One of my favourite things about decorating for Christmas is incorporating natural elements into my decor. Whether it’s greenery, pinecones, berries, wooden bits and bobs, or a few branches scattered throughout, these details are what makes our home feel cozy during the holidays. Some years I lean hard into a natural, rustic aesthetic – like everywhere – while other times, I’ve kept things pretty spare and minimal. But the common pattern for me is that I always have some nature-inspired elements in one form or another during the Christmas season. If you, too, love a home that feels a little rustic, a little collected, and inspired by the outdoors, here are some ways to incorporate natural elements into your own Christmas decorating this year.

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Bring the Outdoors In with Fresh (or Faux) Greenery

Of course, one of the easiest ways to create a natural Christmas look is by incorporating greenery throughout your home. Whether you use fresh branches, faux stems, wreaths, garlands or miniature trees – it does not matter. Whatever floats your boat – as they say – as there are innumerable ways to add greenery indoors.

Here are just a few of my favourites:

Decorate with Christmas Tree Clippings

Sometimes overlooked, but Christmas tree clippings go a long, LONG way in creating that outdoor vibe during the holidays. They’re perfect for filling bowls and vases, creating swags and small wreaths, inserting pieces into a tabletop vignette, adding them on books, the tops of wall frames, and so much more.

I find clippings to be one of easiest, most versatile ways to add more greenery into your home, whereever you think it needs a bit more holiday charm.

▶ For more inspiration, check out these 13 Ideas for Decorating with Christmas Tree Clippings (easily one of my favourite holiday decorating posts on the blog!).

Display Branches or Long Stems in a Vase

Sometimes a few branches – or even one dramatic one – in a simple vase is all you need to create an interesting seasonal display.

I love seeing contrasts in displays that showcase the natural shape and texture of holiday greens in interesting and unique ways, but without the need for a lot of adornment.

Create Fresh (or Faux) Christmas Wreaths

Of course, what’s a nature-inspired holiday home without at least one or two wreaths? Whether you like a wreath that is fresh or faux, having at least one hanging up during the holidays is an easy way to incorporate natural greenery.

I especially enjoy making my own and have shared several on the blog over the years.

Whether it’s this simple DIY Boxwood beauty using grocery-bought greens or this Basic DIY Fresh Winter Wreath using mainly materials clipped straight from our yard, I’ve had a lot of fun displaying handmade wreaths around our home over the holidays.

▶ See How to Make the Crescent Evergreen Wreath (pictured above) that uses a mix of grocery greenery and clippings from our yard.

▶ You can also check out this DIY Round-Up of 9 Christmas Wreath Ideas for more handmade wreath crafts to try this season.

Create a Christmas Gallery Wall of Wreaths

If you want to go REALLY DRAMATIC – as I did here in our foyer one year – rather than displaying one wreath, you can group several together. I love how this created more visual appeal while still keeping the overall look natural and welcoming – for all our friends and family members 🐈🐈

You can use different styles of greenery, as I did above, or simply vary the size for a streamlined look. And you don’t need to go all that dramatic. A few small well-placed wreaths can have a soft, understated feel, while keeping things interesting, too.

▶ For more inspo, check out these 13 Festive Ways to Decorate with Christmas Wreaths.

Add Seasonal Greenery Swag on a Door, Wall, & Other Unique Spots

Greenery swags are such a lovely alternative to traditional wreaths. They’re especially nice when you want something a little less structured, but want an extra green touch. They’re easy to make – if you’re so inclined – using simple greens or by adding berries and pinecones to them, too.

I also love finding unexpected ways to incorporate them, as I did using leftover greens that I assembled and attached to a floor lamp (above), on a wall, or with this Simple, Elegant 5-Minute Holiday Swag Wreath (below) that I hung in our foyer.

Swags are a great option if you’re looking for a quick diy project that can be replicated and hung up in a wide range of spots throughout your home.

Decorate with Christmas Garlands…Beyond the Mantel

Garlands are another versatile way to decorate with greenery, and they don’t need to be reserved for the mantel. In fact, I don’t have a mantel and have always had to think outside the box when it comes to using garlands in our home.

I’ve draped them over (and under) doorways, along the tops of our kitchen cupboards, along our TV media cabinet, above our dining room mirror and shaped them to create this DIY Advent Tabletop Wreath (below).

▶ See a few of my favourite garland decor ideas in this Natural Classic Christmas Home Tour as well as this Relaxed, Organic Holiday Home Tour.

Incorporate Miniature Christmas Trees into Seasonal Displays

Adding one or more miniature trees is another interesting way to add a natural holiday touch around the house. I love arranging them in baskets (like the one above) and placing them on tabletops or incorporating them into larger seasonal displays (below).

Like this sweet tabletop display of trees wrapped in burlap.

Or this pair of trees with twinkle lights woven throughout.

Miniature trees are such an EASY way to add a little greenery without having to decorate an entire room. Quite honestly, I could share so many more images from Christmases past, but you get the idea.

Decorate with Pinecones & Other Woodland Elements

Pinecones and woodland-inspired details are another way to bring out the natural feeling of the outdoors inside during the holidays. I love the texture they add, whether on their own, as a grouping or paired with greenery or other holiday-specific details.

Here are a few of my go-to favourites that I return to season after season:

Display Pinecones in a Bowl

A decorative bowl filled with large or small pinecones, maybe a bit of greenery, mixed with shiny ornaments…anything you like will work.

It’s an easy way to create a natural centrepiece for a side table, coffee table, dining table, or a console, too.

Place an Oversized Pinecone in a Cloche

I’ve been using oversized pinecones in my fall and Christmas decor for years – a little obsessively, too! I just love the sculptural feel. No one pinecone is exactly the same and they just look so interesting, while feeling natural and organic, seamlessly integrating into just about any vignette.

Insert Pinecones Directly Into a Christmas Tree

Last year, I decided to lean heavily into a ‘woodland’ aesthetic and decided to insert what felt like dozens of pinecones into our tree.

No need to add twine to each and every one of those pinecones. Just insert them directly into the tree and allow the natural texture to ‘lock’ them in.

Make DIY Pinecone Christmas Ornaments

If Christmas crafts are your thing, then making pinecone ornaments may suit you. While there are LOADS of diy options out there – seriously, just do a google search – here is just one made of felt that I made a few years back:

You can find felt at your local craft store or dollar store and make as many as you like.

▶ See How to Make a Felt Pinecone Ornament here.

Incorporate Wooden & Woodland-Inspired Christmas Ornaments

Wooden ornaments are another favourite of mine, particularly those featuring woodland animals and forest creatures – like the bird and deer peaking through the tree – above and below:

And how can you go wrong with classic wooden stars hung throughout a tree?

I love mixing wooden elements with both traditional and modern ornaments that make a tree feel a little more collected, but still stylish. You don’t need to use an entire collection, either. Just a few pieces hung around the tree add a subtle, lovely detail.

Make Macrame and Cinnamon Stick Christmas Ornaments

If you enjoy making your own Christmas decorations, macrame and cinnamon stick ornaments are another interesting addition to consider. While not entirely woodland per se, both introduce natural materials and interesting textures, and they’re such a nice way to add something handmade to your tree – or make them and hand them out as gifts.

And they’re just so darn easy to make with very few materials!

▶ See how to make your own (even if you are total novice) in my tutorial here: DIY Macrame Ornaments on Cinnamon Sticks.

Add Natural Colour: Berries, Botanicals, & More

While greenery and wood create a nice foundation, berries, botanicals, and other elements can add some natural colour into your Christmas decorating. I love the contrast that this creates, as well as the softer tones they bring in.

Use Berries in a Natural Arrangement

Berries are such a pretty addition to a natural arrangement, especially when you want to add a pop of colour that’s soft and subtle, in keeping with nature’s colour palette.

Whether it’s a holiday greens arrangement (above) or inserted into a garland like the one hung in our foyer doorway (below), you can’t go wrong with a few well-placed berries.

▶ You can see all the details of this garland and other festive details in my Natural Christmas Foyer tour.

Whether you use berry picks, small berry clusters, or individual stems tucked into a Christmas tree, they add a lovely natural detail.

Insert Dogwood Clippings Into Your Christmas Tree

I love the look of dogwood branches tucked into a Christmas tree. Their natural shape and deep red colour add an unexpected element that makes a tree feel more organic. When I added some of my freshly clipped stems to our tree one year, I was genuinely surprised at how much more interesting the tree looked.

▶ See all the details of this tree – including my handmade candycane ornaments – in my Natural Classic Christmas Home Tour here. It was one of my favourite holiday trees!

Display Dogwood Clippings in a Ceramic Vase

Sometimes a few branches in a ceramic vase are all you need to create a seasonal display. Whether store-bought or freshly-cut – like mine – dogwood clippings have such a lovely shape, and I find they work beautifully on their own or mixed with other greenery.

I’ve been storing and using mine year-after-year and love the unexpected quality of them.

Create a Natural Bowl Arrangement with Dried Orange Slices

Dried orange slices are one of those ubiquitous additions to any natural Christmas arrangement. Usually, I just like to sprinkle them into an arrangement like a decorative bowl with pinecones and greenery. I love combining different natural materials this way because the variations in colour and texture make the arrangement feel interesting without much effort.

Add Dried Orange Slices to a Christmas Garland

Another simple way I use dried orange slices is by sprinkling them into a natural Christmas garland. Whether it’s a simple addition to an all-green display – as above – or one that has a bit more rustic charm – like the one below – I love the warm colour they add to a natural holiday display.

Incorporate Fresh-Cut Wood and Other Rustic Textures

With nature-inspired Christmas decorating, you can choose to lean even more rustic, regardless of where you live. Although we live in the suburbs, I’m often inspired by more rustic details which work well during the holidays – even within our more modern home aesthetic.

Here are a few of my rustic favourites that worked surprisingly well within our classic suburban home:

Display Firewood and Pine Logs as Part of Your Holiday Decor

You don’t have to have a fireplace to enjoy the warmth that firewood or pine logs can bring visually to a space, indoor or out. Display some pieces as part of an outdoor vignette – as I did above – or indoors by tying a bundle together with thick jute twine and place in front of your Christmas tree – as I did below.

If you’ve got a fireplace, you can still keep a neatly arranged supply during the season and ready to be used after the holidays are over.

▶ See the original posts of these firewood displays and more from my Cozy Christmas Home Tour and my Nature-Inspired Christmas Home Tour that took a lot of inspiration from an earthy, natural palette.

Use Wicker & Rattan Baskets for Natural Christmas Decorating

Wicker and rattan baskets are another easy way to introduce natural textures throughout your home. They’re perfect as a base for a centrepiece or miniature tree (as above) or for storing blankets or firewood tucked next to your Christmas tree (as below).

If you love the look of natural baskets, don’t forget to shop around your local thrift shop – they are always LOADED with wicker baskets at great prices.

Incorporate Jute Twine and other Rope Details

Jute, sisal and other rustic rope and twine details can go a long way in softening the harder edges and shiny accessories that often come with holiday decorating.

You can either purchase decor that come with jute or twine or simply add these rope details as I did to these store-bought picks. Just assemble and hang!

▶ See how to Make This Simple DIY Swag (shown above).

You can add your own rope details to just about anything, whether it’s a set of oversized jingle bells, tied around a bundle of books or gifts, or attached as a loose bow on a rustic wreath. These rustic touches add a lot of character and charm for the holidays.

Find More Nature-Inspired Christmas Decorating Ideas

Quite honestly, I take SO much inspiration from nature for my holiday decorating and had a REALLY hard time trying to cram it all into a single post – let me tell ya!

If you are a natural decor enthusiast like me, then feel free to check out my other nature-inspired Christmas posts, below:

Styling & Simple DIY Ideas

Nature-Inspired Holiday Home Tours

🎁Wrapping Up

You don’t need to completely change your decor or buy a whole collection of new stuff to create a nature-inspired Christmas.

A few evergreen branches, collected pinecones, some berry stems, wooden ornaments or a simple basket filled with sticks or firewood can all contribute to a home that feels warm and welcoming for the holidays.

Sometimes it’s the simplest decorations that are the ones that end up being the ones that give your Christmas decorating a more welcoming and personal touch.