Celebrations Holidays & Occasions Christmas

18 Natural Christmas Decor Ideas For a Greener Holiday

Natural Christmas decor

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Sure, you could buy your Christmas decorations at the store—but if you want a more natural look this year, why not head outside? As the temperature drops and the air grows chillier, bringing the outdoors in can be a great way to get ready for the holidays and add a bit of festive cheer to your home while being kinder to the planet. Natural Christmas decor adds hygge vibes in any space—and the best part is, it can be a snap to DIY. Here are some simple ideas to inspire you to bring some natural Christmas decor into your home this season, everywhere from the Christmas table to the tree.

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    Use Foraged Branches

    natural christmas decor

    The Merrythought

    Want to forgo the artificial Christmas tree this year? This tree from The Merrythought is created only with branches and takes just a quick trip to your backyard to recreate. Spray paint the branch white or gold to add even more cheer. Add a few matching ornaments, and voilà.

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  • 02 of 18

    Add a Pine Cone Centerpiece

    Natural Christmas decor
    Garden Therapy

    Pine cones are a mainstay when it comes to natural holiday decor, but these bleached pine cones from Garden Therapy add a little something special. Bleaching them is a simple afternoon activity and creates a modern feel perfect for any room of the house. Pile them in a beautiful bowl for a table centerpiece that works well even past Christmas, or string them around a tree or in a window. 

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  • 03 of 18

    Experiment With Driftwood

    natural christmas decor
    So Much Better With Age

    This adorable tabletop tree from So Much Better With Age is made using driftwood to lend a coastal vibe to your Christmas decor. If you're not spending the holidays next to the beach, you can usually find packages of DIY supply driftwood at many craft stores. Driftwood also makes a lovely centerpiece when arranged in a vase.

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  • 04 of 18

    Add Greenery

    natural christmas decor
    Musings on Momentum

    Greenery is one of those decor elements that simply works all year long, and these candles from ​Musings on Momentum prove it can look just as festive during the holidays. Wrap a simple white candle (we recommend an LED version to avoid mishaps) with boxwood, eucalyptus, or any other easy-to-find greenery, and secure with a festive ribbon. 

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  • 05 of 18

    Try a Natural Wreath

    natural christmas decor
    A Daily Something

    Retire that plastic artificial wreath in your basement this season and add a little bit of nature to your door instead. This natural wreath from A Daily Something is just festive enough for the holidays, but subtle enough to display all winter long. Experiment with different foraged plants—adding dried holly and berries can make a wonderful accent.

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  • 06 of 18

    Rock On

    natural christmas decor

    Most Lovely Things

    Most Lovely Things made a base for a Christmas branch centerpiece on the kitchen table with scavenged rocks from a walk along the beach to create a base for a Christmas branch centerpiece on the table that fits in with the natural holiday decor used throughout the house.

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  • 07 of 18

    Lay a Fruit Table Runner

    natural christmas decor
    Julie Blanner

    This table runner from Julie Blanner looks like something out of a Renaissance painting. Greenery is a wonderfully simple way to create a centerpiece, but this look includes a few pomegranates to give it a pop of color and warmth. Try other fruits such as pears or oranges to mix it up. 

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  • 08 of 18

    Paint Some Branches

    natural christmas decor
    So Lebich

    Spiny branches create a whimsical, woodland-inspired feel—add some twinkle lights, and you're instantly transported to a fairy wonderland. This simple tree from So Lebich is easy to recreate: All you need is a basket, a few large branches and, of course, white twinkle lights​.

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  • 09 of 18

    Dry Some Fruit

    natural christmas decor

    Sashe

    Drying fruit, such as oranges and apples, has been a holiday tradition for many years, and this window hanging from Sashe proves it's still very much in vogue. You can easily dry oranges in your oven, and the best part is that they'll make your house smell wonderful. String dried fruit along with pine cones or other foraged items in a window or on a Christmas tree. 

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  • 10 of 18

    Create a Simple Wall Hanging

    natural christmas decor
    Delineate Your Dwelling

    Here's another look that could be recreated with a birch wood log. This adorable star wall hanging from Delineate Your Dwelling may take a few store-bought elements to come together, but it looks wonderfully modern and hip in your home. This blogger strung paper stars, but you can experiment with any other festive display (holly, berries and Christmas lights, just to name a few).

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  • 11 of 18

    Float the Candles

    natural christmas decor
    The DIY Playbook

    If you have some mason jars laying around (and we're sure you do!), you can create this cute floating candle from The DIY Playbook. Fill a mason jar with holly or evergreens, add water and a floating candle, and you'll have an instantly chic and organic look for your holiday dinner parties. 

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  • 12 of 18

    Display Evergreen Branches

    natural christmas decor

    @milkandhoneylife / Instagram

    If you don't have the space for a full-size tree, a small container full of lush branches can be a great alternative. Not only does it look good, but you get that natural Christmassy scent as well. If you choose to hang ornaments on the branches, try not to overdo it, as a display of this size will quickly become weighed down—both physically and visually. Choose a few favorites and use them sparingly. 

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  • 13 of 18

    Repurpose Clam Shells

    natural christmas decor

    Most Lovely Things

    A coat of liquid gold leaf elevated clam shells collected on a beach walk in the Hamptons into elegant, festive salt and pepper cellars for a Christmas table from Most Lovely Things.

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  • 14 of 18

    Make an Entrance

    natural christmas decor

    Finding Lovely

    This entryway from Finding Lovely is decorated for Christmas with a generous dose of pine and cedar. Wrapping the staircase with garlands made of seasonal greens, adding a vase of branches, and a mini tree in the dead space under the stairs complements the all-white farmhouse decor, and creates a natural and timeless winter wonderland feeling that's easy to emulate.

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  • 15 of 18

    Gather Some Twigs

    natural christmas decor

    Most Lovely Things

    Foraging for materials is a fun way to make your Christmas decorations feel more personal and memorable, whether you're on your own or with friends or family. These star-shaped window decorations from Most Lovely Things were made with foraged twigs, berries, and twine, built by cutting twigs to fit and gluing them together with a hot glue gun.

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  • 16 of 18

    Decorate a Mirror

    natural christmas decor

    Most Lovely Things

    Most Lovely Things embellished the top of a decorative rattan mirror by the front door with pine cones, berries, and greens that echoes the natural Christmas decor elements scattered throughout the rest of the room.

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  • 17 of 18

    Use Leftover Clippings

    natural christmas decor

    Finding Lovely

    Leftover clippings and seed pods from an outdoor garland and natural accents like a twisted rattan wreath and chunky woven baskets complement the white walls and gold and wood accents of this fresh and natural Christmas living room from Finding Lovely.

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  • 18 of 18

    Wish on a Starfish

    natural christmas decor

    Finding Silver Pennies

    Finding Silver Pennies decorated the front door wreath of a home on Scituate Harbor on the South Shore of Massachusetts with dried starfish for a coastal holiday twist.