Everlasting CHRISTMAS

Gather bunches of enduring botanicals to fashion holiday and winter decorations that will last from early November right into the new year.

Fresh evergreen Christmas decor is traditional for decking the halls, but it often dries out and becomes brittle well before the Yuletide. This year, rely on the versatility of long-lasting country botanicals to design wreaths and other trimmings that will stand the test of time and can even be reused from year to year.

First, create a palette of materials to draw upon for inspiration. Dried pods, nuts, pinecones and berries all have lengthy life spans. Team them up with moss, twigs and preserved greens, and you will have a magical mix of shapes and textures that can be incorporated into your cheerful seasonal groupings.

Embellishing decorative items that you already have on hand can instantly turn everyday objects into beautiful Christmas accessories. We selected pieces in ever-popular black and white and used the same combination of naturals to uniquely adorn each one. The look is cohesive, the approach is easy, and the mix of materials is adaptable to any type of vignette—even those exposed to harsh elements such as sun and winter weather.

Additionally, since the materials are already preserved, you can store your creations and then bring them out again next year. Simply wrap each article in tissue paper before placing it in a box and store in a cool, dry location. These accents can be freshened up for the following holiday season with more botanicals, or you can add another colorway to the neutrals to establish a whole new feel. The beauty of dried naturals is that they really do last longer and offer more decorating options than fresh greens.

Easy and Lasting Naturals

Tallow berries Poppy pods Pinecones Eucalyptus pods

Preserved cypress and hemlock Strawflowers

Nuts in the shell

Get Cagey

Upgrade a birdcage or lantern with a beautiful natural arrangement affixed to the top. Simply hot glue moss to the top section of the birdcage and then hot glue botanicals directly onto the moss to anchor them. Add battery-operated candles inside the cage, and pair the finished ensemble with a real candle to fashion an illuminating accessory.

Show Some Swag

Stairway handrails can be a challenge to wrap with faux or fresh garlands, but that doesn’t mean the staircase has to remain bare during the holiday season. Instead of focusing on the handrails, beautify a newel post with a handmade swag. We started with evergreens cinched with floral wire and then hot glued dried botanicals to the middle and extending outward to each end. We hung the swag vertically on a newel post to offer a welcoming presentation on an entryway staircase. If your staircase has two newel posts, create a second matching swag to provide balance to the scene and complete the look, and then top one post with a jaunty hat as a finishing touch.

Stick to It

Grapevine wreaths are easy to find in crafts and home decor stores and are a dream to dress up. Simply follow the shape of the wreath form and hot glue botanical pieces in between the twigs. Work from the inside of the wreath to the outside edges and add as much or as little embellishment as you like. Spray or sprinkle the finished project with artificial snow to establish a wintry look. ★

Matthew Mead is a lifestyle guru whose upcycling ideas make excellent use of items you already have or can find easily at thrift stores and flea markets. He is a photographer, stylist and author. Follow his work and upcoming projects on Instagram at www.instagram. com/matthewmeadstyle or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/matthew.mead.37.