December in a classroom smells like wet wool and peppermint. It is a very specific type of sensory overload.
You need something to bridge the gap between indoor recess and the final bell, which is exactly where these Christmas tree coloring pages come in. Our team drew these to be a lifesaver.
But we fixed that problem. We designed these to have enough detail to keep them engaged. They can sit in their pajamas and just color. It buys you a little slice of peace.
The holiday rush can wait a few more minutes. Just pick their favorite Christmas tree coloring page and breathe.
Featured Christmas Tree Coloring Pages
Christmas Tree Coloring Page Highlights
Choosing the Perfect Tree at the Farm
There is something nostalgic about dragging your family into the freezing cold to point at trees. This scene shows a family bundled up and picking out their pine. The little kid reaching out is my favorite part.
It reminds me of the year we tried to cut our own and my husband forgot the saw. Getting these christmas tree printable coloring pages printed usually brings up that story. There are a lot of fun textures here with the winter coats and the layered pine needles.
Glowing Warmly by the Fireplace
A tree in a dark room just hits differently. This design features a decorated tree sitting comfortably next to a brick fireplace. You can almost feel the heat coming off the hearth.
The stockings hanging there are waiting to be filled. I think kids like shading the darker background to make the christmas tree coloring page stand out more. It is a very cozy, quiet scene.
Displayed in a Bay Window
Putting the tree right in the window is a power move. This illustration shows a massive tree framed by a classic bay window with snow falling heavily outside. The contrast between the indoor warmth and outdoor cold is stark.
My oldest usually attacks the window panes with a light blue crayon first. The snowdrifts at the bottom of the glass are simple but satisfying to leave blank. It is one of those free Christmas tree coloring pages that really captures a mood.
A Tree in the Bedroom
Having a tree in your actual bedroom is the ultimate childhood dream. Here we have a tree tucked into a cozy corner right next to a bed and a window. Presents are already piled up underneath it.
We did this once with a tiny plastic tree and it was magical. Kids love filling in the wrapped boxes because they can use every color in the box. This is a very sweet, calm printable Christmas tree coloring pages option for winding down at night.
Reflected in a Glass Ornament
This one plays with perspective a bit. It is a close-up of a single round ornament hanging from a pine branch, but the whole tree is reflected inside the curved glass. It is a clever angle.
You have to think about how light bends when you color it. Or rather, you don’t have to, you can just scribble. Honestly though it makes for a really unique piece of art.
Through a Frosted Window at Night
Looking from the inside out is always fun. This view shows a tree through a four-pane window covered in frost. You can see the crescent moon and little stars in the night sky behind it.
The frost framing the edges gives you a lot of room to play with icy colors. I print these christmas tree color sheets when I need something that feels a bit more quiet. The sky takes up a lot of room so get your dark blues ready.
Viewed From Below Through the Lights
This is exactly what a tree looks like when you are a toddler lying on the rug. The angle shoots straight up through strands of draped beads and lights. It is messy and beautiful.
It forces you to look at the ornaments hanging directly overhead. Kids often color the foreground beads bright yellow to make them pop. This is maybe the most dynamic design in the batch.
The Berry and Branch Topper
Stars and angels are fine, but sometimes you want a natural look. This tree stands alone and features a rustic topper made of crossing branches and clustered berries. The branches are thick and distinct.
It has a very farmhouse feel to it. You don’t need a crazy background when the tree itself has this much character. Finding unique christmas tree printable coloring pages like this helps break up the monotony of the standard star toppers.
Tips for Coloring Christmas Trees
1. Don’t Just Use One Green
Pine needles are not flat. If you just grab that one standard green marker and scrub it everywhere, the whole drawing looks like a big green triangle.
It gets boring fast. Try laying down a light, almost yellowish-green first. Then go back in with a forest green near the trunk where the shadows live. It takes maybe two extra minutes. The result is just so much better.
2. Make the Lights Actually Glow
Kids always want to color the bulb and leave it at that. But a light needs to glow, right? I learned this teaching second grade art. If the christmas tree coloring page has big bulbs, you have an opportunity.
You take a yellow or light orange colored pencil and gently rub a faint halo around the bulb itself. Before you even color the actual plastic part of the light. It tricks your eye into seeing illumination… then color the bulb super dark.
3. Snow Isn’t Actually White
When there is snow on the branches or outside the window, leaving it blank paper white looks unfinished. Snow catches shadows. It reflects the sky.
Take the absolute lightest blue or pale purple you own. Lightly trace the bottom edges of the snow clumps. It gives the snow weight. Suddenly it looks cold instead of just blank.
4. Faking the Shiny Gold
You don’t need expensive metallic gel pens to make ornaments look shiny. Regular crayons can do the trick if you know where to leave a gap.
The secret is the highlight. Draw a tiny little curved white shape on the side of the glass ball before you start filling it in. Just leave that spot totally uncolored. Then press really hard with your yellow or red crayon on the opposite side. The contrast makes it look round.
5. Give the Tree Something to Stand On
A lot of times we get so focused on the star and the branches that the bottom of the page is forgotten. The tree ends up looking like it is floating in empty space. That drives me crazy.
Even if there is no floor drawn, make one. Just a few horizontal streaks of brown or gray underneath the skirt anchors the whole image. You don’t have to draw a whole room. Just a shadow will do.
6. Skip the Tiny Details if You Want
Some of these pages have tiny little beads and chains strung all over them. For a four-year-old, that is a recipe for a meltdown. They don’t have the motor skills for it yet.
I tell my kids to just color right over them. Seriously. A dark green crayon will swallow up those little lines and no one will care. Coloring should be relaxing, not a precision stress test.
7. Getting the Night Sky Right
For the pages with windows looking out into the night, a black crayon is usually a mistake. Black just flattens everything out and makes the picture feel heavy.
It kills the festive mood. Use a really dark navy blue or even a deep indigo. Layer it up slowly. If you press too hard right away the wax gets shiny and looks weird. Go soft, maybe mix in a little purple.
8. Crayons and Watercolors Don’t Mix (In a Good Way)
We do this thing called crayon resist and it saves me so much time. You use crayons for all the ornaments, the tree trunk, and the star. Press down hard so the wax is thick.
Then you just take a cheap watercolor palette and wash a big sloppy layer of green over the whole tree. The paint slides right off the waxy ornaments. Kids think it is actual magic. Will this hold up if they use too much water? No idea. But today it works and it fills the page in seconds.