A white Christmas needs no tinsel. A wreath on the door, a branch above the table and a few candles in glass are enough. This is how to build it from natural materials and objects made to last.
Why White and Natural Works
White, cream and pale straw are the colours of frost. Dried stems, bleached branches and seed heads give the room its shape, and glass, linen and silver give the light somewhere to land. Nothing needs watering, and everything can be stored and used again next December. It is the opposite of disposable decoration.
The Wreath
Start with a base of vine or willow. Build it with white and cream materials: gypsophila, white lunaria with its translucent pods, silvered eucalyptus, wild clematis seed heads, bleached ruscus, cotton stems, oat and wheat. Keep it loose and slightly asymmetric, with the material following the curve of the ring.
Hang it on a wide linen ribbon rather than wire. On a mirror or a pale wall, it can carry a single glass ornament from our glass Christmas ornaments.
Branches at the Ceiling
A branch hung above the table does more than a tree. Choose one long, bare branch, birch or any pale, dry wood with a natural line, and suspend it horizontally from a ceiling hook or beam with two lengths of linen cord. Hang glass drops or a few dried stems along it at different heights.
Keep it clear of every flame. No candle, lamp or heat source should sit beneath or near it (see the safety section below).
The Centre of the Table
Build the table low, so people can see each other.
- Lay a linen runner from our home linens the length of the table.
- Place a few bare branches along it in a loose line, with pinecones and dried orange slices between them.
- Add two or three glass vases with single stems, in odd numbers and mixed heights. See our vases.
- Set white candles in glass or silver holders from our candles and candle holders, spaced apart from the branches.
- For the tapers, choose a metal holder shaped like a branch. It carries the idea of the table without bringing dry material near the flame.
For the table itself, our glassware and Timeless Whites carry the palette through to the plate.
Candles, Dry Decor and Fire Safety
Dried flowers, branches, pinecones and greenery ignite quickly and burn fast. Treat every candle in a dry-decor room as a risk to be managed.
- Keep every flame at least 30 cm from dried material, ribbon and linen, and never beneath a hanging branch.
- Use candles in glass or other heat-resistant holders on a stable, flat surface.
- Do not place candles inside or directly beside a wreath.
- Never leave a lit candle unattended. Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep candles away from children and pets, and from draughts that can move flames or decor.
- Trim wicks to about 5 mm before lighting.
- Where decor and flame must share a space, use warm white battery candles or lights instead.
Keeping It for Next Year
Keep dry decor out of damp and direct sun. Dust it gently with a hairdryer on a cool setting. Store it in a box with tissue. Buy once. For life.
Explore our Natural Textures, decorative objects and our guide to natural Christmas decor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a natural white Christmas wreath?
Use a vine or willow base and build it loosely with white and cream stems: gypsophila, lunaria, eucalyptus, clematis seed heads, cotton, oat and wheat. Hang it from a linen ribbon.
How do you hang branches from the ceiling safely?
Suspend a bare branch from a ceiling hook or beam with linen cord, and keep it well away from any flame, lamp or heat source.
Is it safe to use candles with dried flowers and branches?
Only with care. Dry material burns quickly. Keep flames at least 30 cm away, use glass holders, never leave candles unattended, or use battery candles near the wreath and branches.
What goes on a natural Christmas table?
A linen runner, a low line of branches, glass vases with single stems, and white candles in glass, silver or metal holders.
