DIY Wooden Christmas Tree with Lights!

Add some unique homemade decor to your yard this year with this fun DIY Wooden Christmas Tree with Lights project!

Then… be sure to also try making this fabulous DIY Tomato Cage Christmas Tree, too!

Wooden Christmas trees with lights outside of a home.

DIY Wooden Christmas Tree with Lights

So are you wanting to upgrade your outdoor Christmas light display this year? Or maybe you just want to add some fresh new pieces to your Christmas yard display that are actually budget friendly… and that won’t cost you a small fortune?

You’ll love this DIY Wooden Christmas Tree with Lights!

Lisa writes: "These are so cute (and way more budget friendly than what you get in the stores)"

This easy outdoor Christmas Tree idea will add such a warm and festive touch to your home, and will be completely unique, too!

This simple DIY Wooden Christmas Tree with Lights was such a fun DIY project to build together with my hubby.

In fact, we liked these DIY Wood Christmas Trees so much we actually built three in total!

Building three of these trees together was a great way to save time, while adding even more fun new lights to our front yard display.

These homemade Christmas Trees and Stars look so cute during the daytime… and they look absolutely fabulous with the lights on in the dark!

Just follow these instructions to build a tree or three for yourself…

Related: DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas

Time Saver Tip: Prime the 1″ x 2″ x 8′ Boards and 12″ Paint Sticks before you cut and assemble the tree and star.

Wooden Christmas tree supplies including lights and spray paint.

DIY Wooden Christmas Tree Materials

Here’s what you’ll need to round up before you get started…

5 – 1/2 inch Screws
2 – 1 inch Screws
8 – 1 1/4 inch Screws
1 – 1 1/2 inch Galvanized Screw
3 – 8 inch Clear Zip Ties
2 foot length of 1/2 inch steel Rebar
2 foot length of 1/2 inch plastic PVC Pipe
5 – 12 inch Paint Stir Sticks
Two – 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 foot Board
1 box 100 count outdoor Green Christmas Lights, Green String
1 box 50 count outdoor Clear Christmas Lights, White String
One quart White Exterior Primer Paint
12 ounce can Gloss White Spray Paint (I used Rust-Oleum Gloss White)
12 ounce can Gloss Green Spray Paint (I used Rust-Oleum Gloss Hunter Green)

Canister of primer with several pieces of wood.

Project Tools and Supplies Needed

2 inch Paint Brush or Small Paint Roller
Blue Painters tape
Painters Plastic or Paint Drop Cloth
Tape Measure
Pencil
Drill with Phillips bit for screws
Drill Bit for pre-drilling screw holes
Saw (*Note: We used a miter saw, but a circular saw or jig saw would also work for the small cuts you’ll need to make.)
Heavy Duty Hammer or Sledge Hammer for pounding Rebar into ground

Paint Stick Star Assembly Instructions

1. Arrange the 5 Paint Sticks into the shape of a 5 point star.

Five paint sticks in the shape of a star.

2. Use a 1/2″ screw to attach each point of the star.

If the paint stick wood wants to splinter, pre-drill each hole with a drill bit first, then install the screws.

Drill installing screws in a star made from paint sticks.

3. After each screw is attached, be sure to re-adjust the shape of the star to ensure the desired star shape is maintained.

Wooden Christmas Tree Instructions

Note: You will need to prime the tree before painting. To save time priming the tree, consider applying primer to both 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 foot boards BEFORE making any cuts.

1. Take your first 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 foot Board. Cut it in half, leaving you two equal length 4′ Boards.

2. Take your second 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 foot Board, and cut it into the following lengths: a 56″ Board, an 18″ Board, and a 12″ length Board. This will leave you with a short leftover length of unused board.

3. Take your 56″ Board and make a pencil mark on the front and back of the board at 47″. This is where you will attach the two 4′ Boards to the 56″ Board.

Three long, thin boards attached at the top but apart at the bottom.

4. Now it’s time to layout your tree. Stand your 56″ Board vertically on the ground. At the 47″ marking, hold one 4′ Board to the front and one 4′ Board to the back of the 56″ Board.

Ensure that all 3 boards are ALL touching the ground and ALL held together at the 47″ marking. This will form the shape of your tree. (see photos)

5. As the 4′ Boards rest against the 56″ Board, make pencil markings on your 56″ Board, using the top of each 4′ Board as a guide. (These markings will be very close to the 47″ mark, and the markings will be slightly angled)

6. Fasten each 4′ Board to the 56″ Board. One 4′ Board to the front, the second 4′ Board to the back. Use your pencil markings to ensure the correct location, then pre-drill holes for the screws.

Use one 1 1/4″ screw to fasten a 4′ Board to the front of the 56″ Board, Then use one 1 1/4″ screw to fasten the final 4′ Board to the back of the 56″ Board.

Three boards held together on one end with a screw.

7. Next, lay the tree on its backside. Locate the area towards the bottom of the tree where the 18″ Board can reach all the way from left to right. (see photos)

Holding the 18″ Board level to the ground, pre-drill and fasten it to the tree using three 1 1/4″ screws.

Thin boards in the shape of a triangle held together by screws.

8. After that, locate the area in the middle of the tree where the 12″ Board can reach all the way from left to right. (see photos)

Holding the 12″ Board level to the ground and also level with the 18″ Board, pre-drill and fasten it to the tree using three 1 1/4″ screws.

Thin boards in the shape of a Christmas tree.

9. Paint both the star and tree with white exterior primer, using a paint brush or small roller. Allow paint to dry for 3 – 4 hours or overnight. (To save time priming the tree, consider applying primer to both 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 foot boards BEFORE making any cuts.)

10. Use blue painters tape to tape off the top of the tree at the point the 3 boards are attached. This will create a paint line between the green tree and the white star.

11. Spray paint the lower portion of the tree with your Green Spray Paint, then allow to dry overnight.

Person holding a can of green spray paint in front of painted wood.

12. Pre-drill holes for your screws, then attach the Paint Stick Star to the Tree using your two 1 inch screws.

13. Use blue painters tape to tape off the fresh green paint at the top of the tree at the point the 3 boards connect.

Paint stick star atop a wooden Christmas tree.

14. Spray paint the top of the tree and attached star with your White Spray Paint, using painters plastic or a fabric drop cloth to shield the green portion of the tree from white paint overspray.

15. Once the paint has dried use 3 clear zip ties to attach the PVC pipe to the back of the middle tree support, at the very bottom of the tree.

PVC pipe attached to the back of a wooden Christmas tree.

I also predrilled a hole, and installed one galvanized screw at the top of the PVC pipe for additional support. (see photos)

16. Wrap the star at the top of the tree with your white strand of 50 clear lights. Connect the green strand of lights to the white strand.

After that, continue wrapping the green portion of the tree with your green strand of 100 green lights.

Lights wrapped around a wooden Christmas tree.

Make sure that each strand of lights is connected and that the male end of your Christmas light strings is at the bottom of the tree when you finish.

17. Using a heavy hammer or sledge hammer, pound your 2 foot length of Rebar into the ground.

Then slip the PVC attached to the tree over the Rebar.

Wooden Christmas tree wrapped with green and white lights.

Finally, plug in your lights and it’s show time!

Two wooden Christmas trees in front of windows.

These will look great in your yard during the day, and SO pretty at night!

We even had a neighbor stop and ask us where we bought them. 🙂

House decorated with two wooden Christmas trees.

More Budget Christmas Decor Projects

So are you in the mood for more Christmas decorating and crafting?

I’ve got even more fun DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas to share that are easy on your budget too…

DIY Tomato Cage Christmas Tree

Give your yard decor a magical upgrade this year with a pretty DIY Tomato Cage Christmas Tree!

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Give your front yard Christmas decor a frugal upgrade this year when you make this fabulous plaster hanger star strung with lights!

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This easy DIY Plastic Hanger Snowflake project is the fabulous, budget friendly Christmas decoration you’ve been looking for!

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Check out this EASY step-by-step tutorial to make a gorgeous hydrangea wreath for your front door!

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You’ll love this tip for how to make a beautiful live wreath… for FREE! When the price is FREE, decorating for Christmas becomes even more fun!

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