Homes Extra: Gifts from Nature

Bring nature into your home by using the fruits and foliage from your garden to decorate your home this Christmas 

Forget plastic trees, ornaments and swathes of tinsel, this Christmas why not utilise the natural world to create some real magic in your home? 

Not only is it easier than you might think – making wreaths, garlands and table decorations using foraged greenery and garden finds is also really rewarding and highly therapeutic. 

Forage for foliage and natural decorations such as holly, ivy, pinecones and dried seed heads. Adding nature into your Christmas decorations creates a stunning festive feel more than anything you can buy. 

Wreath 

You will need: 

• Sturdy wire wreath frame• Floristry wire and garden twine 

• Selection of fresh or dried foliage - moss, ivy, holly, evergreen sprigs, rosemary or bay

• Pinecones, seed heads, berries (rosehips, hawthorn) and small branches• Ribbon or fabric scraps for a finishing flourish 

1. Lay out your frame and begin by attaching a base layer of greenery, working in one direction for a neat, overlapping effect. Use wire or twine to secure stems. 

2. Build up texture and interest with different shades of green, adding sprigs of holly with red berries for colour and ivy for trailing lines.

3. Insert pine cones, dried seed heads and berries at intervals to add visual contrast. These can be attached with wire, nestled among the foliage or glued if preferred. Finish with a ribbon or bow. 

Garlands 

You will need: 

• Long lengths of twine or thin rope• Fresh or dried greenery (spruce, fir, holly, ivy) 

• Pinecones, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, berries and seed heads• Floristry wire or thread 

1. Cut your twine to the desired length for your space. 

2. Bundle small groups of greenery together and secure at intervals along the twine using wire or thread. Alternate between different shades of green for visual depth. 

3. Intertwine with lengths of ivy for a trailing effect and add pops of colour with holly berries, dried fruit slices or seed heads 

4. Attach pinecones or cinnamon sticks with wire. 

Table Centrepiece 

You will need: 

• Shallow tray or bowl – preferably wooden or neutral colour

• Floristry foam (optional, for structure)

• Moss, evergreen foliage, holly, ivy,dried seed heads• Pinecones, berries, twigs• Small candles or tealights (optional) 

1. Line your tray or bowl with floristry foam if using to give extra height and then cover with moss or evergreen foliage. 

2. Arrange the holly leaves, ivy trails, and dried seed heads in clusters. 

3. Add pinecones and berries for texture and colour, inserting candles among the foliage for a soft glow, ensuring they are safely positioned (use electric ones if concerned about safety).