A Wild Botanical Christmas | How to Deck the Halls Naturally with Dove & Myrtle
Wild & Wonderful : Decorating with Nature for a Joyful Christmas
Simple, natural ideas to bring greenery, texture and festive calm into your home this Christmas
I asked a lovely florist friend - Jane of Dove & Myrtle to share her botanical knowledge with us as we all decorate our homes for Christmas celebrations. She has been so generous & created a mini Natural Christmas Styling Guide full of greenery, texture and very simple seasonal touches.
Nothing fancy or over the top, just easy ideas you can actually do at home, a few bits you can forage or pick up locally and some botanical touches to make your home feel natural and festive. Adding your own creativity to your home - even in really small ways is a perfect way to take a breather during the Christmas rush & bring the outdoors in!
Invite Nature Indoors with Branches
On your next winter walk, look out for a beautiful fallen branch to bring home and suspend above the table. A simple yet striking way to invite nature indoors. Leave it bare for a sculptural, organic look, or weave in a little festive cheer with recycled fabric ribbons, delicate baubles, fairy lights or handmade paper chains. If you'd rather keep it natural but still want a touch of texture and magic, try foraging soft trails of Wild Clematis known as 'Old Man's Beard' or Ivy to drape gracefully along the branch. It's a wonderfully effortless way to celebrate the season!s beauty.
Evergreen Boughs and Nordic Inspiration
I've always been enchanted by the Nordic tradition of bringing evergreen boughs indoors during the long winter months. There's something utterly magical about a richly textured, fragrant arrangement of holly, fir and spruce, gathered simply in a weathered zinc bucket or artfully draped over mirrors and mantels. It fills the home with the fresh, crisp scent of the season. For a subtle burst of colour, seek out inky blue ivy drupes or vibrant rosehips to weave through the greens. To give it a twist, try adding olive branches and rhododendron for a softer, unexpected touch.
Bring Fragrant Bulbs Indoors
For a touch of natural beauty this Christmas, plant fragrant indoor narcissi, Paperwhite Ziva or Soleil Dior, in an eclectic mix of vessels to fill your home with their soft scent and simple charm. Think beyond the traditional pot and get creative; patterned teacups and mugs, vintage jelly moulds, decorative tins or empty scented candle jars all make beautiful, unexpected homes for your bulbs. They're a lovely way to bring a little springtime promise into winter, or to gift someone a moment of living joy.
Curating Foraged Treasures
It's remarkable what we discover when we simply take the time to look. By thoughtfully curating foraged treasures from walks, we not only bring the outside in but also evoke cherished memories of the places and moments where they were found. In my home, you'll find dishes of sea glass nestled in nearly every room, acorns gently sprouting in vintage Marmite jars, alongside shells, stones, sun-bleached seaweed, dried seed pods, leaves, and curious twigs scattered here and there. As Christmas approaches, I'll weave pinecones into this eclectic collection, adding yet another layer of natural charm to home.
Jane runs East Sussex based Floral Studio, Dove & Myrtle, as well as making Christmas wreaths & specialising in bespoke wedding & event flowers, she runs one to ones, half and full day workshops throughout the year, including table styling with florals & bundle dying with plants. If you can't make it in person there are gorgeous bundle dying kits available in her online shop, these make perfect Christmas gifts for fellow flower lovers, as do her gift vouchers, find out more here and on Instagram @doveandmyrtle
