Celebrate nature in your home this festive season with Christmas decorations made from fruits, plants and other organic materials – some recycled items too!
Orange pomanders – A ‘pomander’ is a ball or perforated container of aromatic substances, placed in a cupboard or room to perfume the air (usually a piece of fruit, such as an orange studded with cloves and hung in a wardrobe to perfume it). For a festive twist, evenly score the skin of an orange or two and slowly dehydrate the fruits to hang on the Christmas tree.
Cranberry hearts – Thread thin wire through dried cranberries using an embroidery needle, bend into a heart shape and add a ribbon loop for hanging.
Lantern centrepiece – Decorate the festive table with a trio of candle lanterns and surround them with pinecones, fresh greenery and bright-red berries. Sprigs of evergreen branches popped into a collection of narrow glass vases wrapped with festive ribbon will also make for an eye-catching display; as will filling assorted glassware with fresh flowers and arranging them around metallic-sprayed pinecones and sparkly ornaments.
DIY ornaments – Fill clear plastic ball ornaments with natural materials like pinecones, tree clippings, feathers and such, and then loop with a ribbon for hanging. You can even throw in some ‘faux snow’ (mix equal parts of salt and baby powder together).
Bling fruit – Make a fruity centrepiece with a bowl of green apples studded with gold split pins in a variety of patterns. Studded pears and oranges will also do the trick.
Spice it up – Make easy Christmas tree ornaments from cinnamon sticks (tied in a star shape), dried orange slices and berries. Not only do they look great, but they smell wonderful too.
From the sea – Dust an assortment of seashells you’ve collected on holiday with glitter and show them off in a big glass bowl on the coffee table.
Moss wreath – Glue tufts of moss to a polystyrene ring, adding some berries or dried fruit segments for pops of colour. Hang with a length of hessian ribbon.
Herb wreath – If moss isn’t to your liking, make a fragrant herb wreath by weaving together rosemary, lavender and any other herbs you like. Add a splash of colour with bright-red chilies.
Rustic stars and snowflakes – Create snowflakes using twigs, berries and buttons etc. Join the twigs together to make a star shape, then glue the berries and/or buttons in the centre. Add a ribbon loop for hanging and dust the tips with faux snow.
Through the looking glass – Showcase glittered pinecones under glass cloches (bell jars) with a dusting of faux snow over some fresh greenery. (Spraying them white, silver and/or gold makes pinecones really pop against sprigs of green.)
Basket display – Turn a shallow wicker basket or wooden tray into a decorative element for the festive table. Arrange moss, pebbles, green apples, feathers, berries and pinecones etc into neat rows for any eye-catching arrangement.
Float some blooms – Float some festive flower heads in a wide glass bowl on the Christmas table, along with some lit floating candles.
Pine people – Pine cones make great bodies for DIY angels and Santa’s… Just glue on some polystyrene balls for heads and decorate with paint, beads and felt.
Festive flower tins – Cover coffee tins with Christmas wrap and embellish them with glitter and ribbon. Fill with flowers and sprigs of greenery.
Holiday garland – Make a colourful garland by cutting out circles from used holiday gift bags, stringing them together, and then running it up the staircase.
Floral ‘gift’ blocks – Cut blocks of pre-soaked floral foam into box shapes, big and small. Cut the heads off green pompom daises or a similar type of flower. Stick a pearl-headed pin through the centre of each flower and secure it to the foam. Pack them tightly so the whole block is covered in flowers, then wrap red velvet ribbon around the finished ‘gift’ box, or simply pop a bow on top.
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