Dried orange slices are one of the prettiest natural decorations you can hang on a Christmas tree. The light shines through each slice like a tiny stained glass window, and the warm amber color looks beautiful against deep green branches.
The best part is how flexible they are. You can string them into garlands, tie them onto bows, mix them with cinnamon and pinecones, or cover a whole mini tree in them. They suit farmhouse, rustic, traditional and even simple modern trees.
Every idea below comes from a real decorated tree, so you can see exactly how the slices look in a real room before you start. The first three ideas include full material lists and steps, because those are the ones worth making yourself.
One quick safety note before you start: keep dried fruit away from hot bulbs and open flames, use LED lights only, and store leftover slices in a dry tin so they stay fresh for next year.
Quick Picks
- Fastest: Idea 10, a velvet bow with a single orange slice, takes two minutes per bow.
- Most handmade: Idea 1, the classic tree with orange slice and popcorn garlands you string yourself.
- Biggest impact: Idea 5, the red ribbon tree loaded with orange slices from top to bottom.
1. Classic Tree With Orange Slice and Popcorn Garlands
This is the old fashioned way to do it, and it still looks the best. Long garlands of dried orange slices loop around the tree with strands of popcorn, red berries and simple ornaments filling the gaps. The look is warm, handmade and full of texture, and the whole tree costs very little once the slices are dried.
⏱ 1 afternoon💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- 6 to 8 oranges, sliced and dried, or ready dried orange slices with twine
- A large needle and natural twine or thin jute string
- Plain popped popcorn for the second garland
- Red berry picks and simple ball ornaments
- Warm white LED string lights
How to Make It
- Dry the orange slices in a low oven at 90 to 100 degrees C for 3 to 4 hours, turning them once, until they feel dry and light. Or start with ready dried slices.
- Thread the needle with twine and push it through the top of each slice, leaving a small gap between slices so the garland drapes well.
- Hang the lights first, then loop the orange garland around the tree in loose swags.
- Add the popcorn garland in the opposite direction so the two lines cross and fill the tree evenly.
- Finish with berry picks and a few ornaments tucked close to the trunk for depth.
Tip: Dry a few extra slices. A couple always crack while threading, and spares make topping up the garland next year easy.
2. Mini Tree Covered in Orange Slices and Cinnamon
A small tabletop tree can carry a lot of orange. This one is covered from top to bottom in dried slices, with cinnamon sticks tied in between, so it works as a scented centerpiece as much as a decoration. It is a lovely project for a kitchen counter, a hallway table or a gift for someone who loves natural decor.
⏱ 1 hour💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- A small tabletop tree, real or artificial
- Ready dried orange slices with hemp rope or home dried slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Thin ribbon or twine for ties
- A small basket, pot or wooden crate for the base
How to Make It
- Set the mini tree in its basket or pot and fluff the branches so there are no flat spots.
- Tie a short loop of twine through the top of each orange slice to make a hanger.
- Hang slices all over the tree, spacing them evenly and turning a few sideways so the light catches them.
- Tie cinnamon sticks in small bundles of two and hang them between the slices.
- Add one slice right at the top as a simple natural topper and step back to fill any gaps.
Tip: Warm the room and the cinnamon scent grows stronger. Keep the tree away from radiators though, as too much heat dries the slices out and fades the color.
3. Potted Tabletop Tree in a Blue and White Pot
A pretty pot changes everything. This little tree sits in a blue and white patterned pot, and the orange slices pop against both the pottery and the green branches. It is a good reminder that the container is part of the decoration, so pick one that matches your room instead of hiding the base.
⏱ 30 minutes💲 Low to medium🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- A small potted tree or a tabletop tree with a stand
- A decorative pot or planter that hides the base
- Dried orange slices with twine loops
- A few small red ornaments or berry sprigs
- Moss, fabric or tissue to fill the top of the pot
How to Make It
- Place the tree in the decorative pot and pack around the base so it stands straight.
- Cover the top of the pot with moss or fabric for a finished look.
- Hang the orange slices evenly, keeping the biggest slices low where the branches are widest.
- Add a few small red ornaments or berry sprigs for contrast against the orange.
- Set the tree where daylight reaches it, because sunlight through the slices is the prettiest part.
Tip: Blue and white pottery works especially well with orange because the colors sit opposite each other. A plain terracotta pot gives a softer, more rustic version of the same idea.
Printable Bundle
Christmas Printable Bundle
Christmas planner, 24 advent activity cards, 36 gift tags, handmade labels, Santa letter and family games.
4. Homemade Touches With Crochet Garland and Sleigh Bells
This tree mixes dried orange slices with a handmade crochet bauble garland and a collection of silver sleigh bell ornaments. The mix of soft yarn, shiny silver and translucent orange gives the tree a collected, vintage feel, like decorations gathered over many years rather than bought in one set.
You’ll need: Dried orange slices, a crochet or knitted garland, silver bell ornaments and warm lights.
Best for: Vintage and collected style homes
Printable Games
Christmas Party Games Pack
9 fun games for family, friends and office parties: trivia, charades, gift swap and more.
5. Red Ribbon Tree Loaded With Orange Slices
If you want the orange slices to be the star, copy this tree. Wide red ribbons wind around the branches and orange slices hang everywhere, so the whole tree glows red and amber. It is bold, traditional and very festive, and the ribbon does the hard work of filling the tree so you need fewer ornaments overall.
You’ll need: Wide red ribbon, lots of dried orange slices, warm white lights and a few red ball ornaments.
Best for: Traditional living rooms that want a bold tree
6. Rustic Tree With a Chunky Orange Garland
Here the slices are strung close together into one chunky garland, so the orange reads as a strong band of color around the tree instead of small scattered accents. Paired with simple rustic ornaments and natural textures, it feels like a tree decorated from the garden and the kitchen cupboard.
You’ll need: Plenty of dried orange slices, strong twine, rustic ornaments and natural touches like pinecones.
Best for: Rustic and farmhouse trees
7. Plaid Bows and Burlap With Orange Slices
This close up shows the detail that makes orange slices feel cozy instead of plain: big plaid bows and burlap ribbon behind each cluster of slices. The pattern and rough texture make the smooth, glossy slices stand out, and the whole combination reads warm and homey from across the room.
You’ll need: Plaid ribbon for bows, burlap ribbon, dried orange slices and a few neutral ornaments.
Best for: Cozy country and farmhouse styles
8. Orange Slices With Wooden Beads and Pinecones
Wooden beads and pinecones are the natural partners for dried orange. In this tree the three run together through the branches, all in the same warm brown and amber family, so the tree looks calm and earthy with no glitter at all. It is a great palette if your room already has a lot of wood and linen.
You’ll need: Dried orange slices, a wooden bead garland, pinecones and plain warm lights.
Best for: Earthy, natural and Scandinavian style rooms
9. Glowing Orange Slice Ornaments Against the Lights
This single slice shows why people fall for this look. When a slice hangs right in front of a warm light, it glows like amber glass and the segments light up one by one. When you hang your own slices, place a few deliberately in front of bulbs instead of hiding them deep in the branches.
You’ll need: Thin dried orange slices, ornament hooks or twine loops and warm white LED lights.
Best for: Anyone who wants the glow effect on a small budget
10. Velvet Bow With a Single Orange Slice Accent
You do not need dozens of slices to get the look. One slice tied into the center of a velvet bow makes a finished, boutique style ornament, and a set of six or eight bows carries the orange theme around the whole tree. This is also the fastest idea here, at about two minutes per bow.
You’ll need: Velvet ribbon, dried orange slices, thin wire or twine and scissors.
Best for: Elegant trees and last minute decorating
11. Take the Orange Garland Beyond the Tree
Once you have strung one orange garland, make a second for the doorway, the mantel or a window. This doorway garland ties the whole room to the tree, and the slices look just as good against painted woodwork as they do against green branches. It is an easy way to make a small tree feel like a whole room scheme.
You’ll need: A long dried orange slice garland, greenery garland and small hooks or removable strips.
Best for: Entryways, mantels and open plan rooms
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dry orange slices for the tree?
Slice oranges about 5mm thick, pat them dry and bake them on a rack at 90 to 100 degrees C for 3 to 4 hours, turning once. They are ready when they feel light and dry with no sticky spots. An air fryer or dehydrator on a low setting works too.
How long do dried orange slices last on the tree?
Properly dried slices easily last the whole season and often two or three seasons if you store them in a sealed tin with a silica packet, in a cool dry place. If a slice feels soft or smells musty, replace it.
Do dried orange slices make the tree smell nice?
Yes, gently. The scent is soft and citrusy rather than strong, and it mixes well with cinnamon sticks, cloves and real pine. For a stronger scent, hang a few fresh slices for the first week and swap them as they dry.
Are dried orange slices safe near tree lights?
Use LED lights only, because they stay cool. Keep slices from resting directly on any bulb, and never use dried fruit decorations on a tree with real candles. Check the garland when you water a real tree so the slices stay dry.
Can I buy dried orange slices instead of making them?
Yes. Ready dried slices with twine or hemp rope are sold for crafting and garlands, and they save a whole afternoon of oven time. Check they are fully dry and unbroken when they arrive, and dry them for 20 more minutes on a low oven setting if they feel at all soft.
What colors go best with orange slices on a tree?
Deep green branches are the base. Red ribbon makes the look bold and traditional, cream and burlap keep it soft and rustic, and gold or copper adds warmth for the evening. Blue and white pottery or ornaments give a fresh contrast that makes the orange pop.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Tree Ideas With Orange Slices
Dried orange slices are proof that the prettiest decorations are often the simplest ones. Whether you string a full garland, cover a mini tree, or tie one slice into a velvet bow, the warm amber glow works in every room. Dry a batch this weekend, hang a few in front of the lights, and enjoy a tree that looks homemade in the best possible way.
