WORKING WITH FRESH GREENERY

Fresh greenery instantly makes any space look festive — plus, it smells amazing. The catch? It can be difficult to keep in place and tends to dry out quickly. Here are five tips from Halifax-based designer Deb Nelson on how to collect, use and keep greenery alive longer.

1 Fasten it

Weave boughs over and under each other, locking them together using the natural shape of the branches. Floral wire or twine keeps pieces attached to banisters, fences or other features.

2 Weigh it down

A deep mantel works best for fresh greenery. Set heavy items on top of the boughs to keep them in place.

3 Decorate at the last minute

Natural items don’t last long, so hold off decorating for as long as you can, or do it for a party and swap out the old greenery for new closer to the holidays.

Tip: Keep the greenery in buckets of water right up until you decorate. Mist with water daily.

4 Forage

To save money, take a walk in the woods and collect boughs, pine cones and branches. Put them in a vase with a few ornaments on bare twigs.

5 Finish with a bow

Add a red ribbon to any bunch of greenery to instantly bring it to yuletide life.