An ombré paint-chip tree is a cozy DIY alternative to real pine. Photo by Tait Kellog

I had a few reasons for not wanting to go all out for a real Christmas tree this year, even though this was our first yuletide season in a real Mississippi home and not in a 400-square-foot New York City apartment. For one, I’m highly allergic to the real deal, and second, I wanted to save the space, time and money that a full tree demands.

Whether you’re looking for an evergreen alternative or to deck the halls with a homemade twist, here is one idea for a modern, DIY Christmas tree. I decorated mine with salt dough ornaments, the perfect addition since they’re made from ingredients even this talentless cook had in her pantry.