There are two types of Christmas decorators: Those who go all out to the point where their home looks like a still from the movie Christmas Vacation, and those who like a more natural or rustic look to their home during the holidays.
When you think about rustic Christmas decor, you probably picture fresh-cut pine, birch logs, chunky knits, lots of candles and pine cones galore. And that is the correct picture. But arranging all of this in a way that looks intentional rather than someone just emptied their wood shed out in the middle of the house is key. Simpler is better, so don’t be afraid to edit. However, the point of the style remains the same: Creating a down-home feel to your space that harks back to a simpler time that feels like your childhood.
Whether you live in the country on a for-real hobby farm, or in the middle of the city in a condo or apartment, you can achieve that same meaningful, cozy, magical vibe and transform your surroundings into a woodsy winter wonderland for the holidays.
Here are the basic elements for a truly inspired rustic decor, no fireplace necessary.
Pick your colour scheme
There are different ways to approach rustic decor. You can definitely use a very traditional look, or you can go more neutral. The latter works really well in a more contemporary setting if you’re trying to keep the decor minimal.
Picking your colour scheme will set the entire tone. Want that traditional plaid look? There are many to choose from, from the traditional red and white or red and green, to the equally classic buffalo plaid of red and black. Or for less contrast, choose all green or all red varieties. Want to go more neutral? Start with a crisp white or cream and gold plaid. There’s nothing wrong with a little bling here and there as it adds sparkle. Any of these can be easily matched up with natural burlap, or use it on its own. Once you pick your main colour, the rest of the decorating will easily fall into place.
Bring the outdoors in
This is the really fun and creative part. Plus, it probably won’t cost you a dime if you like to go for walks out in nature. If you prefer to shop indoors for these elements, be prepared to overpay for the same stuff. Whichever method you use, with your colour scheme picked out, choosing matching elements will be simple.
If you’ve chosen to go with any of the plaids, you can start with red holly berries, beeswax candles, textured unbleached cotton ornaments in shapes like stars or even animals, sisal twine to tie around cinnamon sticks, pinecones, and bare branches that you can wrap with lights and dangle ornaments from. If you feel ambitious, you can add strings of popcorn and dried oranges to the mix.
If you’re going neutral, stick to white and cream berries, frost flecked pine cones, aged gold leaves and twine, balls of nubby wool, burlap, and grapevine wreaths or birch branches to wrap with cotton gauze and seed lights.
Pine and spruce
It goes without saying that all of this should be adorning pine boughs and spruce branches, or a whopping big tree. The beauty of these is that they can go anywhere and immediately dress up a boring corner, whether you have a tree or not. They’re so beautiful that you can simply pop a few into a rustic basket, wind a few lights in, tie a plaid ribbon around the basket and you’ve gone sad to fab in mere moments. Or buy a tiny tree and set it on a table top.
Fresh cut pine is essential for the scent, but nowadays, the artificial stuff — including the trees — looks like the real thing, so you can still get the affect without all that mess. You can buy bare garland and decorate it yourself, or buy the prelit kind that already come decorated. These look fantastic above fireplaces, on shelves, across the tops of those annoying kitchen cupboards that don’t go all the way to the ceiling, and even along a sideboard where you’re serving food and drinks.
Wood and fur
Nothing says cabin cozy more than the look of wood and the wild patterns of fur.
Wood can be introduced in many ways, from old barn board signs to strings of wooden beads painted red or green or left natural, handmade wooden ornaments, live edge trays or coasters, and the very striking birch bark logs or branches that have become a favourite of decorators all year round.
Fur — not the real thing, of course — can be introduced as a warm throw, rug or pillow. Try pillows in different shapes, from horizontal to square or even round, and mix them in with your Christmas-themed pillows for variety.
Mercury and antique glass
Mercury glass is always a winner because of its innate patina of age. It works well with a very country rustic style all the way to an ultra-modern or spare Scandi-style holiday theme. You can buy it in the form of ornaments or candle holders and more. It can be plain and silvered or bright and shiny.
Antique glass can be anything that just looks “old.” A lot of the glass from the 1970s, for example, looks Old World. Old jars are also perfect as candle holders. Just fill the bottom with sand or pebbles and throw in a tea light or three. They can also be filled with a tangle of seed lights and pinecones.
Metal accents with flair
Metal accents, like the glass accents, add a bit of glimmer that beautifully reflects all those lights and flickering candles. Metal can come in the form of old tin signs, rusted lanterns with a candle inside, tins filled with pinecones and acorns, or antique children’s toys. It can also be part of something, like an old sled draped with pine and ribbon, a wagon propped up in the corner and filled with craft paper wrapped gifts, or a leather strip of sleigh bells.
Once you’re done decorating and all your lights start to twinkle amid the pine boughs, you can sit back under your fur throw with your tin mug of hot cocoa and reminisce about Christmases past.