon loops make the top of the tree look full and grand.
She always starts with the topper because it sets the direction for the rest of the tree. Hers is oversized ornaments placed opposite one another on the diagonal, a few red velvet berry picks and a mix of ribbons.
20. Four ribbons on one tree
SaveCredit: Worthing Court
If one ribbon looks flat, use more than one. Stripes, velvet and tartan together give the tree depth.
She used four ribbons, a green ribbon with a red stripe backed in gold, a wide red velvet, a 2 inch tartan plaid and a 1 inch red velvet for small bows. The brass ornaments came from her mom, who collected them in the 80s.
21. Plaid wrapping paper that matches the tree
SaveCredit: Worthing Court
Coordinated gifts are the cheapest decoration you will ever buy, since you have to wrap them anyway.
She has wrapped her presents to match her tree for years. She mixes several plaid papers, and they all work together because they are Christmas plaid.
22. Mixed plaid gifts on a sheepskin
SaveCredit: Kelley Nan
A sheepskin or faux fur under the tree feels like a lodge floor. Stack plaid gifts on top and it looks like a catalog page.
Just as she mixed plaids on the tree, she mixed them under the tree too, with a four roll set of plaid wrapping paper. Her satin ribbon came from the regular ribbon aisle at Hobby Lobby, not the Christmas section.
Final thoughts on getting the Ralph Lauren tree look at home
Start with the colors. Deep red, hunter green, navy and a little gold or brass are the base of this style. Bright pinks, silver tinsel and anything neon work against it.
Pick one or two plaids and repeat them. Use the same tartan in the ribbon, the tree skirt and the wrapping paper so the tree looks planned. Black Watch, Royal Stewart style red tartan and buffalo check all fit.
Add natural texture. Pinecones, dried orange slices, berries, wood bead garland and a wool blanket or sheepskin under the tree make it feel like a lodge rather than a showroom.
Shop your house and the thrift store first. Brass ornaments, old picnic baskets, wool throws and leather pieces turn up secondhand for a few dollars, and they look better with a little age on them.
Ralph Lauren Christmas tree FAQ
What is a Ralph Lauren Christmas tree? It is a classic, cozy tree inspired by the designer’s holiday style. Think tartan and plaid ribbon, deep red, green and navy, brass and glass ornaments, velvet bows, pinecones and gifts wrapped in plaid.
What colors go on a Ralph Lauren style tree? Deep red, hunter green and navy are the main colors, with gold or brass accents. Burgundy, camel and warm wood tones also fit the look.
What ribbon should I use? Tartan or plaid ribbon is the signature. Red tartan, Black Watch and buffalo check are the most common, and many bloggers mix in a red or navy velvet ribbon too.
How do I get the look on a budget? Reuse ribbon from past years, dry your own orange slices, paint plain plastic ornaments gold, use a plaid blanket as a tree skirt and wrap gifts in one coordinating plaid paper.
