Natural Christmas Decorations for a Greener Festive Season

This year, why not let nature take centre stage in your Christmas décor? From fragrant herbs to foraged foliage, there’s endless beauty outdoors that can bring warmth, texture and authenticity to your home, without plastic or glitter in sight. These six simple projects use natural materials to create festive magic that looks good, smells divine and treads lightly on the planet.  (They shouldn’t cost the earth, either!)

We’ve some suggestions for what to plant grow your own Christmas decorations in our other blog this month.  Until you have your own ingredients, you can also pick what you need for these ideas on a walk or with your supermarket shop.

1. Playful pinecones

Pinecones are nature’s perfect Christmas decoration and you can pick some up on your next walk. (Just remember to leave a few for the wildlife!)  Allow them to dry off then brush them with melted beeswax for a soft sheen or dab on some paint to look like snow or gilding.  Use small ones as gift tags or place names, hang larger ones from twine as natural tinsel or a garland, or scatter them along a mantelpiece.  One of our favourites is to find the largest jar or vase you can, swirl around some fairy lights and fill it with cones; instant and portable Christmas impact!

2. Dried oranges

Orange is another archetypal seasonal scent so we love to have some around the house at Christmas.  Cut a few oranges into 1-2 cm slices.  Pop them on a cooling rack or grill tray and stand that on a baking tray, to allow for air circulation.  Place them in a cool oven (120’C) for at least three hours so they dry out slowly and don’t burn.  Check from time to time and turn them over to ensure an even dry.  Once cool, thread the slices with a needle and string, adding bay leaves or cinnamon sticks between each piece. The result is a sunny, citrus-scented garland that catches the light and lasts all season.  They also work well as an alternative to plastic baubles for a classier tree.

3. Fresh foliage wreath

If you haven’t booked a place on one of our wreath making workshops, you can still have a go yourself!

For a completely natural wreath, start with some sturdy twigs and tie them into rough hoop as your base. Gather sprigs of interesting seasonal foliage – like eucalyptus, ivy, holly, fir or rosemary.  It’s worth laying your foliage out around your hoop before you tie it on so you can see that your design looks balanced.  Tie your sprigs to your hoop, then add pinecones, cinnamon sticks or red berries on top for points of colour.  (Remember that clusters in odd numbers – 3s or 5s – are more pleasing to the eye).  Your wreath will be fresh, fragrant and completely compostable afterwards. Just mist it occasionally to keep the leaves supple through December.

4. Leaf prints

Whip up a batch of salt dough or pick up some air-dry clay and make a great impression!  Roll out little  discs of dough or clay and press small leaves – fir, holly, ivy or fern work well – firmly into them.  Remove the leaf then cut a small hole in the top of the disc for hanging later.  If you want to, you could also cut the disc itself into a seasonal shape – stars or Christmas trees, perhaps.  Dry the dough or clay as required.  When dry, they can be painted; picking out the leaf impression in a seasonal colour often looks good.  Thread some colourful twine through the hole for hanging.  Your finished prints can then be used on Christmas cards, as place names or gift tags, or as tree decorations. Each one captures a little imprint of nature - perfect keepsakes for years to come.

5. Twig stars

Snap fallen twigs into even lengths and lash them into star shapes with natural twine. You can leave them bare for a rustic look or brush lightly with white paint for a frosty touch. They’re perfect hung on walls or windows, perhaps with some ribbon or fairy lights wrapped around them too.  You could even make a larger one, decorate it with pinecones and cinnamon sticks and use it instead of a Christmas wreath on your front door.  An impressive statement to any festive visitors!

6. Mini herb sachets

A great way to recycle any natural fabrics you have lying around, turn worn linen tea towels or outgrow cotton shirts into mini-herb sachets.  Cut your fabric into small rectangles – about 10cm by 20cm is good.  Fold them in half – to make squares – with the right side inwards.  Sew or glue two edges together, leaving one side open to fill them up.  Turn them right-side out again and top them up with lavender, pine needles or rosemary – any seasonal scent will work. Then tie them with a pretty ribbon or twine.   Small ones could be tree decorations or place names, larger ones make thoughtful stocking fillers and leave drawers smelling fresh long after the holidays.

Bonus idea - Plan ahead for next year with pressed-flowers

If you saved petals or leaves from summer, use them now. Glue pressed blooms onto recycled card stock for one-of-a-kind Christmas cards that feel both personal and planet-friendly.

A greener Christmas, beautifully simple

Making your own decorations doesn’t have to be complicated. These crafts bring families together, cost very little, and use materials you already have or can forage responsibly. Best of all, they reconnect you with nature’s textures and scents during the darkest days of winter.

This Christmas, skip the glitter and go for greenery, citrus, herbs, and wood. Your home will feel cosier, smell fresher, and you’ll enjoy the quiet satisfaction of knowing that your festive sparkle didn’t cost the earth.