The Edit | Nature-inspired Christmas decorations

Halloween is over and November is here, so I’m beginning to think ahead to Christmas – and specifically how to style the house. Although I try to resist putting up any decorations before December, I’ll be using the next few weeks to plan what I’m going to do, gather things together and start savouring the magic and excitement of the season.

Last year I curated three nature-inspired festive edits, each taking its cue from a different aspect of the winter landscape, and they proved so popular that I’ve decided to update and rework the trio for 2024. For each I’ve picked out pieces to help you get the look across your Christmas tree, dinner table, gift wrapping and more, with a focus on long-lasting, enduring items that can be treasured and reused for years to come. As well as forming beautiful Christmas schemes in their own right, they can be mixed and matched to create something that suits you and your home – and, as the individual pieces are incredibly versatile, they’ll give you plenty of scope to play around with different stylings in the future without having to buy anything new.

Winter berries

My first look is inspired by winter berries dusted in frost and incorporates touches of deep, dark burgundy.

I realise burgundy probably isn’t a colour you’d expect from a self-confessed lover of all things neutral, but done the right way it can look graceful and understated. The key is choosing a muted shade rather than anything jewel-bright, and using it sparingly as an accent only. Here, I’ve mixed it with soft whites, rippled glass, fir boughs and patinated brass for an aesthetic that’s elegant, timeless and gently nostalgic – think of it as a pared-back twist on traditional festive reds, greens and golds.

1. Burgundy-trim linen tablecloth, £110 for a small size or £125 for a larger size, and napkins, £26 for a set of two, Layered Lounge
2. Ferm Living ‘Forest’ napkin rings in brass, £42 for a set of four, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
3. Velvet ribbon in ‘Bordeaux’, £2.70 for 5m, Søstrene Grene [AD – affiliate link]
4. Cooee Design ‘Gry’ textured baubles in clear glass, £19 for a set of four 5cm ones or £25 for set of four 8cm ones, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
5. Stoneware dinner plates in ‘Cloud White’, £68 for a set of four, Fable
6. Antique brass candlesticks, £25 for the small height (20cm) and £30 for the medium height (30cm), Hudson Home
7. ‘Avery’ rippled glass baubles in ‘Merlot’, £27 for a set of three large sphere shapes or £42 for set of six small drop shapes, Neptune
8. Hanging white paper star (30cm), £4.79, Søstrene Grene [AD – affiliate link]
9. Long glass drops, £15 for a set of four, The White Company
10. ‘Lena’ brass coasters, £36 for a set of four, Rowen & Wren [AD – affiliate link]
11. Burgundy pillar candles, £12 for a set of two, Layered Lounge
12. &Tradition ‘Collect SC80’ textured wine glasses, £49.50 for a set of two, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
13. Off-white velvet ribbon, £6.50 for 10m, Hudson Home
14. Ester & Erik candles in ‘Wine Red’, £17 for a set of four 32cm ones or £20 for a set of four 42cm ones (both sizes available in matte and lacquered finishes), Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
15. String of four brass cowbell decorations, £18, Hudson Home

Earthy tones

This scheme celebrates the beauty of hibernating deciduous woodland. The greenery may have gone, but there’s still wonder to be found in the sculptural silhouettes of the bare trees and in the ferns, moss and rocks of the forest floor. I’ve combined a soothing palette of browns and beiges with earthy textures such as paper, linen, jute and clay – perfect for those who like their Christmas decorations natural and sparkle-free. And if you want an alternative to a conventional fir or spruce tree, this look works brilliantly with a few foraged branches arranged in a vase or an urn.

1. Ferm Living ‘Host’ liqueur glasses in ‘Blush’ (matching wine and water glasses also available), £40.90 for a set of four, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
2. Ferm Living ‘Pure’ dinner candles in ‘Calm Blend’, £10.90 for a set of four, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
3. Ferm Living mushroom recycled papier-mâché tree decorations, £15.90 for a set of four, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
4. Paper star tree decorations in ‘Coffee’, €10 for a set of two, Cooee Design
5. Tell Me More washed linen napkins in ‘Hazelnut’, £8.52 each, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
6. Decorative moss, €11.20 for a 120g bag, Tine K Home
7. Watt & Veke ‘Vera’ jute advent star (60cm), £20.90, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
8. Tell Me More glass candle lanterns in ‘Frosted Amber’ and ‘Frosted Brown’, £20.90 for the large size (19cm), £16.90 for the medium size (12cm) and £11.90 for the small size (9cm), Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
9. Ferm Living jute star tree decorations, £22.90 for a set of three, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
10. Ferm Living ‘Mura’ advent candle in ‘Oat’, £16.90, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
11. House Doctor ‘Runy’ glass baubles in brown, £14 for a set of two, Lifestory
12. Brown linen-blend ribbon with fringed edges, £1.80 per metre, PlumBowtique via Etsy [AD – affiliate link]
13. Ferm Living ceramic advent candle bowl, £50.90, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]

Ice, frost & snow

Inspired by snow-laden trees, frosted branches and frozen lakes, my final look brings together crisp whites, glistening surfaces and textured glass that resembles chunks of ice. I’ve also included fringed edges and etched detailing that remind me of feathery hoar frost and dangling icicles. A minimalist yet magical winter wonderland of a Christmas scheme!

1. Large textured glass baubles, £24 for a set of three, Layered Lounge
2. Normann Copenhagen ‘Odd’ glass candleholder, £78 with matching pillar candle or £59 without, Utility Design
3. Ferm Living ‘Vela’ organic cotton star-shaped tree decorations, £20.90 for a set of four, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
4. Ferm Living ‘Ripple’ champagne flutes in frosted glass (matching wine and water glasses also available), £26.90 for a set of two, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
5. Dried linum seedhead wreath, £20 for a 20cm diameter, £42 for a 40cm diameter or £85 for a 60cm diameter, Botanica Collection via Etsy [AD – affiliate link]
6. Naturally dyed silk ribbon in ‘Ivory’, £9.80 for a 2m spool, The Botanical Dyer via Etsy [AD – affiliate link]
7. Villeroy & Boch ‘Afina’ tableware with subtle relief pattern, £9.55-£32.66 per piece, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
8. Glistening glass drop baubles, £6 each, The White Company
9. White porcelain baubles, £20 for a set of three, Garden Trading
10. Layered paper baubles in ‘Antique White’, £25 for a set of three, Layered Lounge
11. Broste Copenhagen hanging white paper snowflake, £6.77 for a 15cm size or £9.90 for a 30cm size, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
12. Tell Me More glass candle lanterns in ‘Frosted White’, £20.90 for the large size (19cm), £14.90 for the medium size (12cm) and £12.90 for the small size (9cm), Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
13. Fringed linen tablecloth in ‘Antique White’, £110, Layered Lounge

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I share here.

Collage photography via the respective brands and retailers; top image courtesy of Tine K Home; berry image by Annemarie Schaepman via Unsplash; fern image by Annie Spratt via Unsplash; snowy tree image by Abi Dare