Decorating with Greenery: Some Easy Tips

Decorating with greenery is easy and fun. You can clip evergreens from your own yard, buy them at your local garden center or get creative, like I often do, and wander the trails or common land around your area, for a snip or two. Fresh greens will make your holiday decor even more festive. And your home will smell oh-so-fabulous. So here are a few thoughts about the ways to incorporate greens (real and faux) into your holiday decor…

Decorating With Greenery On The Mantel… Of Course

If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, you know what a focal point it can be in your room. Greenery on the mantel is a natural, whether it’s just a swag of greens or if it’s there to give dimension to a collection. I have my great grandmothers German Santa, which became a jumping off point for collecting vintage Santa’s for me. I’ve got the Santas on the mantel (see picture above) and the greens just bring them to life. If you chose to put lights on the mantel, greens are a great way to hide the cords – so it’s a win-win.

Decorating with Greenery: The Console Table

A console table in the hall or behind the sofa is a great opportunity to decorate, no matter the season. At the holidays, these workhorse pieces allow you to set up a holiday vignette or display candles or holiday cards. The greens just make the console that much more festive.

Insider Tip: Consignment and thrift stores, like Consignments Ltd., are great places to find vases, cache pots and other vessels to house your greens on your console table.

The Dining Table, Another Great Spot For Decorating with Greenery

Right down the table center is a virtual runway for holiday decor. Whether it’s a lane of candles or a three-tier tray of shells and glass ornaments, the table center can always be enhanced by greens. If you want to add even more fun, consider decorating the chair backs or the chandelier as well.

Insider Tip: Consignment and thrift stores, like Consignments Ltd., are great places to find runners, candlesticks and all types of decor to coordinate with your greens.

Outdoors is A Great Spot For Decorating with Greenery

I know, there are natural greens outdoors, and I love lighting them up with abandon. Greens can add a lot to your “other” outdoor displays at the holidays. For example, try adding greens to your summer planters or to your hanging baskets (and maybe even add some pinecones or a birch log). Please make sure that the planter or basket can withstand the weather where you are and that there are drain holes. Additionally, you can also add greens around the bench on your front porch or to that sled and skates you use by the garage. Also, I love the idea of adding greens to something unexpected like to boots pictured above (again, drain holes). It’s easy to add greens to these pieces – just grab some florist wire from your favorite craft store or some zip ties from the hardware. For more outdoor ideas, checking out Easy Curb Appeal Ideas.

On Packages Greens Look Amazing

I love to embellish packages at the holidays, but man can it add up, even at the dollar store or a thrift spot. I have 3 kids, a daughter-in-law, as well as Bruce and his son, and with those gifts I’m just getting started. Therefore, adding greens (especially the cast-offs from my tree editing or the “stolen” neighborhood branches) is a great way to make my packages look fantastic at low or no cost.

For more on decorating with natural elements, check out my previous blog: Adding Natural Elements to Your Home With Thrift and Consignment.

A Final Thought…

If using real greens make sure to change them once or twice throughout the season to keep them from making a pine needles mess of things. Changing them out will also keep that pine-fresh scent ever-present.

Now For a Little Music Before We Go…

Have a lovely day, my friends. Marianne