Decorating & Design
Find Your Holiday Style: 21 Natural Christmas Decorating Ideas
Published on November 16, 2016
Decorating for the holidays is innately personal. Whether you bring out family heirlooms or swap in new ornaments every year, everyone takes a different approach to decking the halls. Over the next month we’ll be showcasing a wide range of festive styles, so you can find what speaks to you — from Scandi-style to candy-colored. First up is natural Christmas decorating. Bring on the endless evergreen boughs and pinecones sprinkled here, there and everywhere!
For more holiday style ideas, browse our gallery of 20 Scandi Christmas Decorating Ideas, 16 Traditional Christmas Decorating Ideas and 14 Candy-Colored Christmas Decorating Ideas.
The lofty pine trees surrounding this post-and-beam cottage seem to find their way inside over the holidays in the form of a wreath, garland on the mantle and of course, a Christmas tree. A small bowl of pine cones and presents wrapped in kraft paper are thoughtful details.
Take decorating your staircase to the next level with a bountiful garland made of lush boxwood. The same boxwood balls found outdoors on top of urns in the summer look just as nice at the base of your staircase come the holidays.
For a low-key take on festive place settings, try placing a single pinecone and sprig of fresh greenery on each plate, like Vancouver designer Sophie Burke did here.
Two tall urns filled with fresh evergreen boughs and a pinecone-covered wreath add rustic warmth to the charcoal paneling of this home in Creemore, Ontario.
Pinecones make a decorative statement inside this Creemore, Ontario, home as well. The spare holiday decor includes a dense pinecone garland that picks up on the deep brown velvet pillows and a tree sprinkled with simple white lights.
This great room makes a strong statement with a peaked ceiling clad in reclaimed barnboard paneling. A boxwood and twig garland was draped across the mantle for a fuss-free look. The pop of green is refreshing in this otherwise neutral space.
An urn of oversized pinecones brings the outdoors in on this coffee table. Have your kids help collect the pinecones for an extra special touch.
Consider a small potted evergreen in place of a full-sized tree if you’re living in a smaller home or condo. Placing it on a tabletop will give you the height and grandeur of a larger tree.
Get more small space holiday decorating ideas here.
Even bright white rooms can feel warm over the holidays with the right festive touches. In this living room, magnolia leaves on the mantle, a burlap ribbon on the tree and a roaring fire set just the right mood.
Even your mudroom can get into the spirit this season. Here, a white felt wreath and arrangement of paperwhites adds an unfussy, festive touch to a high-traffic space.
“Put the porch to work as a stage for rustic vignettes that can stay out all winter long,” suggests designer Christina Jeffrey. Stacked firewood, a plaid throw and unadorned wreath fit the bill nicely.
Two small potted ferns bring a touch of greenery to each bedside table in this principal bedroom.
Not all presents need to be tucked under the tree. Here, a scattering of presents is a decorating touch in its own right, especially surrounded by pine cones and white amaryllis.
Freshly chopped wood and evergreen branches set the stage for nature-loving holiday decorating on this wraparound porch.
Grand as it is, this wrought-iron staircase still benefits from a touch of nature come the cooler months. The uncomplicated garland suits the rustic space perfectly.
During the holidays, this dining room (inspired by Nate Berkus‘s Chicago apartment) is dressed up with magnolia leaves and winter white hydrangeas and lilies.
Designer Betty Theodoropoulos covered her towering fir in a lush garland made of magnola leaves and frosted white berries for a low-key take on tree trimmings.
This principal bedroom juxtaposes rustic and refined: raw wood paneling with a Gothic-style mirror and crystal chandelier. A bushy, unadorned pine wreath is a subtle nod to the season.
Nature certainly reigns supreme in this chalet in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. To stay authentic to this oak-filled space over the holidays, designer Richard Ouellette incorporated tabletop arrangements made of cotton stems, bare branches and fresh evergreen clippings.
When decorating with greenery it’s important to remember not to fuss with it too much. Here, a clear vase holds freshly cut evergreens in a loose arrangement, rather than in a forced bundle.
Kraft paper-wrapped gifts with simple black ribbon and fresh greenery cast the perfect au-naturel holiday note. To take the nature-loving look one step further, swap out your Christmas tree skirt for a piece of rustic burlap.