Joanna Gaines' Winter Forest Christmas Decor is the Last-Minute Look You Can Copy Using Plants From Your Yard

There's something so cozy and traditionally festive about incorporating greenery into Christmas celebrations. Perhaps it's because all the foliage – whether real or faux – matches the tree, or maybe bringing nature into your celebrations offers a beautiful blank canvas for festive creativity.

Interior designer and Magnolia founder Joanna Gaines has layered her home with greenery in her festive decor, putting some in every area of her home. There was the Christmas tree itself, of course, but Joanna had foliage cascading along the table as a centerpiece, full, textural wreaths hanging from the windows, sprigs of festive fir sitting in vases on the counters… and it isn't "too much" at all. It complements the rest of her decorations beautifully.

To learn more about why Joanna's natural decorating scheme works so well, and how to achieve it using plants you may already be growing, I consulted two interior decorators who enjoy getting hands-on with greenery. Here's what they had to say.

Why Joanna's Foliage Decor Works

So how do you recreate Joanna’s natural look at home? If you're dreaming of a Christmas that feels as warm and cozy as it looks, adding more greenery is a great place to start. It won't just visually up the coziness of your space by filling in stark gaps and toning down all the surrounding lights and ornaments, but being surrounded by plant-based decor has naturally grounding qualities.

As Sarah Trop of Funcycled Interior Design and Decorating explains: "When you fill your home with natural textures and tones, even through faux greenery, you’re embracing the principles of biophilic design: our innate desire to connect with nature. This connection brings calm and healing to a space, which feels especially meaningful during the busyness of the holiday season.

"The result transforms our homes into peaceful, restorative spaces that mirror the beauty of the natural world."

Which Plants Should I Use?

When decorating with plants, it's important to consider two main factors: which ones are versatile and which will have longevity. Wilted greenery never looks good, and unless you're working with a very specific theme, plants that only look good in a specific place or certain lighting may become a pain.

Evelina Juzėnaitė, a principal interior designer at Planner 5D, has helped many people spruce up their spaces with plants. She had many suggestions and wanted to remind those looking for inspiration not to forget how beautiful branches can look among festive decor.

"Greenery clippings such as cedar, pine, juniper, or fir are excellent alternatives to artificial plants and wreaths because their natural texture will add softness and volume, as well as aroma.

"Eucalyptus is another great choice as it looks good both fresh and dried. Rosemary arranged in tied bunches or bouquets can look and smell lovely, too. But don't forget slender stems like olive branches – they can add visual interest to a display of decor or work in a minimalist way with little else surrounding them."

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