We’ve found all the most beautiful baubles, wreaths and home décor to browse this year – made with paper, wood, metal and other natural materials.

By Alice Tuffery

Published: Wednesday, 08 November 2023 at 13:05 PM


Forget tinsel, plastic baubles and artificial wreaths; the most beautiful Christmas decorations are made with real, natural materials. Not only do they offer rich colours, fragrant aromas and tactile textures, but they also tend to be a more sustainable alternative to plastic décor.

Here are the natural Christmas decorations we’ll be adding to our homes this festive season, from stunning paper decorations and wooden ornaments to dried fruit wreaths and living plants.

Need Christmas cards? See our top garden-themed Christmas cards for 2023.

The 14 best natural Christmas decorations 2023

Citrus wreath with orange & cinnamon

Buy from Etsy (£18.90)

A dried fruit wreath is an absolute classic when it comes to Christmas décor. Its vibrant colours are almost secondary to the rich and warming fragrance of the oranges, limes and cinnamon sticks.

Keep the fragrance strong in years to come by adding a few drops of Jormaepourri oil.

Light Up Paper Tree

Buy from Cox & Cox (£20.00 )

Light Up Paper Trees on a decorated table
Image: Light Up Paper Tree / coxandcox.co.uk

These paper trees make a classy finishing touch to any table top display. Just unfurl them and secure them open with the magnets. Then you can set the timer for the warm white string lights so they turn on automatically.

Buy the 31cm and the 60cm trees together to create a layered look.

LED Birch Star Garland 

LED Birch Star Garland on a white table

The FSC-certified birch wood stars make these LED string lights a beautiful natural Christmas decoration. They stretch 200cm in length and would look lovely strung above doorways or in dark windows.

Wooden Reindeer with Bow

Buy from the National Trust (£10.00)

Wooden Reindeer with Bow on a white background

National Trust’s Christmas collection is always one to check for natural seasonal décor; it spans everything from advent calendars to baubles and candles, and includes this sweet wooden reindeer with a cheerful gingham bow.

We also love the National Trust’s selection of festive food and drinks, which is all beautifully packaged and perfect for Christmas gifting.

Real Noble Fir Wreath

Buy from Sarah Raven (£59.95)

Real Noble Fir Wreath on a white background
Image: Real Noble Fir Wreath / sarahraven.com / Photography © Jonathan Buckley

Real fir wreaths are one of the best natural Christmas decorations you can get. Just add string lights to give your door a welcoming glow.

Alternatively, add extra foliage to make your own decorated Christmas wreath. Don’t forget to pick up the tools you’ll need for making a DIY wreath.

Mandar Mango Wood Houses

Buy from Nkuku (£16.00 )

Mandar Mango Wood Houses on a dark wood table
Image: Mandar Mango Wood Houses / Nkuku.com

Classic enough to leave out all year round, these mini mango wood houses bring elegant style. Unlike the many white ceramic houses you can buy on the high street, these sweet structures have rich warm wood tones.

Buy a few and nestle them amongst string lights to create a cosy scene over the festive period.

Natural assortment of pine cones 

Natural Christmas decorations and assortment of pine cones on a tray
Image: Natural Assortment Of Pine Cones / The Danes, notonthehighstreet.com

This selection of real seeds, pine cones and foliage makes it easy to add a rustic touch to any Christmas display. The makers have whitewashed them to create a frosty finish, so they’ll look perfectly festive scattered on trays and amongst other Christmas decorations.

Use floristry wire to attach them to Christmas wreaths and garlands for a quick DIY upgrade.

Two Plywood Star Lights

Buy from Cox & Cox (£45.00)

Two Plywood Star Lights in a window
Image: Two Plywood Star Lights / coxandcox.co.uk

Light-up stars never fail to add a cosy look in a window or hung from the ceiling. These natural Christmas decorations from Cox & Cox are a sturdier alternative to the many paper stars you can buy. They’re made from laser cut plywood and come with warm white LED lights inside.

Dried Hops Vine Garland 

Dried Hops Vine Garland over a fireplace
Image: Dried Hops Vine Garland / Ville De Fleurs, notonthehighstreet.com

Using real foliage as decoration is a great way to add instant wow factor to a room. Swap standard Christmas garlands for plants like hops or trailing branches to frame focal points such as fireplaces and doorways.

Cyclamen in Wavy Edged Green Ceramic Bowl

Cyclamen in Wavy Edged Green Ceramic Bowl on a table
Image: Cyclamen in Wavy Edged Green Ceramic Bowl / sarahraven.com / Photography © Jonathan Buckley

People often overlook house plants when it comes to decorating for Christmas, but bright flowers like this cyclamen make lovely festive décor. This one comes in a beautiful ceramic bowl too, so you can put it out on display straight away.

Small Straw Snowflake Decorations

Small Straw Snowflake Decorations on a white background

Swap plastic baubles for beautiful, delicate straw decorations like these. They come in a variety of snowflake shapes, and their muted colour makes them perfect for neutral or Scandi-inspired home schemes.

Ruscus & Eucalyptus Garland

Buy from Sarah Raven (£99.00)

Ruscus & Eucalyptus Garland on a wooden table
Image: Ruscus & Eucalyptus Garland / sarahraven.com / Photography © Jonathan Buckley

This two-metre garland combines green ruscus and silver eucalyptus. Add your own fairy lights or keep it unlit for a naturalistic look draped along banisters or dining tables.

Dried Orange, Cinnamon, Star Anise Tree Decorations

Dried Orange, Cinnamon, Star Anise natural Christmas Decorations on a white table

Made from dried orange, cinnamon sticks and star anise, these natural Christmas decorations are beautifully fragranced as well as beautiful to look at. Thanks to their warm golden tones, they’ll look lovely hanging from Christmas tree branches or strung up around the home.

Mixed Eucalyptus and Green Pine Wreath

Buy from Sarah Raven (£99.00)

Mixed Eucalyptus and Green Pine Wreath on a wooden door
Image: Mixed Eucalyptus and Green Pine Wreath / sarahraven.com / Photography © Jonathan Buckley

You can’t go wrong with a traditional Christmas wreath made with real fir and foliage. We love the green and pinky tones of this beautiful option from Sarah Raven. And at over 45cm across, it’ll make a great statement piece for your front door.

Getting into the Christmas spirit? See our favourite indoor Christmas plants and botanical candles for Christmas.