Natural Christmas & Yule Decoration Ideas

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Yule this midwinter, we have a list of great ideas on how to decorate your home in a natural and beautiful way. Read on to discover our suggestions:

Dried Orange Garlands

This decoration has roots in pagan Yuletide celebrations, with sliced oranges symbolizing the return of the sun after the shortest day of the year. More recently, the Victorians adopted this decoration for Christmas celebrations. The garlands are super easy to make and will make your home smell incredible. First, slice the oranges, ensuring you cut across the segments so the slices look nice (see photo). Lay the slices on parchment paper and bake them at a low temperature for a couple of hours. Once completely dried out, take them out of the oven and allow them to cool fully. The baking process should have created natural holes in the middle of the slices (some slices may need to be pierced manually). You can then thread these with string or twine to adorn your home. Easy!

Evergreen Wreaths and Garlands

Nothing spreads festive cheer like a plump Christmas wreath on someone’s front door! The best part is, you can make these naturally without any plastic. Collect sprigs of both evergreen and small leafless branches (thin enough that you can bend them but not so thick that they won't snap). With the leafless branches, start to make a circular frame, tying the branches together with brown natural string. Tie in multiple places to ensure the wreath holds its shape well. Then weave in your evergreen branches until the wreath looks full and plump. You can also decorate the wreath with dried orange slices (from the suggestion above), cinnamon sticks, holly, and pine cones. Use any leftover evergreen branches or items to decorate balusters, mantelpieces, and windowsills in your home.

Yule Altar

Whether you identify as pagan or not, a seasonal altar is a great way to bring a festive focal point to your home (or dinner table). I tend to use a round tray and fill it with seasonal items such as pine cones, oranges, apples, and evergreens. Then, I add scented candles (in safe, fireproof candle holders). You can also include items that represent seasonal animals or other symbols of Yule.