Obama 2009 White House tree used vintage gold ribbon and folk art

Seventeen years after Barack and Michelle Obama unveiled their first official White House Christmas tree in December 2009, the design centered on a hand-painted folk art collection and vintage gold ribbon continues to draw attention from interior decorators, Homes and Gardens reported.

Engineering the Blue Room Spectacle

To fit the eighteen-foot spectacle inside the historic Blue Room, White House staff removed the room’s central chandelier and positioned the tree directly in the center of the oval parlor.

For the decorations, Michelle Obama sent classic spherical ornaments from past administrations to schools and local artists across all fifty states and territories. Each contributor hand-painted a scene depicting their hometown.

The Role of the Vintage Gold Ribbon

Among those painted ornaments, a simple gold ribbon sat draped loosely between the branches. Interior designer Mackenzie Collier noted in Homes and Gardens that the ribbon introduced order to an eclectic mix of ornaments while softening the scale of the tree to create a home-like atmosphere.

Tapping Into Mid-Century Tradition

According to Mackenzie Collier, decorating with gold accents taps into an iconic holiday tradition.

“I love gold Christmas decor because it brings to mind the classic Christmas aesthetic of the 1940’s and 1950s, while still offering so many ways to make it your own,” she stated in the report, adding that gold ribbon can pair with bright red and green or take on a rustic look when layered with natural materials like burlap.

Layering Textures for Dimensional Depth

Achieving that balance relies on varying the materials themselves rather than sticking to a single texture.

“I love using different types of gold ribbon, from delicate gold cord to wider ribbon with a bit of shimmer,” Mackenzie Collier explained to Homes and Gardens. “The key is to layer and mix materials and textures so the tree feels rich and dimensional rather than overly coordinated.”

Replicating the Historic Look Today

Replicating the look on a smaller scale requires classic gold ribbon and hand-painted ornaments celebrating a hometown, matching the method established when the Blue Room tree first stood in December 2009.