Just Chillin’: A Summer Tree That Proves You Don’t Have to Buy Everything New
One of my favorite things about decorating celebration trees is finding creative ways to reuse decorations from previous themes. This “Just Chillin’” summer tree is a perfect example. While it has a completely different feel from my Happy Birthday Tree, many of the decorations are exactly the same!
The colorful ice cream cones, popsicles, and sweet treat ornaments that helped celebrate a birthday are now helping celebrate the carefree days of summer. By simply changing the color palette, adding a fun topper, and introducing a few new accents, the entire tree feels fresh and new—without buying an entirely new set of decorations.
Reusing Decorations Saves Money
One of the goals of The Celebration Tree is to show that decorating themed trees doesn’t have to become an expensive hobby. Instead of purchasing new ornaments for every occasion, look for pieces that can work in multiple themes.
For this tree, I reused:
- Ice cream cone ornaments
- Popsicle ornaments
- Colorful candy-inspired decorations
These ornaments looked festive on my Birthday Tree, but they fit just as naturally into a bright, cheerful summer display.
What Makes This Tree Feel Different?
Although many of the ornaments are the same, a few changes completely transformed the look.
A Fun Summer Topper
The oversized “Just Chillin’” popsicle sign immediately sets the tone. It’s playful, colorful, and tells the story of the tree before you even notice the ornaments.
Bright Summer Colors
Instead of focusing on birthday colors, I leaned into hot pinks, purples, turquoise, yellow, and lime green. These colors remind me of frozen treats, sunny afternoons, and childhood summers.
Pom-Pom Picks
The colorful pom-pom sprays add movement and make the tree feel whimsical. They also help fill empty spaces without requiring additional ornaments.
Bold Ribbon
A large pink and purple bow in the center gives the eye a place to rest and ties the colors together beautifully.
Decorating Tip: Shop Your Own Storage
Before heading to the store, take a look through the bins from your previous trees. Ask yourself:
- Could these ornaments work with a different color scheme?
- Can I create a new theme by changing only the topper?
- Would different ribbon completely change the look?
You might be surprised how many decorations can serve multiple purposes.
Celebrating School
This tree is a festive celebration of the start of school, adorned with apples, rulers, alphabet ribbon, chalkboard accents, pencils, bright ornaments, and classroom-inspired details.
You can expand this theme by incorporating handmade ornaments made by children, such as painted rocks or crafts that represent their school year aspirations. Additionally, consider adding personal touches like photo frames that hold pictures of school events or milestones. This not only gives your tree a unique character but also fosters a deeper connection to the theme as it reflects personal experiences and memories.
Decorating Tip: Use Ornament Garlands
I also recommend using ornament garlands to simplify the process of decorating the tree. Hanging two strands of ornament garlands at once is much faster than adding each ornament individually. Additionally, ornament garlands are easier to store compared to individual ornaments.
My Favorite Part
If you’re building a collection of celebration tree decorations, think of each ornament as an investment. The more versatile your pieces are, the more themes you can create year after year. Investing in high-quality ornaments that can be used across different celebrations ensures that your collection has longevity and that each ornament serves a dual purpose, maximizing your decoration potential.
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