Back then, Christmas was simple. Not anymore. Somewhere between then and now, Christmas trees grew up. They became installations designed, curated, and often, completely reimagined.
These days, a Christmas tree can be anything but ordinary. From metallic spirals to driftwood sculptures, designers and brands around the world are redefining what festive beauty looks like.
By Ada Ekwueme-Oguike
By the 15th of December, our house was already in full Christmas mode. The same gold garland, the same red “Merry Christmas” sign that somehow survived another year, and the same slightly lopsided tree that stood proudly in the corner. No frills, no fancy ornaments just natural charm. Under the tree, my sister and I always found something to match our Christmas Day outfits. One year, it was cream hats with a net in front. We were convinced we were the best-dressed girls in church.
Back then, Christmas was simple. We packed our bags, went home to the village, where the air smelt of food, laughter, and harmattan dust. But somewhere between then and now, Christmas trees grew up. They became installations designed, curated, and often, completely reimagined.
These days, a Christmas tree can be anything but ordinary. From metallic spirals to driftwood sculptures, designers and brands around the world are redefining what festive beauty looks like.
- The Haute Couture Tree – Claridge’s, London
Magical Christmas installation for Christmas 2020
Every December, Claridge’s hands its Christmas tree over to a fashion designer, and the result is always a statement. It’s not just a tree; it’s a creative collaboration between fashion and design.
In 2012, Kally Ellis of McQueens created Forest Murmurs, inspired by nature, magnolia branches, lichen moss, and jewel-toned eggs that shimmered under the art deco lights. Then came John Galliano for Dior with his Under the Sea tree silver leaves, coral, starfish, and jellyfish floating in a dreamlike mix of fantasy and craftsmanship.
Christmas Tree designed by Dior for Claridges
Claridge’s has turned its annual tree into a design ritual one that blends British elegance with artistic imagination. This year, Daniel Lee for Burberry takes the stage. Two iconic British names, one timeless hotel, and a tree that’s bound to get London talking.
- The Minimalist Marvel, Tokyo, Japan
Created by visual design studio WOW, the tree rotates as it uses reflections and light diffusion to illuminate the space.
Tokyo’s take on Christmas is exactly what you’d expect, minimal, balanced, and intentional. Forget the glitter and tinsel; you’ll find sculptural wire frames, polished steel spirals, and sheets of glass lit softly from below.
The Japanese approach is about form and light, not excess. Each detail is measured. Each reflection feels deliberate. Standing in front of one feels like stepping into a gallery, not a store.
It’s calm and precise, the kind of design you appreciate after living through the noise of Lagos generators and street vendors competing for your attention. Clean, quiet, and beautifully composed.
Conical Christmas Tree in Tokyo, designed by Nendi
3. The Sensory Spectacle – Dubai, UAE
Dubai never does small. Christmas is another chance for the city’s malls to outdo themselves each one competing in scale and shimmer. Across the desert metropolis, trees rise several stories high, surrounded by glass, marble, toy displays, and the hum of endless foot traffic. It’s not just décor; it’s an event.
These installations glow with mirrored ornaments and metallic finishes, cascading LED lights that shift tone through the day, and enough sparkle to rival the skyline outside. It’s immersive and unapologetically grand the kind of thing that looks stunning in photos but feels even more electric in person.
This isn’t about subtlety; it’s about scale and precision. The tree becomes part of the mall’s architecture a visual landmark in a city that treats spectacle as second nature.
4.The Iconic Rockefeller Center Tree – New York, USA
Every December, the Rockefeller Center in New York unveils a Norway spruce that has traveled hundreds of miles to stand in the heart of Manhattan.
Towering at over 70 feet in recent years, it’s crowned with thousands of twinkling lights and a Swarovski star that dazzles like a constellation. The tree isn’t just a spectacle; it’s a ritual. Crowds gather in the cold, bundled against the winter wind, phones raised, capturing a moment that’s as much about community as it is about grandeur.
Here, the Christmas tree becomes a city’s heartbeat familiar yet monumental, a reminder that the magic of tradition can scale beautifully.
5. The Crate Collector – Lagos, Nigeria
Bringing it back home, Coca‑Cola took the ordinary and turned it spectacular. In 2009, they stacked thousands of iconic red crates into a towering tree at Ikeja City Mall, a playful nod to both the city’s energy and the brand’s ubiquitous presence.
From a distance, it was a bold silhouette of holiday cheer; up close, the repetition of familiar shapes created rhythm, texture, and an almost hypnotic pattern.
It wasn’t about glitter or traditional ornaments. Instead, Lagosians flocked to see how everyday objects the crates that ferry fizzy bottles across the city could be elevated into something festive, monumental, and undeniably local. The tree became more than decoration; it was a celebration of creativity in the heart of Lagos’ urban chaos.
Final Boarding Call
Across cities and continents, one thing is clear: the Christmas tree has evolved. It’s no longer just a symbol of festivity; it’s an expression of design culture. Whether dressed in couture ribbons or shaped from ceramic, the modern tree reflects how we live, think, and celebrate today.
It’s come a long way from the simple one in our living room, with its lopsided charm and gold garland but maybe that’s the point. The tree hasn’t lost its meaning; it’s just found new ways to tell the same story.
(Stay tuned for Part 2, where we trace the Christmas tree’s journey.)
Ada Ekwueme-Oguike is the creative mind behind Lighthouse Interior Design, a
Lagos-based firm reimagining the art of boutique interiors. Specializing in both
residential and hospitality projects, Ada’s work is a testament to her love for thoughtful design and storytelling.
Instgram @lightwoxng
