Foraged Christmas

Christmas is usually a time when even the most unlikely are tempted to dust off the glue gun and try their hands at some crafting. But this year, in tune with the move towards slow living, things have levelled up. The growing trend for foraging and decorating year round with seasonal foliage has now collided with the Christmas tradition of bringing the outdoors in, taking everything up a notch.

It’s a pleasingly Nordic aesthetic that evokes winter solstice over commercialised Christmas, and it’s also nicely in tune with our collective ever-pressing goal to be more sustainable. Whoever really wanted a home covered in gaudy plastic anyway?

Living Etc‘s enchanting Christmas shoot, styled by Alyce Taylor in the December issue, and Zara Home, among others, have provided beautiful inspo for this look. However I am personally not a trained florist, nor do I have the space or inclination to drag an entire tree into my living room. I do think there’s some significantly less daunting ways to get in on the trend, though.

Here are some ideas from a lazy DIY-er.

Make a hoop wreath

I’m attracted to the ‘less is more’ look of hoop wreaths, and they’re also conveniently much less labour intensive to DIY than a traditional wreath.

Hang a branch (or a few)

This image, from a House & Garden Christmas shoot at a former Victorian rectory, really stood out to me among the Christmas decor noise. Loosely tying up some branches and hanging them above the mantle is so simple but effective. I love the foliage they’ve used here, but I’ve also seen some attractive examples using evergreen branches.

Red berries make everything Christmassy

Red berry decos are particularly catching my eye this year. They seem to be the Christmas extension of the Japandi trend, which appeals to me. I also witnessed Lucy Gough styling them beautifully when I interned on her shoot for John Lewis.

A slightly unkempt red berry wreath seems achievable, as does adding sprigs to jars or vases of existing foliage, or atop wrapped presents as a cute touch.

Oranges everywhere

Not technically foraged, though very much in tune with the natural theme, dried oranges are everywhere this year. In windows, framing door frames and mantlepieces, hanging on trees, adorning gifts and napkins, and complementing pine cones and cinnamon sticks. This trend seems pretty simple to pull off, and I love the thought of a wholesome afternoon spent making these, accompanied by the lovely wafting smell of orange.

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Cut up your Christmas tree

Fir and spruce don’t have to be confined to the Christmas tree. I like the idea of taking cuttings from some inconspicuous lower branches and hanging them from handles and hooks around the house.

Now, to brush up on the rules re taking clippers to the local park…