How To Make A DIY Pampas Christmas Tree
I know fall is barely here yet, but it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas, especially if it means DIYing something as big as a pampas Christmas tree!
And if you put up your tree on Thanksgiving Day like most people, then you have less than 90 days to get started (or 95 days until December, if that’s your preference), but don’t freak out, I’ve got the best DIY pampas Christmas tree tutorial that’s both affordable and easy!
My DIY pampas Christmas tree inspo: The viral pampas grass tree
If you haven’t seen it before, this gorgeous fluffy boho pampas Christmas tree from Elari Events went viral on Instagram in 2020, and it’s not hard to see why—it’s absolutely gorgeous and so unique!
Needless to say, I’ve been obsessed with this pampas tree ever since, so once we moved into our new home I made it a mission to DIY it because I knew it would match perfectly with the rest of our neutral boho chic decor.
What you will need to make the viral DIY pampas Christmas tree
If you’re planning on making your own pampas grass Christmas tree like the viral one above, here’s what you’ll need to make it:
An artificial Christmas tree (This is the exact one I purchased from Amazon)
Pampas grass stems (200+ total of varying sizes depending on the size of the tree. You can either purchase them or if you live in an area where these grow nearby you can harvest them there. These are the small pampas I used and the large pampas I used)
Hair dyer
Hairspray (optional—this helps keep the pampas from shedding after fluffing)
Twist ties or clear rubber bands (optional)
This is my alternative pampas placing method. It’s not the same as the viral tree, but this method requires less stems and maintains the tree-like shape. For directions on the exact method for the viral pampas tree, read below!
The DIY pampas Christmas tree tutorial
Step 1: Assemble the artificial Christmas tree
This is pretty straightforward. Set up your artificial Christmas tree and place it in your desired location. The best places are corners so that you won’t have to decorate the backside of the tree (this will save you time and money). When assembling the tree, bend the artificial stems downward into crisscross directions, this will help to hold the stems later.
Step 2: Prep your pampas grass stems
Take your pampas grass stems outside and either leave them out in the sun to expand and fluff out, or if you’re impatient like me, grab a hair dryer and use a warm, low to medium speed setting to manually fluff out each pampas stem (Blow the hairdryer in different directions at the stems for optimal fluffing). Note: Pampas sheds A LOT so make sure you do this outside because this part is messy!
Step 3: Add your pampas grass to the tree
Now’s the fun part—it’s time to start adding the pampas stems to your artificial tree. Starting at the top, take a small stem and attach it to the branch at the peak of the tree. You can use the smaller branches on that branch to bend around and secure it, or use a white twist tie. Next, insert a row of small pampas around the main stem, angling them about 45 degrees away from the top tip. Continue with your rows, angling each new row further down and away from the previous row. Once you get about 20-25% of the way down, start placing in larger stems using the same method as you did with the smaller ones. By the time you get to the bottom, the stems should be angled about 110-120 degrees.
Step 4: Finishing touches
Step back and take a look at your pampas tree. To fill any gaps you see you can work on fluffing out the stem further or take any extra smaller stems and wedge them into the space. Next, check for stability and secure any loose stems with twist ties. Then once your placement is complete, use hairspray (choose a light, flexible hold) to keep them from shedding in your home.
Step 5: Decorate!
Now that your pampas grass Christmas tree is complete it’s time to decorate! Toss a tree skirt underneath or wrap a tree cuff around the base (if you want to place your tree in a basket, do this during step 1). Add string lights and ornaments as desired. Note: Make sure to use lightweight lights and ornaments to keep your pampas stems from drooping and falling.
How I made my DIY pampas Christmas Tree(s)
I really wanted to make my own pampas Christmas tree using the viral one as inspiration, but I also didn’t want to spend a ton of money, so I decided to find more affordable alternatives to get the same look but at a cheaper price.
I was able to cut my spending by buying less pampas stems and arranging them differently. I also opted not to decorate the back part of the tree because no one will see it, and it was too difficult to decorate back there once the tree went up.
Keep reading to see the different versions I came up with over the past few years!
Version 1
This was my first attempt at the DIY pampas Christmas tree back in 2022. The supplies for the tree alone only cost me about $310. However, after I finally started putting the pampas tree together, I realized I would need far more of the large pampas to fill the tree like the Instagram famous pampas Christmas tree. So instead of spending more money, I switched up my strategy for a different look.
Instead of stuffing the pampas inside of the tree for that spread out, fluffy look of the Instagram viral pampas tree, I didn’t have enough large pampas to work with (poor planning on my part haha) so instead I laid them flat against the artificial tree branches and angled them downward for a sloped look. This helped me to get more coverage and also gave it more of a structured tree shape rather than a fluffy mound.
To keep them in place I shoved the stem up and into the artificial tree and allowed the artificial branches to catch the pampas to keep it in place. To reduce the chances of them sliding off I would take some artificial branches and wrap them around the pampas to secure them better (you can also use twist ties or clear rubber bands).
I layered the large pampas around the bottom of the artificial tree and about 3/4 of the way up I started using the small pampas stems, but instead of angling them downward, I switched directions and angled them upright slightly towards the top to create the peak of the tree. This was easier since all I needed to do was stick them in and the artificial branches did all the work to secure the stems.
Version 2
My second attempt in 2023 was actually my favorite. I decided to use a similar method to the viral one instead of my 2022 version, with a little twist—I used the pampas as accent filler instead. This allowed me to decorate it without worrying about breaking the pampas stems. I used the same materials from my 2022 version, but ended up using less with this method. I’m not 100% sure of the cost because I didn’t count the stems, but I’d estimate it to be around $275.
The make this version, it’s very simple. I stuffed the larger pampas stems inside the bottom part of the tree horizontally, just enough to allow the tip to poke out. I left enough space between each stem so that the white of the artificial tree was visible. I filled about 25% percent of the bottom with the large stems and then switched to the smaller stems as I worked my way up to the top.
Everything I used to make my DIY pampas Christmas tree
The tree frame (aka artificial tree) $80
For the frame of my pampas Christmas tree, I decided to use a white artificial tree. This provided some bulk as well as stability for the placement of my pampas stems. I’ve seen lots of people build a frame out of wood and other materials, however, I wanted something that I could break down and store after the holidays, so this white artificial Christmas tree from Amazon was the perfect fit, plus it’s under $100!
Note: As of 2024, this exact tree is out of stock, but I’ve linked more similars and alternatives below!
Large Pampas grass stems $29.98
For the large pampas grass stems (46"), I bought about 5 packs of 10 for about $150.
Small pampas grass stems $79.99
For the small pampas grass stems (28”-32”), I found a wholesaler who packaged a box of 96 for under $80, which was such a good find, especially since I needed lots of pampas to cover the tree.
tree basket (aka Ottoman) $99
I didn’t want to place a tree skirt under our Christmas tree because our cats would always play under it and end up moving it around so I decided on a basket instead. Unfortunately, I had lots of trouble finding something that I not only loved, but would help fill up the gap between the floor and the bottom of the tree. At first I searched for woven tree cuffs, then I looked for tree baskets, I even searched for actual baskets that would fit around the base of the tree — I couldn’t find anything! Luckily, while walking through my local Target I saw this round woven storage ottoman and I knew it was the perfect alternative! It adds a boho-chic vibe to the neutral Christmas tree, which I obviously love!
Note: I’ve linked similars below in case this exact sells out!
Tree stand $60
Unfortunately, the stand for our artificial Christmas tree was too large to fit inside our DIY tree basket (aka woven ottoman), luckily I found this 12” metal tree stand on Amazon for under $60!
Note: As of 2024, this exact tree base is sold out so I’ve linked similars below!
The interior of the ottoman is only 18” wide and most tree stands are wider than that so this one was the perfect size and it was heavy enough to keep the tree up! My other alternative was to flip the ottoman upside down and cut a hole big enough for the bottom of the tree to fit through, but luckily it didn’t come to that so I was able to keep the ottoman intact to use as decor for our bedroom when not in use for the tree.
Everything I used to decorate our DIY pampas Christmas tree
Clear/gold plastic ornaments (under $16)
I love the look of clear ornaments (they remind me of bubbles) and since we have cats I decided plastic ones would be best. These ones from Amazon have cute gold tops and they’re super light so they don’t weight down the pampas. Plus you can fill them inside with anything you like! I’m thinking of filling them with glitter for next year!
Battery operated string lights (under $7)
Christmas trees are more fun lit up so I added 2 sets of battery operated string lights to our pampas tree. Instead of wrapping them around the entire tree, I zig zagged the string lights from one side to the other, ignoring the back since I left that part undecorated.
Gold wire ribbon (under $17)
I wanted to go for a bow-topped present vibe to finish off the tree, but after several attempts at making a bow I gave up and decided to go another route. I took some long strips of gold wire ribbon to drape from the top. I used my fingers to spiral the ribbon so it cascaded nicely down the length of the tree. To secure the ribbon at the top, I just tucked the ends in between some artificial tree branches.
