For a yuletide aesthetic that’s natural, sustainable and completely free, try these ideas for decorations you can source from your garden.
Make your own wreaths
Winter wreaths have a long history that pre-dates our modern Christmas. Evergreen plants like holly and laurel have long been used to add deep greens and reds to woven circles made from pine, cedar or magnolia branches. Willow is perfect for making your wreath frame, and you can add colourful baubles and festive ribbon to complete the look.
Garlands and boughs
Newly cut branches from any evergreen tree, particularly those with berries like juniper, rowan and blackthorn, can make a lovely garland effect on a mantlepiece or a striking display in a tall vase. If you’re feeling creative, use metallic or snow-effect spray paint to liven up interestingly shaped branches from the garden. These look suitably festive in a vase, but you can also add baubles and fairy lights for a twig tree effect.
Bring the garden inside for your Christmas table
Collect large leaves in autumnal shades of red and orange, dry them for a couple of days so you can write on them in metallic marker pens, and use them as place names for your Christmas table. Pinecones make delightful table decorations and can be spray painted in colours to match your napkins and table runner. Fresh herbs make an aromatic addition to your table – plant up mini pots of parsley, rosemary and thyme to sit next to each place setting, and you could add a decorative bow and a touch of glitter for extra sparkle.
By adapting items found in any garden, you can have beautifully decorated home this Christmas.
