Non-oval Christmas tree layout?

My standard gauge layout under the tree is a simple trapezoid shape using regular curves and straights. It's a bit wonkey but the rail pins are long enough to fill the occasional gap between track sections.
One of the straights is front center below the tree. The large curve is in the back.

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Enjoy!

That's a good idea and it looks good too.  But, I would put in a couple of switches in the front of the circles when you put the track up.  Put up the tree.  Then put the straight track in between the switches so you could run the trains in front of the tree.  This way you can see more of the trains if you choose to.

 

Rick

The non-oval arrangements look great, if you have the space for it.

 

If you need to keep it small, ovals with compound curves give a good effect.

 

In a corner, an L-shape or a triangle shaped railroad will look pretty good.  Twice arounds, double mainlines, and others mentioned above also look good.  The thing about track planning is that there is no universal layout that can fit into every space.  So the options can go on indefinitely. 

I found a long time ago the trick was to make the rails go behind the couch along the wall.  Then you can build a large layout that encompasses the entire living room, and even park the trains out of site to protect from animals and/or kids.  If you set it up right, you will have a nice walkway around the edge of the living room.

 

We also have our tree sitting on top of a large box-stand that has been wraped in fabric & ribbon to resemble a present.  There are holes cut into two sides of the box to allow two rail lines to pass through.  With the trains running under the tree, there is now plenty of room for presents.  Plus you can extend the tunnels with presents.  The kids go nuts over the tunnels.

 

Couch Canyon:

 

 

 

View from the stairs:  You can see the box-stand dressed as a present as well as the rails following the shape of the wall just out of site.  Plenty of walking room.

 

That's a cool way to expand a Christmas layout!

My "temporary" floor layout became permanent by routing it around the walls of my upstairs hobby room ...