Watch out, decorative baubles and shiny tinsel—the trendiest Christmas trees feature bows replacing traditional ornaments this year. Bows have found their way back in style in a major way, thanks to Gen Z and the obsession with all things feminine and girly as seen on fashion runways and in home decor. So it’s not surprising that it’s becoming more mainstream to skip the fancy frills and stick to simple accessorizing this holiday season.
If you’re thinking this is just a Gen Z fad, you may be wrong. While the younger generation can take credit for the idea, it’s catching on across all ages groups. “Christmas tree bows” has over 11 billion searches and views on TikTok.
The dainty attraction of this trend makes sense in terms of its practicality, too. It’s easy to tie simple bows, gently hang them on a pre-lit tree, and sit back to enjoy the playful (yet peaceful) atmosphere.
TikTok creator @lilikaramalikis gained 1.1 million views on a video she posted showing her place ivory and pale green bows on her tree, with only twinkle lights accompanying them. Along with the look, others expressed their appreciation for the low cost in the comments.
“OMG, finally something affordable…chef’s kiss,” one user wrote. And it’s true—covering a tree with a few rolls of ribbon is much more cost effective than curating a collection of ornaments or picking up boxes of colorful orbs. “I did this last year, and it was my favorite thing ever,” said another viewer.
This low-key decor works with a minimalist Christmas aesthetic, but you can also spin it into a colorful, bold design. Continuing on the Barbiecore bandwagon, creator @tayloragillis put pink grosgrain bows all over her tree for a sweet look, while @louiburke chose spring-inspired ribbons (with a few shiny baubles snuck in) for a multi-colored, cheerful display.
If you want to learn to make giant bows, @lyndsey_windham has a wire ribbon tutorial for creating handmade versions. But if you simply want to put up some bows with minimal effort so you can spend more time with loved ones instead of decorating, you’ll find want you need with a quick search on Amazon or stroll down the aisles at Target. And that’s a wrap.