It's the most wonderful time of the year, which provides the perfect opportunity to go all-out in one particular area: home decor. Whether you live in northern Vermont, the hills of Southern California, or anywhere in between, you can use these five simple, sustainable ways to bring the great outdoors inside this holiday season.
1. Enjoy holiday bulbs
We love all holiday flowers, but think one in particular deserves center stage: the amaryllis bulb. You'd be forgiven for assuming this modest wax-wrapped bulb is a Christmas ornament. But after a few days, you'll find stalks slowly emerging from this simple plant. And you'll be amazed when they finally unfurl in four to five large, stunning scarlet blooms.
The best part? This bulb doesn't require planting or watering. Just set, forget, and enjoy.
Sunday Tip:
Did you know the oldest amaryllis on record has been flowering for 75 years?
Amaryllis bulbs serve as a simple and beautiful addition to holiday decor.
2. Incorporate evergreens
Aside from the apparent holiday associations—evergreen trees are pretty important to people who celebrate Christmas—their lingering beauty and vibrancy are one of a kind. Nothing brightens up a winter landscape quite like evergreens.
If you're lucky enough to have one on your property, bringing a pine-fresh smell and energy inside is as simple as gathering up some fallen branches and pine cones from just outside your door.
Pine cones are right at home on a bookshelf, in a large bowl, or even as a statement piece on your guests' nightstand. For a sophisticated look, place a couple of long evergreen branches in an oversized vase and use it as the centerpiece for your holiday dinner, entry table, or coffee table.
Evergreens don't just look beautiful—they smell great, too.
3. Feature dried blooms
You can create a beautiful dried display with blooms from your garden or a store-bought bouquet. The concept is simple: Snip or choose blooms with plenty of stem remaining to help maximize impact and create a breathtaking focal point for any table or window display.
There are several ways you can dry flowers—including hanging them upside down—but one easy method that helps better retain shape and color involves submerging the blossoms in "flower drying crystals," also known as silica gel. A simple online search will help you find what you need.
Sunday Tip:
Flowers typically take anywhere between two and seven days to dry when immersed in silica gel, so keep that in mind when planning your project timeline.
You can also mix in fresh or artificial blooms and foliage to build out your bouquet.
4. Bring the outdoors in
Rocks, pebbles, shells, seaglass—there's no shortage of gorgeous natural elements in the great outdoors. Pebbles can serve as a beautiful base for flowers. Many people choose to place shells or seaglass in clear lamps or bowls. Rocks are perfect paperweights, and if you have one that's particularly beautiful, consider displaying it in a curio or china cabinet.
Just be sure to follow local laws and regulations. Some parks and other natural areas prevent the removal of pebbles, rocks, shells, or other natural elements from the grounds.
Pebbles add dimension to even the most simple displays.
5. Refresh with citrus
Incorporating citrus into your holiday decor is a simple, refreshing way to introduce pops of color and a pleasant fragrance into your home.
One easy way to do this is by weaving fresh lemons and limes into your displays. It can be as simple as placing them in a clear container, which you can exhibit with or without water inside, or as involved as a DIY orange slice garland.
When you're all done decorating—if you decide you'd like to get outside after all—don't forget to check out six ways to enjoy your yard this winter.
Sunday Tip:
You can create an orange slice garland by stringing together dried orange slices, bay leaves, and cinnamon.
Creating a dried citrus garland is a great way to get kids involved in decorating!
