How to Achieve a Natural Holiday Look

As we kick off December with the holiday season in full swing, many of us are looking to swap out our fall gourds for evergreen boughs to spruce up our interiors with holiday cheer. And what’s more beautiful during the holidays than tying in natural elements from the outdoors? 

This year, we’ve seen the long-standing trend of all things natural make it to the forefront of interior design. This trend is dual-focused on sustainability and comfort. Not only are organic materials and textiles more environmentally friendly, but they’re natural mood-enhancers, creating a sense of tranquility that is transferred throughout your home design. We’ve collected four simple tips to inspire decoration ideas and give your home a sophisticated “au naturel” look this season.

Play with Contrast

Design by BIG SKY HOME INTERIORS  Photography by JUSTINE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

Play up the natural lighting in your rooms by keeping your windows free of curtains and shutters so you open up space for sunlight to come into your home. Natural light is the best way to show off the organic elements in your home from the wood detailing in your kitchen cabinets to the fresh flower arrangements on your entryway tables.

Natural lighting also paves the way for creating contrast in your home. If you’re hoping to achieve a polished look this season, showcase points of interest by playing with light and dark shades. One way to do this is by making the fireplace the focal point of the room and accenting that wall in darker shades to ground the place. Let other elements in the room such as couches, chairs, and windows provide light and bright shades of white, beige, or light grays as a contrast.

Infuse Color and Texture

Color and texture play a huge role when it comes to natural decor. Fortunately, the winter season offers limitless inspiration in colors and textures from delicate brown pine cones to forest green sprigs to pink Christmas roses. Use these colors and textures to your advantage when setting up festive tablescapes, decorating the mantelpiece, and updating your entryway. Holiday wreaths are a popular staple in entryways and above front doors, plus they make for a fun DIY project. 

Simple tricks to holiday decorating include adorning your Christmas tree with flowers, making a tabletop tree out of evergreen boughs, and using popcorn and assorted dried fruit such as cranberries and orange slices as decorative garland can make all the difference when it comes to natural decor. 

Incorporate Wood

Worthington Herringbone Smoked by Karastan

Another simple way to incorporate natural beauty into your holiday decor is through wood materials. Hardwood floors make a beautiful statement in any home and are especially gorgeous in the winter when you dress them up with wool throws and shag rugs. If you don’t have hardwood floors, you can still incorporate wood accents through furniture, decor, shelving, and cupboards. Wooden beads make for trendy holiday garlands, and wicker baskets and rattan armchairs are the perfect addition to any living space requiring organization and extra lounge areas.

Add Touches of Natural Red

Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a touch of red! Red seems to be a staple of the season, with its colors reminiscent of red autumn leaves, snow-covered barns, and cardinal birds. Delve into this rich color palette by decorating with poinsettias, holly sprigs, apples, and red roses. Pops of red are a nod to the holidays plus they add a bit of warmth to your rooms with their rouge undertones.

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Read our latest issue of Beautiful Design Made Simple magazine and keep up to date on the latest design trends this season with our blog.