A Natural Christmas

Christmas brings opportunities to create memories with the people we cherish most, and for us, it all starts at home. The small rituals and traditions we practice each year such as decorating a tree, wrapping gifts and setting the table, enable us to slow down, connect with ourselves, family, homes and with nature.
Flowers and foliage make our spaces feel special and will always be at the heart of our decorating. From wreaths and garlands, to simple vases of cut stems or potted bulbs, natural accents provide a soft and subtle backdrop to Christmas festivities and create a grounding and welcoming atmosphere. Foraged foliage, branches and flowers can be used to craft decorations and table centrepieces, giving a simple and natural feel to the home. Baskets or bowls of pinecones or dried fruits evoke the spirit of the season and add textural interest. Similarly a mass of fresh oranges or bundles of cinnamon or herbs impart a festive fragrance when brought inside to enjoy.
Enriching your home with natural accents is a timeless and enduring Christmas tradition that creates a wonderfully inviting, indoor-outdoor feel. No matter your budget and style of living space, simple and natural touches add seasonal character in an understated and thoughtful way, and invite colour, texture, scent and connection to the natural world into the home.



THOUGHTFUL DECORATING
Whether adorning a tree, wreath or other areas of the home, look to the natural world to craft atmospheric spaces that feel festive and cosy without leaning too far into the Christmas cliche. Rather than opting purely for traditional festive colours, choose combinations that resonate and layer in simple decorations in a more natural palette that can sit harmoniously with everyday pieces in your home.
Nothing evokes the spirit of Christmas and celebration more than a tree. A lot can be achieved by keeping it unadorned and just adding fairy lights or by adding thoughtfully selected decorations whilst keeping the overall look simple and pared-back. A small potted tree is a good option if space is limited and it can be re-used the following year. To make a break from tradition, foraged branches can be arranged in a vase or pot as an alternative to a tree. Similarly, a simple bowl of baubles or strings of golden fairy lights will also give a sense of the season and make the atmosphere more magical.
Whatever your preferred approach, prioritise special, meaningful pieces, both old and new to achieve a simple and elegant look and feel, rather than going overboard with festive decorating. Vintage pieces or decorations that have been handmade, gifted or collected over time are unique and carry personal memories and stories, as well as having decorative appeal.



CHRISTMAS TABLE
Setting the table is an expression of Christmas and a highlight of the season. Thoughtful details can elevate a meal and bring a sense of occasion to the day. No matter how large or small your festive celebration may be, the most beautiful tables are always the ones that feel personal and make family and friends feel special, without being too formal. A neutral colour palette creates a wonderfully relaxing space in which to dine and provides a good foundation for colour to be brought in by food and natural elements.
Approach the table in layers, starting with a table cloth as the foundation, and build on from there. Make the most of the beautiful objects that already fill your home, bringing together glassware, crockery, cutlery and linens, combining layers and textures to create a warming tablescape. Build individual place settings by adding place mats and include napkins dressed with simple sprigs of greenery such as eucalyptus or rosemary which look inviting while contributing a subtle fragrance. Crackers are a fun tradition which enhance the festive feel and can be added to the table alongside handwritten place cards to add an extra decorative flourish and make guests feel welcome.
Flowers and foliage can be arranged in a structured display in a vase, or as a more loose and natural arrangement laid down the centre of the table to create impact. Alternatively, potted bulbs or small bud vases with simple posies can look lovely dotted around to bring the table together. A final addition of candles of varying heights creates a cosy sense of warmth and light, and bring a festive glow to the table. Candles are one of the simplest Christmas decorations and whether you opt for tapers, pillars or tea lights, they all add instant atmosphere. Setting the table the night before and organising as much as possible in advance helps to keep things simpler and more manageable on the day.



GIFT WRAPPING & CARDS
Gift wrapping requires time at an already busy period, but when it comes to presentation, making packaging as thoughtful as the gift at Christmas is always worth the effort. Nature can also be incorporated into wrapping during the festive season to make gifts look and feel special for recipients. There is an endless selection of beautiful tactile handmade papers alongside more mass produced varieties to choose from, but keeping wrapping simple with natural greenery always looks classic and timeless. Velvet ribbons can add a sense of opulence to parcels whilst twine bestows a simple home spun touch to gifts. Whatever your budget and preferred wrapping style, opting for papers and trimmings which can be reused or recycled is important to avoid unnecessary waste.
If time allows, handmade cards are a special and unique touch at Christmas. Pressings of flowers and foliage can be added to blank cards for a natural, homespun touch and simple embellishments such as twine and ribbon can add a festive feel.



The best Christmas interiors are those that let nature be their guide and capture the essence of the occasion. Natural accents welcome the season in to our homes and help make our spaces feel more unique, joyful and festive. A natural approach to Christmas helps keep us grounded and calm amongst the busyness of the season. It is a good way to focus on quality over quantity, and be more intentional and mindful about both, the way we decorate, and how we approach the festive period.