Ivory Pampas Christmas Tree Ideas + Elegant Holiday Decor
If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram, you know this Christmas tree started as an idea in my head long before I ever opened the box.
I knew I wanted something different from a traditional green tree for this room—soft, bright, a little unexpected, but still warm and cozy. When I found an ivory pampas Christmas tree, I immediately started picturing warm lights, champagne ornaments, velvet ribbon and just a little greenery.
Before I ordered everything, I actually had ChatGPT help me mock up the look I was imagining and estimate how many ornaments, picks and other pieces I might need. The mockup was incredibly helpful for giving me a direction.
Did I still buy too much of a few things? Absolutely. 😂 And that’s one reason I wanted to put this post together. I’m sharing not only what I used, but what I needed more of, what I definitely didn’t need as much of, and what I would do differently next time.
Why I Chose a 9-Foot Ivory Pampas Christmas Tree
Our living room ceilings are close to 16 feet in the center, but the actual spot where I wanted the tree has a little less room. I chose the 9-foot version, and for our space it was the right call.
One thing I would definitely tell you before buying one: she is wide. Our tree sits between two chairs, and it is cozy in there. 😂 But that was really the only place in the room I had for it, and once everything came together, I loved how full it made that corner feel.
If your ceilings or room are smaller, I think a 6 or 7-foot pampas tree would be gorgeous too. My exact 9-foot ivory version is currently sold out on amazon. I’ve seen this tree disappear from several retailers already, but Wayfair has a smaller ivory option and I’m linking the similar pampas tree option I found there.
What the Pampas Christmas Tree Looked Like Out of the Box
This was probably the part I was most nervous about. Before mine arrived, I had read reviews saying the tree took hours and hours to fluff, so I was prepared for an ordeal.
Honestly? I didn’t think it was much more difficult than setting up and fluffing a brand-new artificial Christmas tree. It takes time because you want to separate and shape those soft branches, but I didn’t think it was terrible at all.
And the shedding surprised me too. Yes, you’ll have some shedding while you’re assembling and fluffing it, but I have owned flocked trees that made a MUCH bigger mess. Once this tree was decorated, I really haven’t noticed much additional shedding.
The One Thing I Would Not Skimp On: The Christmas Tree Lights
This is the one part of the tree I was probably the most meticulous about. I knew I wanted a lot of tiny white lights, and I specifically did not want the whole tree to look yellow.
I used two strands of 3,000-LED fairy lights. Were they one of the pricier things I bought? Yes. Were two strands more than enough? Also yes. Would I do it exactly the same way again? Absolutely.
The lights made this tree. Instead of just wrapping them around the outside, I took my time working the lights throughout the branches so the tree glowed from the inside out. If you’re recreating this look, this is where I would not skimp.
How I Decorated My Ivory Pampas Christmas Tree
Once the lights were finished, I started layering. The biggest thing I learned is that this tree really does not need to be covered in decor. The pampas branches and lights already do so much visually.
I wanted texture and contrast instead of simply adding more and more ornaments. That’s where the greenery, ribbon, pearl sprays and larger ornaments made the biggest difference.
The Greenery Was the Detail I Almost Left Out
I was very hesitant to add green to an ivory tree. Now? It’s one of my favorite parts. That little bit of greenery breaks up all the ivory and champagne and gives the tree just enough contrast.
I ordered two boxes of greenery picks, but I absolutely did not need two. One box was enough. I generally tucked about two to three pieces into each grouping instead of placing greenery everywhere. That was plenty.
The Pearl Sprays Might Be My Favorite Detail
The little pearl sprays were something I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did. They added dimension without adding another heavy ornament. I liked them so much on the tree that I ended up ordering another pack for the mantel.
I also used champagne picks throughout the tree to bring a little sparkle and movement into the softer ivory branches. These are the small details that made the whole tree feel finished to me.
The Ivory Ribbon: Beautiful, But I Bought Way Too Much
I used a 4-inch ivory velvet ribbon throughout the tree. I ordered four rolls. I needed two for the tree. 😂 I used a small amount of another roll on the mantel, so this was definitely one area where I overestimated.
For the tree itself, I loved the width. It creates those big soft folds and really shows up against the pampas. For the mantel, though, I would do something different. I would choose a narrower ribbon with wire next time. The wide ribbon looked beautiful when I finally got it where I wanted it, but it was a bear to work with on the garland.
The Christmas Ornaments I Used
I wanted different textures instead of one giant set of matching ornaments. The combination ended up working really well.
The cream velvet ornaments softened everything and blended beautifully into the pampas. I bought two boxes, used one full box on the tree, and then used about half of the second box on the mantel.
The large champagne ornaments were another thing I would absolutely buy again. I bought two boxes and used every single one on the tree. On a 9-foot tree, those oversized ornaments matter. Smaller balls can disappear into all that texture.
Then I added one box of mixed champagne and clear ornaments. I used them throughout the tree and still had enough left over to carry some of those same ornaments onto the mantel.
If I started over, I would still spend the money on a few large statement ornaments instead of buying tons of smaller ones.
What I Would Buy More Of, Less Of, and Do Differently
This is probably the section I would have wanted before I ordered everything. For a 9-foot ivory pampas Christmas tree, here’s what I learned:
Lights: two 3,000-light strands were more than enough, but I would absolutely do this again.
Greenery: buy one box, not two.
Pearl sprays: would buy again. I loved these enough to order more.
Champagne picks: yes. They added just enough sparkle.
Ivory 4-inch ribbon: two rolls were enough for my tree.
Cream velvet ornaments: one box for the tree; buy two only if you also want to carry them onto the mantel.
Large champagne ornaments: two boxes, and I used them all.
Mixed champagne ornaments: one box was plenty and gave me leftovers for the mantel.
Mantel ribbon: next time I would use something narrower and wired.
I still need to order the final piece for the bottom: an ivory faux-fur tree skirt. I want something soft and simple that almost disappears into the tree instead of competing with everything happening above it.
From the Tree to the Mantel
Once the tree was finished, I wanted the mantel to coordinate without making the whole room look too matchy.
I started with a two-pack of 9-foot Norfolk pine garland and added one strand of warm white lights. One light strand was plenty here.
Then I used leftover cream velvet ornaments and champagne ornaments from the tree.
But the two details that really made the mantel were the long dusty-blue velvet bows and the pearl sprays.
I LOVE those bows. The blue adds just enough contrast against all the ivory and greenery, and the long tails give the mantel a little more drama without feeling fussy.
The pearl sprays were the finishing touch. I ordered another pack specifically for the mantel after seeing how much I loved them in the tree.
Shop My Christmas Decor
I put the Amazon pieces I used into one collection so you don’t have to hunt for everything individually. You’ll find the lights, greenery, picks, pearl sprays, ribbon, ornaments, mantel garland, velvet bows and the other holiday pieces I used there.
The tree itself is the exception because my exact 9-foot ivory version has sold out. I’ll keep updating this post if I see the ivory version come back in stock.
*Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my content.
I know it’s a little early to be talking Christmas, but around here we call it Merry Halloween because my tree is almost always up before Halloween anyway. 😂
Next up will be the tree in our dining room. I’ve had that one for a few years, and she’s a beauty — a black tree with our nativity scene. I’ll probably use the same ornaments as last year, but I have a feeling those long velvet bows may be making another appearance.
Building a home that makes healthy habits easier. 🤍
Health is wealth. 🤍
— Amy Alford, RN Your Glucose Nurse
A little note: A few of the images in this post were enhanced or styled into collages to help show the overall look more clearly. The products, quantities and decorating tips are based on what I actually used.
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