Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I’ve been doing a lot of catching up on the phone with friends and family recently and I’m noticing a peculiar phenomenon occurring in the homes of my loved ones who celebrate Christmas. We all seem to have gone full on Clark Griswold this year and got ourselves trees that are WAY bigger than our ceilings will allow. Unreasonably big. I’m talking HUGE, it’s not even close. Why is this? Maybe it’s a testament to what a raging dumpster fire 2020 has been and how we are all in search of a little extra cheer wherever we can get it.
Whatever the reason, it’s leaving many of us with a similar outcome: TONS of tree clippings. That, paired with the leftovers from the garland I made, left me with a LOT of extra pine on my hands. Those of you who know me know that 1.) I’m NOT a fan of waste and 2.) I am perhaps the BIGGEST fan of greenery there is. So I thought I’d share a few of the ways I’ve chosen to get creative with my trimmings this year to enhance my holiday decor.
1.) Level up your garlands and tree.
Whether you’re a faux garland kind of person or prefer the real deal, all garlands can benefit from a little ‘live greens’ facelift. Same with trees, even the real ones! Stick pieces of trimmings in sparse areas to create a better shape/fill in holes for an extra full, polished look.
2.) Create a centerpiece.
World’s simplest DIY, I swear! First, find a pretty tray/bowl/plate. Next, layer in your greens. Lastly, add pine cones from the yard, tapers, tea lights, ornaments…anything you like! Go for different textures and heights to create visual interest. I love the juxtaposition of the sparkly, formal ornaments and the earthy, organic elements I used on our dining room table this year.
3.) Add pops of color throughout your home.
You can also consider adding a centerpiece to the not so central parts of your home – say a side table or atop a shelf- to add pops of color. This year, I’ve stuck bits of green EVERYWHERE in my home which is providing some lovely, earthy contrast to my neutral color palette which consists of mostly ivory tones and metallics. All you have to do is grab some bowls (bonus points for fun shapes and finishes) and maybe a leftover ornament or two to create a simple yet beautiful arrangement.
4.) Beautify your gift wrapping.
This one is probably the easiest of the bunch (which is saying something because these are all some extremely doable holiday hacks) but one of the highest impact. When I added fresh winter greens to a handful of presents I wrapped a few weeks ago and showed my husband, he actually “ooo”ed out loud. Simply tuck a small sprig underneath the ribbon, secure with clear tape if needed, and you’re done. If you really want to take it over the top (which of course I do because I’m as fervent a gift wrapper as they come – what the youths would call “extra” you may say), add a shatterproof ornament too!
5.) Get your swag on.
Maybe it’s just me, but I was essentially today years old when I discovered that the decorative clusters of greens you see on doorways or in homes this time of year are called “swags”. Love it. Need it. Made it! A lot of you have expressed interest in a more detailed play by play on this one so stay tuned for a simple DIY how-to in the days to come.
I would break my husband’s landscape loving heart if I didn’t also insert here that any additional tree trimmings make an EXCELLENT addition to the compost pile. This is for you, Chris. Happy decorating (and composting) friends!
Thanks for stopping by,
