Decorating & Design
15 Unexpected Ways To Decorate With Greenery For The Holidays
Updated on December 9, 2025
Using festive boughs to spruce up your space for the holidays isn’t a new concept, but there are lots of fresh ways to adapt an old tradition. Scroll down to discover 15 unexpected ways to decorate with holiday greenery this season.
In this dining room, greenery is used to adorn a wagon-wheel pendant, while two more boughs are affixed to the sconces. Paperwhites are regular holiday staples: forced bulbs are easy to grow and they are super fragrant, for an early harbinger of spring.
In an all-white backdrop, the pretty tree, wreaths, and branches pop and add vibrancy and life in this newly built barn. “Evergreen boughs placed in water are long-lasting and have a festive aroma,” notes the homeowner. She hangs boxwood wreaths in front of the windows and tucks stray boughs in a gap under an armoire.
An unadorned pine wreath casually leaning against a charming iron bed in this newly built barn, tiny swags affixed to the frame and a small tree infused fragrance and accent the pure look of this space.
Dress up a platter of cookies with a spiky sprig of pine, and fill an empty vessel like this pitcher with extra branches.
Give a bathroom a fresh fragrance with an arrangement of scotch pine branches and mistletoe tied on the key.
Skip the standard poinsettia arrangement in favor of something more unstructured. In this Lion’s Bay waterside home in B.C., a feathery clutch of cedar branches can be snipped on a forest walk and are an easy way to accent a pair of vintage skis and antique blanket box.
Floral and interior designer Cynthia Zamaria filled baskets with small evergreens and uncut boughs for a lush yet relaxed look.
Create an eye-catching decoration by adding a sprig of greenery to the bottom of a clear vase. Top with candle sticks for even more impact.
Designer Alison Milne draped greens over her collection of ornaments and objets for a classic and effortless look.
One wreath is never enough! Dress a wall with a variety of sizes, textures and shades of green for a dramatic holiday look that grounds your entryway.
Designer Angela Wheeler makes a merry first impression by dressing up her foyer mirror with a lush bough. The 120-year-old reclaimed wood table is the perfect pairing.
Don’t forget about succulents! Consider placing tall, Christmas tree-like plants in decorative bowls around the house.
Dried clementines are a classic Christmas table accessory – plus they smell great when paired with fresh-cut greenery.
Add an unexpected hit of green in your entryway by wrapping fresh foliage loosely around a lantern or sconce.
Mix it up this year by displaying miniature evergreens on your dining table. Wrap them in burlap for a rustic vibe.
Drape a staircase with lush garlands, and finish the look with bows along each loop for an extra dose of holiday glam.