Christmas Decorating With Natural Materials

10 Ideas to Create a Cosy Christmas With Natural Materials

Make your home feel warm and inviting this festive season with these gorgeous rustic ways to decorate

Bring foliage, wools and candles into your home this Christmas with these inspirational ideas on how to put together a welcoming, natural decorating scheme.

Create a good first impression
A lovely way to give your home a welcoming look is to decorate your front door with a traditional wreath. There are many beautiful designs available, but it's also nice to make one yourself for a homemade feel. It's actually simpler than it looks and means you'll have a truly bespoke piece.

To illuminate the natural foliage on your door, look out for battery-operated outdoor fairy lights.

Make an entrance
Your front hall and staircase are the perfect place to set the scene for the rest of your home. Buy or make a garland for the staircase and add baubles or other decorations.

Opt for branches and leaves as seen here, which provide a natural, rustic alternative to more expensive decorations. The soft colour of the baubles makes a subtle and elegant statement.

Is your hallway looking dark and drab? Check out these smart ways to perk it up

Bring nature into the kitchen
One of the best ways to give your home a cosy feel at Christmas is by using what nature has to offer. It not only saves you money, it's an understated and stylish way to decorate your home. In this kitchen, the holly and other foliage creates a lovely natural space that is quietly festive.

Give your space a glow
Candles and tealights are a lovely way to create a warm, rustic glow at Christmas. You can position them all around your home, but always make sure you only light them when you're going to stay in the room, especially if there are other festive decorations around. Alternatively, opt for battery-powered versions that give off a flickering glow without the actual flame.

If decorations aren't really your thing, then lighting simple candles will instantly add festive warmth to your home.

Want to make your own festive candle lanterns? Here's how

Celebrate with a tall tree
A large, eye-catching Christmas tree is just the thing to bring a natural feel to a space, especially if it's a real one. Nothing makes an impact like a tree, which means you don't have to go overboard with other decorations. This beautiful room looks welcoming and cosy, thanks to its tall tree, which is decorated in simple Christmas colours. It forms the focal point of the room.

Include plenty of textures
Layer on lots of texture with woollens, cashmere throws and sheepskin to create a cosy cottage feel. Include plenty of cushions and consider swapping your standard covers for fun festive ones. Here, the abundance of soft furnishings makes the leather sofa look especially inviting, while the wicker basket and frosted decorations enhance the natural look.

When making a room festive, don't overlook a beautiful fireplace or an interesting nook, as these can be the perfect places to add decoration and candles.

Opt for less is more
The key to natural style Christmas decorating is to avoid anything bright or gaudy. Here, a soft colour palette is teamed with a simple tree and some pared-back decorations to create a beautiful, elegant look. A simple scheme like this is cost-effective and can feel just as festive as something more flamboyant.

Dress the table
Add a rustic touch to Christmas lunch by decorating the table with holly and mistletoe. Here, the pale tablecloth continues the simple, rural feel and complements the interior of the room, while splashes of green and red make the setting suitably seasonal. A nice touch is to add a small gift at the table for each person.

Decorate children's rooms
Carry the festive spirit to the rest of the house by decorating the bedrooms. It's a lovely idea to put a tree in or just outside children's bedrooms and let them decorate it themselves. A simple tree brings a naturally welcoming feel to a room and it's a great way to get children involved in decorating, especially if you want to give the downstairs tree a more grown-up look.

Here, the large wooden decorations add a rustic touch and echo the ceiling beams.

Get comfortable
Create an inviting spot for guests to gather for drinks and nibbles. Make the space feel welcoming with low lighting and plenty of cushions and throws. If you're lucky enough to have a fire, pull up your seating around it or, alternatively, add more candles to recreate the atmosphere.

What do you think of these ideas for a cosy, natural Christmas? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.