Make Your Own Scandinavian Style Wooden Christmas Tree

Create the perfect Scandinavian inspired wooden Christmas tree decorating accent with this simple woodworking tutorial!

Supplies

• Safety glasses
• 270 cm of 2.5 cm x 5 cm board length (106 in of 1 in x 2 in board), wood shown is oak
• 2.5 cm x 10 cm (1 in x 4 in) board
• Miter saw or scrollsaw
• Measuring tape
• Square
• Pencil
• Sanding paper
• Drill
• Drill bits
• 1–1.5 cm (5/8 inch) wood button

Cut List

Lengths to be cut from the 2.5 cm x 5 cm board (1 in x 2 in):

• Two pieces 33 cm long (13 inch)
• Two pieces 25.5 cm long (10 inch)
• Two pieces 17.75 cm long (7 inch)
• Two pieces 10 cm long (4 inch)
• Six pieces 3.8 cm long (1.5 inch)

Length to be cut from a 2.5 cm x 10 cm board (1 in x 4 in):

• One piece 10 cm long (4 inch)

Safety

• When working with power tools such as saws, it is very important to wear safety glasses at all times.
• Make sure you are fully concentrating on the task at hand, as saws and other power tools can do a lot of damage very quickly!

Tools

• For this tutorial, you can use a miter saw. Miter saws are perfect for cutting very straight lines in larger pieces of wood. A miter saw should not be used with pieces of wood where you cannot keep your fingers safely away from the blade.

1. Plotting and Cutting Your Tree

Step 1

First you will need to mark your boards for the proper lengths for each "branch" of your tree. Use the cut list above as a reference for the proper lengths.

Step 2

Now with a saw, cut each marked piece. Make sure your cuts are as accurate as possible. Sand any pieces that have rough edges.

Step 3

Next, mark the center of each piece of wood using a tape measure and straight edge. This mark will be where you drill the hole to assemble your tree.

Step 4

Now carefully drill a hole with a drill bit that is just slightly larger than the dowel rod you will be using. Using a bit that is slightly larger will allow the pieces to thread easily onto the dowel rod. Do this for each piece except for the base piece and one of the smallest tree pieces. Set these two pieces aside.

Next, drill a hole in the two pieces you set aside with a drill bit that is the same size as the dowel rod. Using this size drill bit will allow for a snug fit that will hold your tree together.

2. Assembling Your Wooden Tree

Step 1

Now it is time to figure the length that your dowel rod will need to be cut to. Add up the total width of all the project pieces, including the base and top piece, then subtract 0.6 cm (1/4 inch) from that total. This will allow room at the top of your tree for the wooden button topper.

Step 2

Place the dowel rod into the hole in the base. It should be a snug fit, so you may need to gently tap the dowel into place with a mallet or hammer. The bottom of the dowel should be flush with the bottom of the base. Now you can begin to add the pieces of your tree, starting with one of the small square spacer pieces.

Step 3

Continue to add tree pieces. Add the longest two and then another spacer. 

Step 4

Continue adding tree pieces until you only have the top spacer piece with the smaller hole left. Then place the last square space piece onto the dowel rod. The dowel should not be flush with the top of this piece.

Step 5

Place the wooden button in the top hole to give your tree a nice finished look.

Deck the Halls

Congratulations, now you are ready to trim your new Scandinavian inspired tree! Add little accents such as small ornaments, tea lights, ribbons, or nature-inspired items to the "branches" for a more personalized holiday look.