10 Natural, No-Spend Holiday Decor Ideas
Rick Coyne
Are you looking for simple ways to decorate for the holiday with items you already have? I challenged one of our realtors and interior stylist, Tracy Durfee, with creating a selection of magical holiday decor pieces without spending a dime and she didn’t disappoint!
“Christmas decorations should be personal and have meaning to you. It doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive. The loveliest decor starts with the natural beauty all around us.” Tracy confides.
The decor ideas below can be easily recreated using the natural bounty in your yard and items you have on hand! The result is beautiful, designer looks that ANYONE can pull off this Christmas!
Holiday Picture Books
Many families have a collection of cherished holiday picture books. The same beautiful stories have been enjoyed year after year, so why not make them part of your holiday look? The charming illustrations are lovely on display especially with your cozy blankets and throw pillows.
A Bright Tablescape
The deep wood of this table practically glows under Tracy's simple, no-buy tablescape. She started the show with an old plaid scarf, trimmed greens from the trees around her Wells, ME home and arranged them and an assortment from her fruit basket around her favorite candle sticks. The effect, magical, colorful and lush, is simply stunning.
An Upgraded Centerpiece
This pretty, rustic candleholder adorns Tracy's coffee table year round, but this time of year it gets a serious upgrade. Sprigs of foraged greens and berries tucked around the base of creamy candle sticks and a bed if ruby cranberries elevate it to a holiday centerpiece worthy of the season.
Simple Pine Cone Garland
This garland is charming in its simplicity and perfect if you have little ones who want to get in on the fun! Tracy collected these pine cones from the forest floor and used a length of twine, tying the twine around the base of a pinecone every few inches. The look of this can easily be adjusted by painting your pine cones, adding glitter, or using ribbon instead of twine.
Not So Cookie Cutter Decor
Here, Tracy used twine to hang her collection of holiday cookie cutters as decor in her kitchen. The addition of a fresh sprig of pine and a plaid bow tie it in with the rest of the decor and the unexpected placement at the side of her kitchen cabinets make it charming and whimsical.
Winter Branches Aglow
In a cozy corner of the living room a blue vase holds an array of bare winter branches that Tracy added a few spare ornaments and fairy lights to. The simple arrangement glows and glitters.
Festive Bar Cart
"This time of year we keep this set up so we are always ready to offer a drink," Tracy says of the luxe bar in her family room. The addition of glasses of cranberries and pomegranate seeds for garnish add festive color while a few artfully arranged pinecones, spruce sprigs and berries make this spread an enviable artistic statement.
Oh Little Christmas Tree
Walking through Tracy's home is often like a Christmas exploration where something delightful and unexpected makes you smile. One such surprise is this little "Charlie Brown" tree tucked into a vintage glass bottle. It is so simple that you can create the look no matter your skill level, yet tastefully festive.
Classic Edible Garland
Popcorn and cranberries strung together to create a garland is a true classic. The practice dates back to colonial Christmas trees, with cranberries first being added in the 1800s. The unique pattern of corn and berries is a wonderful way to personalize and elevate your garland.
Celebrate All Kinds (of Greenery)
This planter was sitting empty just hours before Tracy harvested foliage from her perennial garden to combine with the selection of pine and spruce boughs she had collected. The variety of textures and shades burst from the planter giving it new life and year-round purpose.
If you're interested in having Tracy help you with staging and selling your home you can reach her at tracy@exitoceansiderealty.com or 207-216-0082.
