Decorating for the holidays can be as easy and economical as stepping outside your front door. Using what we have available outdoors can provide just what you need to create beautiful, natural holiday decorations, and in the process, express your creativity and even start a new family tradition.
Everything from wreaths to garlands, arrangements, swags and tree decorations can be made using nature’s bounty. “Natural” doesn’t mean using decorations that look like decorations from nature – it means using actual elements found outdoors. Remember how your grandparents’ home looked and smelled during the holidays? Decorating naturally can bring back those memories and create an old-fashioned atmosphere.
For many families, the Christmas
tree is the focal point of their holiday décor. This year, consider a pre-cut tree or cut-it-yourself tree – be eco-friendly and plant another tree in place of the one that was harvested. And after the holidays, be sure to “tree-cycle” your tree. Another option is to use a fresh live tree.
Decorating the tree typically starts with garlands – a popcorn or berry garland is a perfect way to “go natural.” Day-old popcorn works best, so pop it at least a day ahead of time. Thread pieces of corn or berries on a heavy duty thread. Add a little shellac to the string to keep the bugs away and seal in the smells.
There is an abundance of natural elements that can be used to decorate the tree, such as pinecones, small depleted nests, leafy twigs and berries. The pinecones and nests can be painted with silver or gold paint to add a touch of glitter to your tree. Use a hot glue gun to glue them to the branches. Baking soda can be sprinkled on the branches to mimic snow.
Decorations can also be made from salt dough (see recipe), cut into Christmas shapes using cookie cutters and baked. Punch a hole in the top and use strips of organic cotton in holiday colors to hang the ornaments.
Twig art is very popular and can be used to create large, medium or small twig stars by wiring or tying together six straight twigs of the same length into two triangles. Place one triangle on top of the other and wire in place, then suspend them from the tree using fishing line.
For Hanukkah, menorahs can be made from salvaged plumbing fixtures, old flower pots, used water bottles and even potatoes. Celebrate Green (www.celebrategreen.net) has more information on making recycled menorahs.
Swags and garlands are other decorative touches that lend themselves perfectly to using natural elements. Popcorn and berries can be used for swags and garlands, as well as evergreen branches, pinecones, dried flowers, pods, red and green peppers, red apples, lemons and limes. Using fresh evergreens such as pine, cedar, spruce or fir will have an added bonus by adding a wonderful “woodsy” aroma to your house. They will dry out quickly, so spray them with water frequently and keep them away from heat sources.
If you don’t want to make your own garlands or swags, you can purchase them fresh from a nursery or farmers market and then decorate yourself.
Frames for wreaths can be made from coat hangers, heavy wire or purchased foam or straw. A wide variety of natural elements can be used to decorate wreaths, such as an assortment of nuts, berries, fruit, acorns, pinecones, dried eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, ivy and other perennial greens.
Wire forms can be used for centerpieces and topiary balls. Use moss and greenery to fill in, then add fresh fruits and vegetables, pinecones or dried flowers.
For a Williamsburg-inspired centerpiece, use a wooden cone with nails attached (nail heads facing out). Attach fruit such as apples, lemons and limes to the nails, then add greenery such as boxwood, holly, ivy or magnolia leaves to fill in around the fruit. Top the centerpiece off with a pineapple attached to the top.
For the table, tie napkins with raffia and tuck in some greenery, dried flowers and an acorn.
Tomato cages can be used to make a tomato tree for outside decorations. Turn the cage upside down and anchor it in the ground or in a pot. Starting at the top, weave greenery in and out around the wire of the cage and add some tiny white lights for sparkle. You can tuck the ends of the greenery into the ground or in a concealed saucer of water to keep the tree fresh and green.
The possibilities for making natural holiday decorations are limited only by your imagination and creativity. Use what you have at-hand, in your yard, on nature walks, at the grocery store or at a nursery or florist. Natural environmentally friendly holiday decorating will help you save money and the environment – and that’s a reason to celebrate.