'Tis the season once again, and as always I am surprised that people spend money on wreaths and plastic decor when you can make your house look beautiful using foraged greens.
In this blog, I cover:
Benefits of foraging for Christmas Decorations
You can get outside and breathe some fresh air rather than having to trapse around the shops! This year I went ot the woods but you can go to any remotely wild place that has plants growing...
It's very cost effective - and once you have the basics you can reuse them year after year.
It is better for the environment not to use too much uncessary plastic - though of course you should be mindful of how much you forage.
It's quick - Honestly, I don't have the greatest attention span myself, and life is busy - but the way I do these decorations is quick and fuss free.
You can unleash your creativity - It feels so meditative putting your own decorations together. I have shared what I did this year below, but you may prefer to completely unleash your creativity and do your own thing!
It's a great way to bond with kids - If you have kids it's a great way to get them outside and connected with nature; and to get them involved with the craft side too. My daughter loved collecting the rosehips on her way home from school and then just popping them into the bannister wreath (photographed below).
Recommended plants to forage
This year I made one trip to the woods and managed to collect foraged material to decorate my home. I try to choose plants I know will last well, though it must be said that outdoor decor (ie wreaths) will last longer than indoor decor contending with central heating.
This year, I collected:
Pine - mostly douglas fir this year (pictured below)
Holly (I chose the pointy ones, and some with berries)
Rosehips - just a few bunches (for more on wild rose please see my recent blog)
Ivy - I just took a few vines for my wreath
Eucalyptus - I also found eucalyptus strewn on the floor which confused me as I couldn't find any growing nearby
What I especially loved was that I didn't need to even cut much from trees myself as forest maintenance had been doing a bit of trimming, so I picked up what was already strewn across the forest floor.
I got as much as my trusty 1930s vintage basket could carry (can you spot the basket below?!) and that was all I needed in terms of greenery.
Other supplies you'll need
I had already stocked up on a few basic supplies from amazon, including:
Floristry wire - £5.99 for two - this is the only investment you really do need - and mine has lasted me years!
A wire wreath as a base - I got 2 for £12.99 (they are currently reduced to £9.99!). You can also easily make a foraged wreath, for free (yay!) which I have done in previous years and is a beautiful thing to do. This year, I am pregnant and short on energy so I took the quicker route of buying a pre made wreath base.
Fairy lights - a pack of 6 for £5.99 - totally optional - I haven't used them in previous years but I wanted some sort of fairy lights outside my house this year and I thought this would be a good way to go about it.
All these supplies all reusable and will serve you year on year (you can even replace the batteries in the lights).
The decorations
So what did I make?
1) Foraged Christmas Wreath
Making my Christmas wreath is always a highlight of the holiday season.
Method
I start with the pine greens and go around the wreath anti-clockwise tying them on with the floiristry wire as I go. I don't cut the wire but continue to wrap it round
Once this is done, I attached the holly, rosehip, ivy and eucalyptus using the wire too.
Using the floristry wire, I then made a loops that i could then twist around my door knocker.
Right at the end I wrapped the fairy lights around making sure that the little switch is at the back.
Voila! It really doesn't take very long and I love how wild and lush it looks.
2) Foraged Bannister Christmas decorations
As I had cut the douglas fir with fairly long sprigs it was quite quick to then make a garland by using my floristry wire to tie the springs together, using the wire to also attach it to the bannister. I added a giant pine cone I had lying around the house and also attached soem rosehips and the fairy lights at the end.
3) Mantelpiece
Lastly, I decorated my mantelpiece using a similar method to the banister, except that it was easier as I didn't have to tie the garland down! I could also just place the holly and fairy lights on top rather than attaching it, and placed some candles either side to add to the festive spirit!
Maintenance
I will be sprucing up the decoration with a bit of fresh pine and holly as we approach christmas, but this can be easily attached as you go, giving it a fresh feel. It does last a surprising long time, even inside - though it's definitely advisable to invest in a small spray bottle to spritz your decor with water every couple of days (I also do this to my tree).
Concluding thoughts
Ever since I started foraging my Christmas decorations, I haven't looked back! It's such a fun and wholesome thing to do each year. It looks beautifull, and I love the idea that I'm bringing a little bit of nature into my home.
I hope you give foraged decor a go this Christmas, it's such a cost effective and also rewarding way to decorate your house. Let me know if you do and please do share some photos - I'd love to see them!
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