14 Natural Christmas Decor Ideas With Pine, Oranges and Dried Things

Dried Orange and Fresh Pine Garland Across the Mantel

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Fresh pine boughs lie along a white mantel in a loose, uneven line. A strand of dried orange slices drapes over them, dipping low at each end. Three brass candlesticks stand behind with tall cream tapers.

Pine from the yard plus oranges from the fruit bowl makes a mantel that smells like the whole season. Uneven branch lengths look natural, while matched ones look store bought. Keep lit tapers well above the greens and never leave them burning in an empty room.

Copy it: Slice three oranges thin and dry them on a rack in the oven at the lowest heat tonight. (about 3 hours, mostly oven time, cost $)

Bare Branch Tree in a Gray Stoneware Crock

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Tall bare branches stand in a gray stoneware crock in the corner. Small wooden stars, dried orange rounds, and pinecones hang from the twigs on jute. The whole thing reaches about 5 feet.

Fallen branches after a windy day are free and look sculptural indoors. This works when a full tree will not fit or the budget says no. Pack the crock with rocks first so the branches stay upright and do not tip.

Copy it: Walk your yard after the next windy day and gather three long branches with lots of twigs. (about an hour, cost $)

Pine Bough Table Runner With Pinecones and Beeswax Candles

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Fresh pine and cedar boughs run down the center of a wooden dining table. Pinecones and whole walnuts sit tucked among the needles. Five beeswax pillar candles glow on small saucers along the line.

A runner of real greens costs almost nothing and fills the room with a forest smell. Beeswax burns with a honey scent and a warm golden glow. Set every candle on a saucer, keep needles a few inches away, and blow them out before you leave the table.

Copy it: Cut a few low branches from a yard tree or ask a tree lot for its trimmings. (about 30 minutes, cost $$)

Dried Orange Slices Floating in a Sunny Kitchen Window

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Dried orange slices hang on thin clear line in a kitchen window, each at a different height. Morning sun shines through them like stained glass. A single pine sprig rests on the sill below.

Thin slices glow amber in the light, which a garland on a wall can never do. Clear line makes them look like they float. Slice them as thin as a coin so the light comes through.

Copy it: Tie six slices to clear line and tape the tops inside the window frame. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

White Birch Logs Stacked in an Unused Fireplace

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White birch logs stack neatly inside a fireplace that never gets lit. Warm fairy lights wind loosely between them. A pine garland frames the opening above.

An empty firebox looks cold and dark, and birch fills it with texture and glow. Battery lights mean no heat and no worry. Choose logs of mixed widths so the stack has depth, not a flat wall of white.

Copy it: Pick up a small bundle of birch logs at a garden center or grocery store this weekend. (about 20 minutes, cost $$)

Popcorn and Fresh Cranberry Garland on the Tree

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Long strands of popcorn and fresh cranberries loop around a green tree. The red and white pattern repeats every few inches. Simple wooden ornaments fill in the rest.

Stringing garland is an old fashioned evening activity that kids and grownups both enjoy. Day old popcorn threads better than fresh, because it does not crumble. Use a thick needle and dental floss for a strand that holds all month.

Copy it: Pop a big bowl tonight, leave it out until tomorrow, and start threading after dinner. (about 2 hours, cost $)

Clove Studded Orange Pomanders in a Glass Dish

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Six oranges covered in whole cloves sit in a shallow glass dish on a side table. Some have spiral patterns, and others have simple stripes. A few bay leaves tuck between them.

Pomanders smell like spice and citrus for weeks as they slowly dry. Making them is calm, quiet work for a cold evening on the couch. Poke the holes first with a toothpick so the cloves go in without sore fingertips.

Copy it: Buy a jar of whole cloves and finish one orange during your next show. (about 30 minutes per orange, cost $)

Wooden Dough Bowl of Pinecones, Acorns, and Moss

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A long wooden dough bowl sits on the coffee table. Pinecones of all sizes pile inside with acorns and patches of green moss. Two small battery candles sit at one end.

Mixed sizes look collected over time, not bought in a bag. Moss adds a fresh green that keeps the bowl from looking brown and flat. Bake foraged cones on a sheet pan at low heat for an hour to clear out any bugs.

Copy it: Fill any long bowl you own with whatever cones and acorns you find on a walk. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

Cinnamon Stick Bundles on Gifts and Branches

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Small bundles of three cinnamon sticks tie onto gifts with red string. More bundles hang on the tree from short loops. Each one has a tiny sprig of rosemary tucked under the knot.

Cinnamon adds a warm smell and a rich brown tone to plain paper. It is cheap in the spice aisle and lasts for years. Look for the long sticks, since short ones slip out of the knot.

Copy it: Bundle three cinnamon sticks with baker's twine and hang the first one tonight. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

Simmer Pot of Oranges, Cloves, and Rosemary on the Stove

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A small enamel pot simmers on the stove with orange halves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and rosemary. Steam curls up into the kitchen. Beside it, a wooden spoon rests on a small dish.

Scent is decor too, and guests notice it before anything else. This uses leftover peels and herbs that would go in the trash. Top up the water every hour and never leave the stove on when you head out.

Copy it: Drop your next orange peels in a pot with water and a cinnamon stick and set it on low. (about 5 minutes, cost $)

Plain Salt Dough Ornaments With Pressed Pine Patterns

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White salt dough ornaments in star, heart, and tree shapes hang from a small tree. Each one has a pine sprig pattern pressed into the front. Natural jute loops hang them from the branches.

Flour, salt, and water make dozens of ornaments for pocket change. Pressing a real sprig into the dough leaves a fossil look that feels handmade and pretty. Bake them low and slow so they stay bright white instead of browning.

Copy it: Mix one cup of flour, half a cup of salt, and water until it feels like play dough. (about 3 hours with baking, cost $)

Single Yard Clippings in Old Glass Bottles on a Windowsill

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Five old glass bottles in green and clear line a windowsill. Each holds one clipping: pine, holly, cedar, a bare twig, and a berry stem. Cold winter light comes through the glass.

One stem per bottle looks clean and thoughtful, almost like a gallery. Clippings from your own yard keep this free. Trim each stem at an angle and change the water twice a week.

Copy it: Save five empty bottles this week and soak the labels off in warm water. (about 15 minutes, cost $)

Paperwhite Bulbs Growing in a Bowl of River Pebbles

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A shallow white bowl holds paperwhite bulbs set in gray river pebbles. Tall green stems rise with clusters of small white flowers. Twine ties a loose ring of twigs around the stems for support.

Paperwhites usually bloom four to six weeks after planting, so a bowl started now flowers in December. They feel fresh and alive in a house full of dried things. Plant a second bowl two weeks later to keep blooms going through New Year.

Copy it: Buy a bag of paperwhite bulbs and a bag of pebbles at a garden center this week. (about 15 minutes, cost $$)

Fresh Rosemary Wreath on a Glass Kitchen Cabinet

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A small wreath of fresh rosemary hangs on a glass front kitchen cabinet. Cream cotton ribbon ties it to the knob. Green and gray needles contrast with white dishes behind the glass.

Rosemary smells wonderful every time you open the cabinet. Snip a sprig from it for roast potatoes, and it still looks full. Wrap stems onto a wire ring with green floral wire, overlapping each bunch to hide the last one.

Copy it: Grab three packs of fresh rosemary and a small wire ring on your next grocery trip. (about 30 minutes, cost $)

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