Moss, pine needles, cones and simple twigs are all you need to create charming decorations that will make your entrance, terrace and interior feel cozy. The following inspirations show several ways to arrange natural materials into gnomes, trees, wreaths, hanging ornaments and simple table arrangements.
What You Will Need
- fresh or dried conifer branches
- moss, cones, small twigs and optionally dried leaves
- flowerpots, bowls, baskets or natural bases depending on the chosen decoration
- string and discreet binding material
- garden shears and work gloves
Clean and let natural materials dry before use. When collecting in nature, be gentle and use mainly fallen branches and cones or materials from your own garden.
1. Making Moss Gnomes: Form a cone-shaped body from dense conifer branches and cover the top part with moss. Bend the tip to the side, tie a string around the transition, and tuck a round wooden nose under the edge of the hat. Cones can be used as small decorations.
2. Gnome in a Flowerpot: For a more stable version, place the structure in an old flowerpot. Let the pine needles drape over the edge, shape the moss into a long bent hat, and add a few small cones on the sides.
3. Assembling a Whole Family: Repeat the same principle in several sizes. Different hat heights and amounts of pine needles create a nice group, perfect for a bench, crate or covered porch.
4. Tall Tree on a Trunk: Gradually attach conifer branches to a sturdy natural trunk from bottom to top. Leave the lower branches longer, shorten the upper ones and slightly bend the top. Cover the surface of the pot with moss and cones.
5. Pair for the Entrance: Make two trees of different heights and place them next to the door. Using the same materials unifies the arrangement, while different pots and sizes give it a natural rustic look.
6. Small Tree for Indoors: Cover a smaller cone-shaped crown with moss and add short twigs. You can loosely wrap string around it, tie a bow, and hide the base in a bowl with moss and cones.
7. Tree in a Metal Container: Attach conifer branches to the trunk to create an irregular silhouette. Place the tree in a stable container, cover the surface with a continuous layer of moss, and add cones on top.
8. Natural Round Wreath: Make a round base from thin twigs. Attach moss in several places and highlight the bottom part with pine needles, cones and dried leaves. Leave part of the twigs visible for a light look.
9. Heart-Shaped Wreath: Tie flexible twigs into a heart outline and secure the joints with string. Decorate one lower side with a strip of moss, short pine needles and a single cone. Add a simple loop at the top.
10. Star from Branches: Tie five similarly long twigs at the corners to form a star. Reinforce the center joints with string and decorate one part with moss, pine needles and a cone.
11. Arrangement in a Glass Bowl: Fill the bottom of a shallow dish with moss and insert conifer branches, bare twigs, cones and dried leaves between the mounds. Place taller elements at the back to keep the composition clear.
12. Moss Tree on a Wooden Slice: Shape a regular cone from moss on a short trunk. Cover the base with irregular pieces of moss and add pine needles, twigs and several cones to one side.
13. Filling a Wicker Basket: Line the basket with moss and fill it generously with conifer branches. Place cones at different heights, insert bare twigs in the center and tie a subtle fabric bow to the handle.
14. Bundle for the Door: Arrange longer conifer branches into a fan and add thin trailing twigs. Cover the top with moss, tie with string and hide the joint under a bow. Hang cones in the center of the bundle.
15. Hanging Moss Balls: Shape moss into firm balls and tie them with string wrapped around the surface. Attach a loop and a few short twigs with a cone on top. Hang the finished balls at different heights.
16. Lantern Surrounded by Greenery: Create a low ring of moss and pine needles around a wide glass. Add cones and fine twigs, but leave enough distance from the light source. A safer option is a light without an open flame.
17. Decoration in Birch Bark: Use a long piece of bark as a natural container. Fill it with moss, pine needles, cones and a few bent twigs. Arrange the elements irregularly to resemble a forest nook.
18. Cone in a Terracotta Pot: Make a compact cone from moss and small pine needles and place it in a flowerpot. Decorate the surface with cones and thin twigs. You can place the pot on a tray and add loose pine needles.
19. Miniature Forest in a Crate: Place three small trees of different heights in a shallow wooden crate. Cover the empty space with moss and cones. The combination of airy conifer crowns and a dense moss cone creates an interesting contrast.
20. Connecting Decorations by the Door: Group finished trees and gnomes by the entrance and add a wreath made from the same natural materials. Place the tallest element at the back, smaller ones in front, and unify the whole arrangement with pots or a wooden crate.
Tip for the End
Outdoor decorations are best placed under a roof, where they won’t be damaged by heavy rain or wind. Moss will keep its color longer in a cooler environment without direct sunlight. For hanging ornaments, always check the strength of the loop, and for table arrangements, protect your furniture with a suitable waterproof base.
Dobrou chuť!
