This holiday season, I figured that I could just buy my decorations at the store for the sake of ease — but then I thought that making my own all-natural decorations would be a great opportunity to reduce waste during the holidays, enjoy time outdoors, and give my kids a screen-free after-school activity to do together.

Today, I’m sharing 8 ideas for organic holiday decorations, which make any space feel cozy and spruced-up. The best part? They’re a snap to DIY! You can usually find the natural materials for these projects in your backyard or local park. I had so much fun foraging for materials with my sons and looking on the ground to see what we could use that had already fallen off our trees, such as twigs, pine cones, and spruce branches.

Plus, these homemade natural Christmas decorations are the best types of zero-waste decor for the holidays because they’re either compostable or meant to last a lifetime. I hope you’ll adore the ideas I’ve rounded up below!

1. Fragrant dried orange garland

With citrus season in full swing, a dried orange garland is a wonderfully simple and cost effective way to decorate for the holidays. This project is as simple as thinly slicing oranges, drying them out in the oven, and stringing them onto twine to form a garland.

Arrange them on the hearth with evergreen boughs, string them across the window, or even hang them on your Christmas tree; dried oranges are festively versatile. Catch my drift? The Ginger Home has a simple, easy-to-follow tutorial if you’d like to give this DIY a try!

2. Woodsy pine cone garland

Pine cones make for beautiful, simple home decor — and it’s super easy to find the materials for this project, since pine trees are pretty much ubiquitous! The beauty of this easy decoration is that you can put it up now and keep it up through the holidays and well into the New Year. For a personalized touch, you can scent your pine cones with essential oils to make your home smell amazing, or paint the scales with gold paint for a shimmery variation. Ready to make your own? Check out this tutorial from On Sutton Place!

3. Bright and cheerful orange peel ornaments

These sweet little ornaments are SO easy to make — just carefully peel an orange, use cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the peel, string them with twine, and you’re done! I love how the sweet, bright orange scent blends with the hearty smell of my Christmas tree. It’s a match made in heaven! For a tutorial, check out This Healthy Table.

4. Whimsical acorn ornaments

Late fall is acorn season in California, and the live oak trees that surround our home have been dropping acorns since October. After seeing this tutorial on Pinterest, I realized they’d make perfect holiday decor! For this simple DIY, all you need are acorns, white acrylic paint, twine, and a hot glue gun. Once dried, hang them on your Christmas tree, or simply use them to add a touch of whimsy to a woodsy centerpiece, as pictured above!

5. Bundles of foraged foliage

Although winter is devoid of flowers, there’s still plenty of festive foliage to be used for holiday decorating. Rather than taking a trip to the flower market, try foraging for your own greens instead! In your backyard, around your neighborhood, and in your local park, keep your eyes out for discarded cuttings, branches, or boughs that are already on the ground. If foraging beyond your own home, always ask before you take, and try to cut as little as possible. Some of my favorite holiday foliage includes:

Evergreens like cypress, pine, cedar, juniper, olive, and spruce
Winter berries like holly and rose hips
Fragrant greens like rosemary, eucalyptus, sage, and thyme

Holiday foliage looks beautiful strewn across a hearth, gathered in a vase, or arranged on a table runner. It’s such a simple and easy way to bring a touch of nature into the home!

6. Spruced-up holiday candles

There is no tutorial for this inspiration image, but it’s so easy to do: just fill clear glass bottles with water and fresh winter greenery, insert white taper candles, and you’re all set! This incredibly elegant DIY is so simple, yet so stunning.

7. Organic wall hanging

This gorgeous wall hanging uses some of the most festive holiday cooking ingredients like oranges, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Not only is this piece beautiful to look at, but its amazing fragrance will put you right in the holiday spirit! To make your own, read the full tutorial from Camille Styles.

8. Fresh mini Christmas trees

These delightful mini trees were made using scraps from the local Christmas tree farm, but you might be able to find the materials in your own backyard! They’re perfect for lining up along the mantle and easy enough to make for even the most novice among us. You can find the easy tutorial at Say Yes.

Which of these organic holiday decorations will you try out? Let us know in the comments below!

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8 Ideas for Organic Holiday Decorations