Decorate your home organically this Christmas with these 12 creative garden-sourced decoration ideas!
In the spirit of sustainability and authenticity, this year, let's embark on a journey to create beautiful, eco-friendly Christmas decorations using materials found in your local environment. From scented pinecones to rustic wall hangings, here's a guide to help you transform your home and garden into a winter wonderland.
Scented Pinecones
Start by collecting fallen pinecones, clean them by soaking in warm water multiple times, dry thoroughly, and then scent them with essential oils like cinnamon or clove. These scented pinecones can be used as ornaments, table decor, or in bowls around the house, adding a delightful aroma to your holiday space.
Fresh Evergreen Wreaths
Create a sturdy wreath using a wreath frame and attach freshly cut greenery such as pine, fir, holly, cedar, eucalyptus, or magnolia with floral wire. Layer different types of greenery and tuck small pinecones or berries for added texture. This wreath can be reused year after year by removing old greens after the season.
Garlands and Bunches
String together pinecones, dried seed heads, berries, or leaves collected from your yard or nearby woods to create natural garlands for mantels or doorways. These garlands can also adorn paintings, mirrors, Christmas table, cupboards, and staircase banisters, adding a touch of the outdoors to your indoor decor.
Rustic Wall Hangings or Tree Alternatives
Collect freshly cut branches from Hazel, Sycamore, Birch, or similar trees to craft tiered wall-hanging Christmas tree shapes tied together with twine or wire for a minimalistic, nature-inspired decor piece.
Additional Foraged Materials
Don't forget to collect pine branches, blue spruce, rhododendrons, boxwood, and other local greens and berries to incorporate into planters, table centerpieces, or combined with vintage and recycled household items for unique natural decor.
Unconventional Decorations
The old-man's beard lightcatcher catches and diffuses light using the fluffy seedheads of Clematis vitalba. A Christmas wreath of berried ivy uses only mature common ivy leaves and berries, while the succulent wreath incorporates rosettes of Sempervivum 'Rubin' and Echiveria elegans, herbs, ivy berries, and blackberry leaves. A hazel ball with ivy berries showcases mature ivy berries on thin ends of hazel branches.
Trailing Decorations
The trailing ivy and crab apple garland can decorate various locations, adding a touch of green and fruit to your holiday decor. Twig stars, featuring lichen-covered twigs with a bright strip of ribbon at the center, are another unique addition to your Christmas decorations.
A Cohesive Collection
The seedhead post light uses seed heads and a wreath of rose hips to decorate a vintage-looking hurricane lantern on a gate post. Garden baubles and seed-head garlands are made from various materials like moss, old man's beard, Nigella seedheads, crab apple, and rosemary.
For more craft ideas and inspiration, visit the Christmas hub. Florists wire, wreath frames, and long nosed pliers can be purchased at www.essentialscompany.co.uk or www.qualityfloristsupplies.co.uk. Ribbons for crafting can be found at www.vvrouleaux.com or antique markets.
Styling for the article was done by Kristy Ramage. Let's celebrate the holiday season with natural, sustainable, and beautiful decorations for both home and garden.
- Incorporate scented pinecones, such as those scented with cinnamon or clove, into your holiday space by using them as ornaments, table decor, or in bowls around the house.
- To create a rustic wall hanging or tree alternative, collect and string together freshly cut branches from Hazel, Sycamore, Birch, or similar trees and tie them together with twine or wire.
- For a cohesive collection of decorations, consider making seedhead garlands using various materials like moss, old man's beard, Nigella seedheads, crab apple, and rosemary.
- Combine foraged materials like pine branches, blue spruce, rhododendrons, boxwood, and other local greens and berries with vintage and recycled household items to create unique natural decor for your home and garden.
