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A Portal Christmas tree is a holiday display that makes a tree appear to pass through glowing portals. The reported original used a three-section artificial tree, suspending one section from the ceiling and setting the other sections upside down on the floor. Red and blue rope lights, dark circles, and garland completed the illusion.
What the Portal Christmas tree is
The display takes its visual cue from Valve’s game Portal: colored rings suggest openings through which the tree continues. Valve featured the decoration in a 2011 post and pointed readers to its construction explanation (Valve’s Portal Christmas tree post).
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The account of the best-known build appeared in Boing Boing in 2011, attributing the description to co-creator Ryan Kelly. Kelly characterized the tree as an artificial model that came apart in three sections. This is one reported DIY construction, not a standardized plan with tested hardware or dimensions (Boing Boing’s build account).
How the reported build created the illusion
Arrange the tree sections
The creators hung the top section upside down from an adhesive ceiling hook. They joined the other two sections and placed them upside down on the floor. Fishing line connected the branches to what would normally be the tree’s base, drawing the branches upward because they otherwise depended on gravity to spread out.
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Make the portal rings
Red and blue rope lights formed the rings: the red light was arranged in a tight circle on the floor, while the blue light was formed into a circle and hung from the ceiling. Black poster-board circles beneath the lights made the openings look dark. These details, rather than the tree alone, help communicate that its sections appear to connect through portals.
Hide the gap
Garland wrapped around the suspended top section concealed a visible gap and made the tree seem to continue into the ceiling. The builder noted that the gaps needed adjustment to look seamless. In practice, the illusion depends on how the sections, rings, and concealment line up from the viewer’s vantage point.
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Materials named in the original account
- A three-section artificial Christmas tree
- Fishing line
- Adhesive hooks
- Red and blue rope lights
- Black poster board
- Artificial garland
These are the materials described for that particular build; they do not establish suitable products, dimensions, or installation methods for another home.
Plan around your room and installation
The documented version attaches part of the display to the ceiling, so its arrangement is not equivalent to a freestanding tree. Before adapting the idea, consider how the tree sections will be supported, how the rings will be positioned, how much floor and ceiling space is available, and what will hide gaps from the intended viewing angle. The original account does not specify load limits, ceiling compatibility, or electrical requirements for a different setup. Choose supports and lighting appropriate to your own space rather than assuming the reported materials will work everywhere.
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A 2018 article described the display as appealing to some pet owners seeking to keep a tree out of reach and to people with limited space. Those are reported motivations, not evidence that the arrangement prevents pet access, is safe around pets, or suits every small room (El Siglo de Torreón’s 2018 report).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes the effect convincing
- Clear visual alignment: Place the rings so the suspended and floor sections appear to continue through them.
- Dark openings: Black circles behind the colored lights create contrast and help the rings read as portals.
- Concealed transitions: Use the reported garland approach to disguise gaps, adjusting the placement for the view you expect people to have.
- Controlled branch shape: Fishing line was used in the original build to manage branches in an upside-down orientation.
These are features of the reported construction, not guarantees of a particular result. The original account notes that achieving a seamless look took some finessing.
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