It’s hard to beat the lush look and scent of a fresh tree, garland or wreath so we’ve collected 30 beautiful ways to use fresh evergreen boughs, sprigs, needles, and other small pieces.

Complete your Christmas with our collections of Outdoor Decor for Winter, Christmas Decor Tutorials, and Natural Holiday Decor Ideas

How To Use Fresh Evergreen From Remodelaholic

Decorating with natural elements is fun year-round, but seems especially meaningful during the winter when so much of nature is dormant!

Start with the popular DIY pinecone wreath (in under an hour!) or an easy fresh evergreen swag for your door or light — then use the extra pieces from your live Christmas tree or fresh garland to add cheer in other places with these ideas.

How to Use Fresh Evergreen to Decorate

Learn which evergreens are which and how to preserve each one over at Martha Stewart.

how to identify and perserve winter evergreens - Martha Stewart via @Remodelaholic

Use real pine and fir sprigs to fill in your fake garlands — details over at The Kim Six Fix.

use real fresh evergreen trimmings to bulk up a fake garland - The Kim Six Fix via @Remodelaholic

Tie a sprig of evergreen on a hanger for guest coats or robes (via Lowe’s Creative Ideas).

tie a spring of fresh evergreen on a robe or coat hanger for guests - Lowe's Creative Ideas via @Remodelaholic

Create a fresh pine door swag (via Good Housekeeping)

evergreen and ornament door swag - Good Housekeeping via @Remodelaholic

and add a wooden sign for the perfect winter-friendly front door decor (tutorial from That’s My Letter).

fresh evergreen door swag and sign - That's My Letter via @Remodelaholic

Create your own set of mini wreathes (tutorial from Martha Stewart).

fresh greenery mini wreaths - Martha Stewart via @Remodelaholic

Use an evergreen bunch and ribbon to decorate dining chairs for dinner parties (from Stonegable Blog).

use a pine swag to decorate dining chairs - Stonegable Blog via @Remodelaholic

Tie a bunch of branches together for a fragrant stair swag decoration (from House on the Way).

make a fresh pine Christmas swag for the stairs - House on the Way via @Remodelaholic

Drape fresh pine boughs over the chandelier (from Curious Details — and her whole dining room is gorgeous!).

add fresh evergreen boughs to the chandelier - Curious Details via @Remodelaholic

Add small sprigs of evergreen to your china hutch or any open shelving display (from CraftBerry Bush).

See more ideas for easy holiday decorating for your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and more here.

use evergreen and red to decorate a hutch for Christmas - Craftberry Bush via @Remodelaholic

Fill a cake plate with tree trimmings (from 12th and White).

fresh fir and pine branches on a cake plate dish - 12th and White via @Remodelaholic

Simmer pine needles with cinnamon for a fresh seasonal potpourri (from Make Haus).

simmer pine needles and cinnamon for a christmas scented air freshener - Make Haus via @Remodelaholic

Toss a few leftover sprigs into a pretty goblet (from Norregard).pine sprigs in goblet - lantlivinorregrd via @Remodelaholic

Tie a sprig of spruce on a gift (via The Original Popup Shop and Miss Mustard Seed).

tie fresh evergreen on a gift package - The Original Popup Shop via @Remodelaholic

 

fresh greenery on presents - Miss Mustard Seed via @Remodelaholic

Create an easy seasonal ornament (from BHG).

pine sprig ornament - BHG via @Remodelaholic

Combine several types of evergreen to create a festive and fun kissing ball (tutorial from View Along The Way).

use fresh greenery to make a DIY kissing ball for Christmas - View Along the Way via @Remodelaholic

Tie a sprig of pine in the end of a table runner (via Colin Cowie)

use fresh sprigs of evergreen pine to tie a table runner - Colin Cowie Weddings via @Remodelaholic

or make the whole table runner! (via Vintage Whites).

fresh greenery table runner - Vintage Whites via @Remodelaholic

Create little burlap pouches to hold small evergreen boughs — for place cards or wall or chair decor (from Stephanie Lynn on Positively Splendid)

diy fresh greenery pouches - Stephanie Lynn on Positively Splendid via @Remodelaholic

and use this trick from Miss Mustard Seed to help keep the cut branch fresh longer.

how to preserve fresh greenery sprigs - Miss Mustard Seed via @Remodelaholic

Affix sprigs or needles to the exterior of a glass candleholder for an easy wintry touch (from Living The Country Life).

sprigs of evergreen fir as candleholders - Living the Country Life via @Remodelaholic

Decorate the mailbox (via BHG)

use fresh evergreen boughs to decorate mailbox - BHG via @Remodelaholic

or your front porch bench (via BHG).

See more easy outdoor winter decorating ideas for your porch.

fresh evergreen branches on an entry porch bench - BHG via @Remodelaholic

Place small boughs under/around a jar filled with seasonal items (and I love this on the stairs!) (from Thrifty Decor Chick)

use evergreen springs and mason jars to decorate the stairs for Christmas - Thrifty Decor Chick via @Remodelaholic

Use a tension rod to add greenery to any window (via Country Living).

fresh pine garland in the kitchen - Country Living via @Remodelaholic

Add tree trimmings to your mantel (from Miss Mustard Seed).

tuck sprigs of evergreen into mantel decorations - Miss Mustard Seed via @Remodelaholic

Top a photo frame with a sprig of greenery(via BHG).

fresh evergreen sprig on top of a picture frame - BHG via @Remodelaholic

 

And keep it easy by tossing branches or sprigs in a jar or other glass container for a simple, classic look like these:

mason jar vignette with cranberries (On Sutton Place)

use fresh greens and cranberries to create a winter vignette - On Sutton Place via @Remodelaholic

with a floating candle (Mommy Savers)

floating tealight in a jar with pine and cranberries - Mommy Savers via @Remodelaholic

as a table centerpiece (Finding Home Online)

use fresh evergreen as a table centerpiece - Finding Home Online via @Remodelaholic

 

in a framed wall vase (from Sowanddipity)

mason jar wall vase with fresh pine and evergreen boughs - Sowanddipity via @Remodelaholic

as a fresh fruit arrangement (via Southern Living) — and this would look great with these orange clove pomanders, too!

fresh fruit and evergreen branches in a glass hurricane - Southern Living via @Remodelaholic

 Mmm… can’t you smell it already?? Happy holidays!

More ideas for using fresh evergreen in your holiday decor:

How To Use Fresh Evergreen In Your Holiday Decor, @Remodelaholic

Published Dec 4 2014 // Updated Nov 9 2020

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