Nature abounds with the perfect materials for decorating the home this Christmas season.
Pine cones, evergreen sprigs, leaves, berries, branches, birch bark, and more, can often be found right in your own backyard.
When foraging for Christmas décor at home or in the wild, keep an eye out for contrasting colors, textures, and shapes.
These natural materials can be used to create inspiring decorative pieces that are beautiful, elegant, and timeless. Make wreaths, ornaments, centerpieces, table settings, garlands, and other holiday décor that will surely usher in much festive cheer!
Holiday Wreaths to Hang on Your Front Door
1. Classic Christmas Wreath
This quintessential holiday wreath is beautifully arranged with an assortment of evergreen sprigs, winterberry holly, and dogwood branches.
Make small bundles by selecting colors and shapes that create a nice contrast and simply tie them on a wire frame with paddle wire.
2. Pine Cone Wreath
Pine cones provide such gorgeous texture and color, using them for holiday décor is practically a must!
Here a collection of pine cones are hot-glued to a wire frame. The finished product will be quite heavy, so make sure you have sturdy hardware to hang it to a wall or door.
3. Grapevine Wreath
The minimalist approach to wreath-making, grapevines can be twisted, wrapped, and weaved to make a large or small wreath. These look great as is, or you can embellish them with ribbon, conifer sprigs, pine cones, and other festive treatments.
Even if you don’t have grapevine available, you can use other types of flexible and woody vines, such as honeysuckle or Virginia creeper.
Get the tutorial here.
4. Magnolia Leaf Wreath
Collect yourself a bundle of fresh leaves, and with a grapevine wreath form, hot glue each leaf all around the circlet. This one uses magnolia leaves, but any large and attractive leaf would work. Think bay leaf, holly, euonymus, ficus, and the like.
5. Acorn Wreath
Acorns, walnuts, chestnuts, or any other type of nut that drop to the ground in great numbers in your area can be glued to a grapevine form.
Collect nuts in autumn and allow them to dry out completely before adhering them to the loop. Finish this piece with a bow in Christmas-y colors.
6. Birdseed Wreath
Let’s not forget to bring some holiday cheer to our feathered friends! Entirely edible, this birdseed and cranberry wreath is whipped up and then molded in a Bundt pan. Let it rest for 24 hours before adding a bow and hanging it on a tree branch.
Make sure you hang it where it can be easily viewed and enjoyed from inside the home.
Centerpieces for Your Tabletops
7. Zero Waste Table Settings
Here are four simple and rustic ways to set your table this Christmas using evergreens, pine cones, salt, stones, sticks, and other materials that can be easily found around the home and garden.
8. Simple Winter Centerpiece
Striking in its simplicity, this charming centerpiece whorls evergreen branches, pine cones, and dried cranberries around a tall pillar candle.
9. Floating Candles Centerpiece
Create warm ambiance along the dining table with these floating candle centerpieces. All you need for this DIY is some mason jars, floating candles, holiday ribbon, and fresh cranberries. As a finishing touch, scatter some evergreen sprigs along the table to complete the look.
Get the tutorial from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs.
10. Evergreen Table Runner
Several conifer branches tied together with twine makes for a long table runner that you can do up a couple weeks ahead of time. Keep it simple or add extras like LED tea lights, pine cones, dried berries, and red ribbon.
11. Citrus and Spices Centerpiece
Providing wonderful color and delicious aroma, citrus fruits (orange, clementine, grapefruit, etc.) are adorned with whole cloves, star anise, and juniper berries. Place fruits in a tray and fill in empty spots with pine cones, evergreens, and red berries.
Get the tutorial from Joy Us Garden.
12. Holly Table Runner
This bright table runner is about as easy as can be – just snip a few berry-laden holly branches fresh from the tree or shrub and loosely arrange them along the dining table
Get the tutorial from 17 Apart.
Christmas Ornaments for Your Tree
13. Glittery Pine Cones
Jazz up the humble pine cone by painting the individual scales with a bit of Elmer glue and then rolling or dipping it in pretty glitter. Install a screw eye on the top for easy hanging.
Get the tutorial from Miss Mustard Seed.
14. Driftwood Tree Ornament
A collection of small, pencil-sized pieces of driftwood or twigs in varying lengths are arranged into a tree form. Drill a hole in the center of each wood piece and thread together with elastic thread or thin wire. Add a decorative bead to the top before hanging it up.
Get the tutorial from Sustain My Craft Habit.
15. Sliced Wood Ornament
Scavenged tree branches can be sliced into half-inch disks and engraved with Christmas themes, like snowflakes, trees, bells, and sleighs. You can use a wood burning tool, stamps, or just freehand it!
Get the tutorial from Craft Ideas.
16. Twiggy Stars
This fun project for youngsters and adults alike involves gluing branches into five-pointed stars. When the glue has dried, wrap stars around and around with pretty colored paper.
Get the tutorial from Happy Hooligans.
17. Orange and Cinnamon Ornaments
Dehydrate orange slices in the oven on low heat, sprinkling them first with ground cinnamon for good measure. When completely dried, string up one orange slice with a cinnamon stick, using golden thread. Hang several on the tree to fill the home with a wonderful merry-making fragrance.
Get the tutorial from Natural Suburbia.
18. Reindeer Ornament
Tree trimmings and scavenged branches are transformed into adorable little reindeer. Two larger cuts are used for the reindeer torso and head, with smaller twigs for the neck and legs, and some fresh evergreen sprigs for antlers and tail. Drill small holes to attach all parts and use a screw eye with twine for hanging on the tree.
Get the tutorial from Martha Stewart.
19. Grapevine Ball Ornament
Make stiff grapevines more pliable by soaking them in water for several hours. Use a drinking glass to help form a circular shape to make a base for the sphere. Then wrap and weave more grapevines around to create the orb.
Hang it up as is, or add more holiday flare with ribbon, small pine cones, evergreens, and berries.
Get the tutorial from Hearth & Vine.
20. Glass Ornament with Winter Greens
A clear glass ornament can be filled with all sorts of salvaged greens – a single pine cone or pine sprig is stunning. Or create a little winter scene by carefully placing moss, branches, berries, and evergreens within using tweezers.
Get the tutorial from Design Rulz.
21. Star Tree Topper
With just a smattering of sticks, you too can have this amazing three-dimensional star tree topper! Keep it plain for a more rustic look, or spray paint white or gold, add glitter, or wrap it up in little twinkle lights.
Get the tutorial from M@’s Projects.
Garlands to Hang Over Banisters, Fireplaces, and Doors
22. Traditional Christmas Garland
This full and fragrant garland is made with various fresh conifer branches, pine cones, juniper berries, and winterberry holly.
23. Gold Leaf Pine Cone Garland
An array of large pinecones are gilded with gold leaf foil and strung up together with twine.
Get the tutorial from the Sweetest Occasion.
24. Dried Orange Christmas Garland
An old-timey trick for Christmas decorating, dried orange garlands add a nice pop of color to the usual reds and greens. Try hanging it up near a window so that when light shines through, they look a little like stained glass.
Miscellaneous Trimmings for Around the Home
25. Bleached Pine Cones
Pine cones soaked in bleach have a softer and more wintry look! Try setting them out in a bowl or basket, adding them to wreath and garland arrangements, or hanging them up with ribbon in random places that could use some holiday cheer.
Get the tutorial from Garden Therapy.
26. Birch Bark Candle Holders
Bring the beauty of the birch tree indoors with these festive candle holders adorned with real bark. You’ll need a large candle in a glass jar (scented in fall or Christmas aromas, of course) and a collection of birch bark shedding to produce this look.
Get the tutorial from H2O Bungalow.
27. Log Snowman
This delightful little snowman is built with a few cleverly assembled wood log cuts that form the body and top hat. Paint on a face and buttons with acrylic paint. Tie ribbons around the hat and neck for the final step.
Get the tutorial from Inspirational Momma.
28. Evergreen Stars
Amazing indoors or out, these stars are formed by tying long sticks together into a star shape. Evergreen branches are attached to this frame with their tips facing inward, producing a gorgeous 3D effect.
Get the tutorial from Så Vitt Jag Vet.
29. Mini Christmas Tree in a Vase
A miniature Christmas tree is as simple as plunking a spray of conifer boughs into a glass vase! Dangle some tree ornaments from the branches or add a small string of lights.
Get the tutorial from Enjoy Your Home.
30. Winter Porch Pots
Winter porch pots are an elegant touch during the holiday season and beyond. Collect fir, pine, cedar, juniper, and curly willow trimmings and arrange them in a pot of soil. Water the soil just once so when the temperature dips below freezing, your branches will be set firmly in place.
31. Christmas Hanging Baskets
Similarly, hanging baskets can be given the festive treatment too. Sprinkle the finished arrangement with flocking to give it the appearance of freshly fallen snow.
Get the tutorial from Clean & Scentsible.
32. Christmas Swag
Christmas swag is essentially a bouquet of evergreens, berries, and twigs, tied together with a pretty bow. Place these anywhere and everywhere – to decorate porch lights, stair railings, chair backs, mailboxes, and more.
Get the tutorial from A Piece of Rainbow.
33. Grapevine Wreath Chandelier
Grapevine wreath forms can be turned into a charming chandelier, decked out in Christmas greenery and illuminated with string lights.
Get the tutorial from Urban Cottage Living.
34. Evergreen Candles
A brilliant idea for adorning glass candle holders, adhesive spray is used to attach conifer sprigs to the sides of the glass jar. Trim off the stems and pop in a candle.
Get the tutorial from Better Homes & Gardens.
35. Pine Cone Christmas Tree
This cute-as-button, everlasting Christmas tree is made with a heap of medium and small pinecones lightly brushed in glitter. These are glued to a styrofoam cone. Place a star on top and dress it up with battery powered fairy lights.
Get the tutorial from DIY by Hanka.
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