15 Old-Fashioned Christmas Decorations You Can Make From Nature
There’s something about a basket of evergreen clippings, a handful of pinecones, and a few oranges drying in the oven that makes Christmas feel a little slower—and a whole lot cozier.
I love the kind of Christmas decorating that starts with a walk outside. A fallen branch becomes a centerpiece. Pinecones turn into ornaments. A few sprigs of rosemary make the dinner table feel special before the food even arrives.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, all those evergreens make it especially tempting to bring a little of the outdoors inside.
These old-fashioned Christmas decorations you can make from nature are simple, beautiful, and easy to adapt to what you already have. Some take just a few minutes, while others are perfect for a cozy afternoon with Christmas music playing and something warm in your mug.
You don’t need to make all 15. Pick a few favorites, gather your supplies, and let the decorating become part of the holiday fun.
A Few Things to Gather Before You Begin
Depending on the projects you choose, you might use:
- Fallen pinecones, sturdy twigs, and small branches
- Evergreen clippings from your own yard or Christmas tree
- Oranges, lemons, apples, or cranberries
- Rosemary, bay leaves, or cinnamon sticks
- Cotton string, twine, ribbon scraps, and floral wire
- Scissors, garden snips, and a hot glue gun
Gather only where you have permission, take small amounts, and leave plenty for wildlife. Skip anything you can’t identify, along with moldy materials or branches that appear diseased. Brush off outdoor finds and let them dry before crafting.
Decorating with little ones or pets around? Keep small pieces, sharp wire, and unfamiliar plants out of reach. Use flameless candles around dried fruit, greenery, and wood, and keep natural decorations away from fireplaces and other heat sources.
1. Dried Orange Slice Garland
If I had to choose one decoration that captures an old-fashioned Christmas, this would be near the top of the list. Those little orange circles look beautiful with window light shining through them.
You’ll need: Oranges, string or twine, a needle, and an oven or dehydrator.
How to make it:
- Slice oranges into even rounds, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick.
- Blot gently with a towel to remove excess juice.
- Arrange in a single layer on a lined baking sheet.
- Dry in an oven at about 200°F, turning periodically, until the slices are dry throughout. This often takes several hours, depending on thickness and your oven.
- Cool completely, then thread onto string.
The finished slices should have no damp, fleshy centers. If yours still feel moist, keep drying them before stringing.
Where to hang it: Across a window, along a shelf, or loosely around the Christmas tree. Add a few cinnamon sticks between slices for extra texture.
2. Simple Pinecone Christmas Ornaments
Pinecones already look like ornaments. They just need something to hang from!
You’ll need: Clean, dry pinecones, twine, ribbon scraps, and craft glue or a hot glue gun.
Tie thin twine securely around the upper scales of each pinecone, leaving a loop for hanging. Add a small bow at the top, using a dab of glue if needed.
Keep them natural for a woodland look, or brush a little white craft paint onto the tips for a snowy finish.
Pretty little detail: Use the same ribbon on every pinecone to make a mismatched collection feel coordinated. A strip of fabric from an old plaid shirt works beautifully.
3. A Fresh Evergreen Door Swag
A door swag gives you that welcoming Christmas greenery without needing to make a full wreath.
You’ll need: Several evergreen clippings, floral wire, twine, and ribbon.
Arrange the clippings into a loose bundle with the cut ends together. Layer shorter pieces over longer ones, then wrap the stems tightly with floral wire.
Cover the wire with ribbon, add a sturdy hanging loop, and finish with a few pinecones if you like.
Where to use it: Your front door, porch gate, or an outdoor wall beside the entry.
Make one small swag for a cottage feel or a fuller bundle for a farmhouse porch. Either way, it looks lovely with a simple bow.
4. Twig Star Ornaments
These are wonderfully imperfect in the best possible way.
You’ll need: Five straight twigs of similar length, twine, and optional glue.
Arrange the twigs into a five-point star. Secure the points and overlapping sections with tightly wrapped twine, using small dabs of glue underneath if the pieces need help staying in place.
Add a hanging loop and leave it plain, or tie a tiny evergreen sprig to one corner.
Make it your own: Create small stars for the tree or a larger one for a covered porch. The bark, bends, and uneven edges are part of the charm.
5. Cranberry and Popcorn Garland
This is the sort of Christmas project that invites everyone to sit down at the table for a while.
You’ll need: Fresh cranberries, plain air-popped popcorn, sturdy thread, and a needle.
Let the popcorn sit overnight so it becomes a little less fragile. Thread it carefully, alternating with cranberries in whatever pattern you like.
Try five pieces of popcorn followed by one cranberry, or make short strands rather than one long garland.
A practical tip: This is a temporary indoor decoration. Make it closer to Christmas, inspect it regularly, and discard it if it becomes moldy or starts deteriorating. Adults should handle needles for younger children.
6. Mini Rosemary Wreaths for Place Settings
A tiny wreath at each place setting makes even a simple meal feel like a holiday gathering.
You’ll need: Flexible rosemary sprigs, thin floral wire, and small name tags.
Gently bend a rosemary sprig into a circle and secure the overlapping ends with wire. Tuck in an extra sprig if you want a fuller wreath, then attach a name tag with string.
Where to use them: On top of folded napkins, around the base of a small place card, or tied to a wrapped gift.
Make these close to your gathering so they look their freshest. If the rosemary keeps snapping, use shorter sprigs wired around a small wire ring instead.
7. A Winter Branch Centerpiece
A few bare branches can make a surprisingly beautiful Christmas centerpiece.
You’ll need: Clean, dry branches, a sturdy vase or pitcher, and lightweight ornaments.
Choose branches with interesting shapes and arrange them in a stable container. Hang dried orange slices, small pinecones, or twig stars from the stems.
My favorite styling idea: Use an old crock or simple pitcher and keep the decorations sparse. The branch shapes deserve a little room to show.
For a dining table, keep the arrangement low enough that everyone can see across it.
8. Clove-Studded Orange Pomanders
Oranges and cloves have such a warm, familiar holiday scent. This is a lovely project for a quiet afternoon when you want to make something with your hands.
You’ll need: Firm oranges, whole cloves, and a skewer or toothpick.
Use the skewer to make shallow guide holes, then press cloves into the orange peel. Try stripes, a simple star, or a band around the middle.
Arrange a few in a shallow bowl and enjoy them as a short-term decoration.
Good to know: Fresh pomanders don’t always dry successfully in a bowl, especially in a damp home. Check them regularly and discard any that soften, leak, or develop mold. Avoid promising yourself they’ll last all season.
9. Pinecone and Evergreen Basket
This might be the easiest natural Christmas decoration on the list.
You’ll need: A basket, pinecones, evergreen clippings, and optional ribbon.
Fill the basket with pinecones, then tuck greenery around the edges. Add a bow to the handle, or leave the whole arrangement plain.
For a large basket, use a smaller container inside as a riser so you don’t need nearly as much material.
Where to put it: On a covered porch, beside an entry table, or on a hearth well away from heat and sparks.
It’s an especially nice way to use a basket that normally holds garden gloves or summer flowers.
10. Cinnamon Stick Bundles
Little bundles of cinnamon sticks add a warm brown accent to all that Christmas greenery.
You’ll need: Cinnamon sticks, twine, and optional ribbon scraps.
Gather three or four sticks together and tie tightly with twine. Add a hanging loop for ornaments, or leave the loop off and tuck the bundles into a centerpiece.
Try this: Pair one with a dried orange slice and tie it to a wrapped gift. Plain brown paper suddenly looks ready for a Christmas market.
The scent is usually subtle, so think of these as a pretty natural detail rather than something that will fragrance a whole room.
11. A Small Grapevine Wreath
If you already have suitable vine prunings, this is a satisfying way to turn garden cleanup into Christmas decorating.
You’ll need: Identified, flexible grapevine prunings, twine or floral wire, and a few decorative extras.
Curve a long, flexible vine into a circle, then wind additional lengths around it, tucking the ends into the wreath. Secure loose sections as needed.
Decorate just one side with evergreen clippings, pinecones, or a ribbon bow.
Keep it simple: If your vines are too brittle to bend, use a secondhand grapevine wreath as the base and add your own natural decorations.
Avoid using unidentified vines or anything thorny or irritating to handle.
12. Evergreen Jar Arrangements
An empty jam jar and a few garden clippings can make the kitchen windowsill feel wonderfully festive.
You’ll need: Clean jars, water, fresh evergreen stems, and twine.
Remove any foliage that would sit below the waterline. Place the stems in the jars, then tie twine or ribbon around the necks.
Group three jars together, or set one beside the kitchen sink for a little Christmas cheer while you wash dishes.
To keep them looking nice: Refresh the water regularly, remove deteriorating stems, and keep the jars away from heat.
These also make sweet, simple table decorations when you don’t want a large centerpiece.
13. Bay Leaf Christmas Garland
Bay leaves bring a softer green to Christmas decorating, and they look especially pretty with wood, cream ribbon, and dried citrus.
You’ll need: Culinary bay leaves, a needle, and sturdy thread.
Thread the leaves carefully near their stem ends, overlapping them slightly as you go. Fresh leaves are generally easier to work with; dried leaves can crack when pierced.
Make a short strand for a shelf or several small sections to drape around a tabletop display.
Budget-friendly approach: This makes the most sense if you already have access to a culinary bay plant. Buying enough little grocery-store packets for a long garland can get expensive quickly.
14. Mini Pinecone Christmas Trees
A wide, open pinecone makes an adorable little tree for a shelf or place setting.
You’ll need: Large pinecones, small terracotta pots or wood bases, and craft glue.
Choose pinecones that stand reasonably upright. Secure each one to a pot or base, then leave it natural or lightly brush the tips with white paint.
A tiny scrap-paper star on top is all the extra decoration it needs.
Where to use them: Along a windowsill, beside place cards, or grouped on a tray with other woodland decorations.
This is a fun project when you want something small enough to finish before the afternoon gets away from you.
15. Natural Gift Toppers
Some of the prettiest Christmas decorations only need to last until the present gets opened.
You’ll need: Wrapped gifts, string, and small pieces of greenery, dried fruit, pinecones, or rosemary.
Tie string around each package, then secure one or two natural accents beneath the knot. Add a handmade gift tag and you’re done.
A single dried orange slice with a rosemary sprig looks beautiful. So does a small pinecone tied onto a plain paper gift bag.
Timing tip: Add fresh greenery shortly before giving the gift. For packages that need to sit under the tree longer, choose thoroughly dried materials.
How to Make Natural Christmas Decorations Look Beautiful Together
The easiest way to keep everything feeling cohesive is to repeat just a few materials.
You might choose evergreen branches, pinecones, and cream ribbon. Or dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and brown paper. Once those colors and textures show up in a few places, the whole room starts to feel connected.
You don’t need greenery on every surface. A swag on the door, a garland in the window, and a bowl of pinecones on the table can be plenty.
And please don’t worry if your twig stars are a little crooked. That’s exactly the kind of decoration someone remembers making.
Questions About Decorating With Nature
What are the easiest natural Christmas decorations to make?
A pinecone basket, evergreen jar arrangement, and natural gift toppers are great places to start. They require very little assembly and work with small amounts of material.
How long will fresh evergreen decorations last?
It depends on the plant, how fresh it was when cut, and where you display it. Cool, sheltered outdoor locations generally keep greenery looking good longer than warm indoor rooms. Check regularly and replace pieces when they become dry or brittle.
Can you save natural Christmas decorations for next year?
Some fully dried decorations, such as pinecones, twig stars, and cinnamon bundles, may be reusable. Store only clean, completely dry pieces in a cool, dry place and inspect them before using again. Compost suitable untreated plant materials when they’re finished, removing wire, glue, string, and ribbon first.
Can you decorate for Christmas with things from your yard?
Absolutely—as long as you can identify what you’re collecting and have permission to gather it. Fallen pinecones, small pruning offcuts, and sturdy twigs are good starting points. Leave unknown plants and berries alone.
Bring a Little of the Outdoors Into Christmas
There’s something lovely about looking around your home and seeing decorations that began as a handful of clippings or a basket of fallen pinecones.
They don’t have to match perfectly. They don’t have to cost much. And making them can be just as enjoyable as seeing them finished.
Put on some Christmas music, clear a little space at the table, and start with whatever you have.
Which one would you make first: dried orange garland, twig stars, or an evergreen door swag? Tell me in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’re creating this Christmas!
Save this post to Pinterest so you can find these natural Christmas decorating ideas when you’re ready for a cozy afternoon of crafting.
