How to make natural Christmas decorations
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How to make natural Christmas decorations

Learn how to make beautiful natural Christmas decorations and find inspiring natural Christmas tree decorations all in one article!

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Published: December 14, 2023 at 12:03 pm

How to make natural Christmas decorations

There's a long tradition of bringing nature into the home at Christmas, from wreaths to mistletoe and boughs of fir – and the Christmas tree!

We're embracing the joys of the great outdoors by sharing our contemporary take on natural Christmas decorations.

These beautiful natural Christmas decorations designed by Becki Clark and Olivia Watkins are a brilliant way to bring nature onto your Christmas table.

In this guide, we'll show you how to make gilded pears, how to dye napkins using avocado stones (yes, really) and how to make your own sage napkin rings.

We also share some of our favourite natural Christmas tree decorations at the bottom of this article so you can give your tree a fresh feel.

Read on to learn how to make natural Christmas decorations…

What you need to make rustic natural Christmas decorations

Where do you buy edible gold leaf sheets? What twine should you buy?

Here are a few shopping links to save you time:

How to make natural Christmas decorations

How to make the golden pear place settings

Step 1

Use a paintbrush to dampen each pear with water, this will ensures the gold leaf sticks. Be careful when handling the gold leaf as it is extremely delicate, tear off pieces ready to apply.

Natural Christmas decorations golden pears step 1

Step 2

Press the gold leaf over the pear and smooth it down. Once dry, you can use a dry paintbrush to brush off any excess gold leaf.

If you use edible gold, you'll be able to eat them afterwards too!

Add a little handwritten label to the stem to transform them into elegant place settings (we used a faux leather cord).

Natural Christmas decorations golden pears step 2

Natural Christmas decorations

How to make the plant-dyed napkins

Step 1

Simmer clean avocado stones and skins for an hour. Increase the heat until the water turns a reddish pink, but don’t allow it to boil. Remove the stones and skins and leave it to sit overnight.

Natural Christmas decorations plant-dyed napkins step 1

Step 2

Strain the dye into a jug or a bowl through a muslin cloth to remove any remaining bits of avocado flesh, which can cause uneven dyeing results.

Natural Christmas decorations plant-dyed napkins step 2

Step 3

Place your napkins into the pan and pour over enough dye to cover them. The napkins should be able to move freely to ensure even dyeing results, so add more water if you need to.

For a darker pink colour, leave the napkins in the unheated dye bath overnight.

Avocados are great for natural dyeing as they contain their own mordant, which helps the dye adhere to the fabric. Some natural dyes can stain, so make sure you use old pans and bowls.

You can team up these projects with a slate grey tablecloth and pink-toned candles to recreate the look.

Natural Christmas decorations plant-dyed napkins step 3

Step 4

When properly cooled, take the napkins and wring them out above the dye bath to remove any excess dye, then hang them outside to dry on the washing line.

Next, leave the napkins for about a week before ironing them on medium heat to seal in the colour, then machine wash once more in a cool setting.

Natural Christmas decorations plant-dyed napkins step 4

 If you're looking to add some more rustic natural Christmas decorations to your home this year, you might also enjoy our DIY wooden candle holder centrepiece, how to make a Christmas wreath and candle centrepieces for tables tutorials.

How to make the sage napkin rings

Step 1

These herb napkin rings are an easy way to add a natural flourish to your Christmas table settings. Attach a sprig of herbs to a piece of floristry wire using floristry tape. Continue to attach individual sprigs to the wire at alternate angles to achieve a fuller look. Apply tape all the way down the length of the wire for a neater finish.

Natural Christmas decorations herb napkin rings step 1

Step 2

Place the arrangement across the folded napkin. Wrap the wire around the back of the napkin, tuck it under the herbs at the front and snip off any excess wire.

Natural Christmas decorations herb napkin rings step 2

6 natural Christmas tree decorations

Now you've got beautiful natural Christmas decorations for your table you need them for your tree! 

Here's six natural Christmas tree decorations you can make today.

1. Dried oranges 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJK7Ue4ovNM

Fruit makes wonderful natural Christmas tree decorations and there's plenty of types to choose from. The Quick Journey shows you how to make these elegant dried oranges over on their blog.  

2. Miniature driftwood Christmas tree

Sustain My Craft Habit has an adorable collection of natural Christmas tree decorations including this tiny driftwood tree!

Follow their how to make tutorial and upcycle wood found on the beach this December. 

3. Rosemary and holly wreaths

How sweet are these mini wreath ornaments? Made from natural holly and rosemary then finished with some twine, they're easy to make and look wonderful on your tree. 

Follow Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary's simple tutorial to learn how to make these tiny wreaths. 

4. Festive twig ornaments 

These natural Christmas tree decorations made a great activity to do with kids. Get your little ones out on a festive walk to collect twigs, then use The Tiny Dreamer's step by step instructions and create these snowflakes and stars. Cheap, easy and oh so natural! 

5. Cinnamon stick natural Christmas tree decorations 

This natural Christmas tree decoration not only looks modern but it smells wonderful too. JoJotastic shows you how to make these cinnamon stick decorations over on her blog. 

6. Orange peel natural Christmas tree decorations

Another orange-related craft! Turn your orange peels into sweet stars with This Healthy Table's tutorial. You could create any ornament shapes you like – baubles, hearts, diamonds and more.

Make natural Christmas decorations for your home 

Give your home a touch of the outdoors with our natural Christmas decorations. From festive table decor to natural Christmas tree decorations, adding natural elements to your home is both affordable, eco-friendly, and beautiful! Make our natural Christmas decorations and give your home a fresh feel this year. 

Decorate your home with more handmade crafts

We hope you enjoyed making these beautiful natural Christmas decorations!

Try our crochet Christmas decorations and free Christmas knitting patterns, plus learn how to make a Christmas stocking.

Best Christmas amigurumi crochet patterns