How to Achieve a Natural Holiday Look

As we kick off December with the holiday season in full swing, many of us look forward to swapping out our fall gourds for evergreen boughs to spruce up our interiors with holiday cheer and festive flair. Holiday decor inspiration can come from anywhere.

There are countless ways to incorporate nature - winter landscapes, pine cones, and evergreen trees are just a few! What's more beautiful during the holidays than tying in natural elements from the outdoors?

The long-standing trend and traditional method of using natural decorations have made their way to the forefront of interior design. This trend is dual-focused on sustainability and comfort. Not only are organic, natural materials and textiles more environmentally friendly, but they are also natural mood-enhancers that create a sense of tranquility transferred throughout your home design. We've collected a few simple tips to inspire decoration ideas and give your home a sophisticated "au naturel" look this holiday season, all while being eco-conscious.

Play with Contrast

Design by BIG SKY HOME INTERIORS  Photography by JUSTINE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

Incorporate more natural lighting in your rooms by keeping your windows free of curtains and shutters. This helps you open up your space for sunlight to come into your home. Natural light is the best way to show off the natural elements in your space, from the wood detailing in your kitchen cabinets to the real greenery of flower arrangements on your entryway tables.

Natural lights also pave the way for creating contrast in your home. If you’re hoping to achieve a polished look during the holidays, showcasing points of interest in your home by playing with light and dark shades. One way to do this is by making the fireplace the focal point of the room and accenting that wall with darker shades to ground the place. Let other elements in the room, such as couches, chairs, and windows, provide light and bright shades of white, beige, or light grays as a contrast. You can even add more light to your home by utilizing candles in your decor!

Infuse Color and Texture

Color and texture play a huge role in natural holiday decor. Fortunately, the winter season offers limitless inspiration in colors and textures, from delicate brown pine cones to forest green sprigs to pink Christmas roses. Use these colors and textures to your advantage when setting up festive tablescapes, decorating the mantelpiece, and updating your entryway. Adding a natural wreath in your entryway is a great way to incorporate some texture, plus they make for a fun DIY project. Hang the wreath on your front door as a welcoming touch for your guests.

Simple tricks to holiday decorating include adorning your Christmas tree with flowers and other natural ornaments made from pine branches, pine cones, and more, making a tabletop tree out of evergreen boughs, and using popcorn with an assortment of fruit such as fresh cranberries and dried orange slices to make a fresh garland that can make all the difference when it comes to natural decor. Consider adding some faux snow to bring even more of the outside in!

Incorporate Wood

Worthington Herringbone Smoked by Karastan

Another simple way to add beautiful natural decoration to your home is through wood materials. Hardwood flooring makes a beautiful statement in any home and is especially gorgeous in the winter when you dress it up with wool throws, shag rugs, and Christmas tree skirts.

If you don’t have hardwood floors, you can still incorporate wood accents through furniture, decor, shelving, and cupboards. Wooden beads make for trendy holiday garlands. Wicker baskets and rattan armchairs are the perfect addition to any living space requiring organization and extra lounge areas. 

There is more than one way to add wood accents to your space. Add birchwood branches to your mantel or lush evergreen branches to a centerpiece for your table. You can even add logs to your fireplace to add rustic charm. Bringing natural wood to indoor spaces will make your home warm and inviting.

Don't Be Afraid to DIY

The holidays are a great time for the DIY dreamer in all of us. Taking on DIY projects, especially DIY natural holiday decorations, are a great way to add a piece of your personal style to your decor. Using natural materials such as fresh greenery, dried fruit, and rustic pine cones in your holiday decor offers many unique ways to decorate your space.

There are ways your DIY project can improve more than just the look of your space, but the overall aesthetic as well. For example, you can make your holiday potpourri easily on your stovetop with some cinnamon, cloves, fresh cranberries, rosemary, and more. This will make any house smell wonderful!

From making ornaments out of twigs and bare branches for your Christmas tree to making pine cone garlands, there are so many different projects that you and your family can do together, making your holiday season that much more special! Don’t be afraid to whip out your hot glue gun to incorporate softer textures like felt or twine to balance the hard natural wood. Add a floating candle to a bowl with water, fresh greens, berries, and other fruits to create a beautiful natural centerpiece.

Add Touches of Natural Red

Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a touch of red! Red seems to be a staple of the season, with its colors reminiscent of red autumn leaves, snow-covered barns, and cardinal birds. Delve into this rich color palette by decorating with poinsettias, holly sprigs, apples, fresh cranberries, and red roses. Pops of red are a nod to the holidays, plus they add a bit of warmth to your space with their rouge undertones.

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Read our latest issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple magazine and keep up to date on the latest design trends this season with our blog.