Need some last minute inspiration for your holiday decor? Heritage CEO, Stephanie Thornton Plymale, recently shared her favorite ways to incorporate greenery into her home for the holidays with Lake Homes Realty. Below are some tips and pictures from Stephanie’s lake house showcasing creative ways to display evergreen throughout any home for minimal but festive winter decor.

Natural green elements pair perfectly with the classic lake house pallet of woven textures, natural linens and cottons, rustic wood elements, and wrought iron accents. Bringing the outdoors in can be easy to do in the warm spring and summer months when open doors and patios afford instant indoor/outdoor transitions, but how can you achieve the same look and feel all year round? Read on for Stephanie’s top tips to incorporate greenery into your home decor this winter. 

Entryway

The easiest thing any homeowner can do is make an evergreen wreath. Utilize the left-over branches from the base of your Christmas tree or cut fresh evergreen branches from around your neighborhood. We recommend shaping your wreath around a wire base. Use pine evergreen swag, mixed berry sprays, and add a natural burlap ribbon to complete the look. Hang this wreath on your front door, or just inside your entry!

Place 3 small evergreen topiary trees in baskets or urns of varying heights. Group this collection in a corner. 

Wrap an evergreen garland around your entry mirror or across a gallery wall of picture frames. 

Living Room

Some favorite evergreen trees are lemon cypress, boxwood, and conifer cypress. These are small enough to easily add to an indoor space, but pack a punch of gorgeous greenery. I also love a traditional evergreen swag– either cut from your own trees or purchased from a grocery store. 

Wrap your round wrought iron chandelier in evergreen garlands. 

The rich green of evergreen trees is set off well when put against soft cotton towels or napkins. Line a milk glass vase with a cotton napkin, then place a small cypress topiary inside to complete the look. We suggest grouping this on a coffee table or ottoman.  

We suggest a collection of simplistic mini-wreaths hung by ribbon in front of a window. You can choose a classic red ribbon for a traditional holiday look, or pick a ribbon that matches your own color decor. 

Do you have antlers mounted in your living room or entry? Decorate this year round by adding an evergreen wreath. Simple gold or white ornaments can add a bit of holiday shine to the wreath, or keep it simple with a few natural pine cones.

Dining Room

For winter dinner parties, hang a small wreath off the back of your dining chairs. We suggest a boxwood wreath here. 

To create a natural and beautiful centerpiece for your dining room table: stack a small cypress topiary on a plate stand and embellish with fresh cranberries.

Group collections of mason jars full of evergreen trimmings, sprigs of cranberries, and twigs. Wrap the jars with burlap, twine or ribbon. These also look beautiful on open shelving or grouped with votive candles.

Kitchen 

As we all know lake house living comes with certain appealing scents (often wafting up from the lake itself). To infuse your home with the fresh scent of evergreen, consider making a simmering potpourri. In a large pot or water, simmer evergreen clippings, fresh orange peel, cloves, and cinnamon sticks for a diy holiday diffuser. 

A bouquet of evergreens can be wrapped in natural rope and hung from the ceiling over a kitchen sink. Mix in some mistletoe for some kitchen fun.

Drape your open shelves with evergreen garlands. Display your favorite dishes nestled among the boughs.

Anywhere

Add fresh evergreen swags to bookcases or mantels. You may opt to mix in cranberries or holly for a more traditional holiday look or leave pure evergreens for an understated elegance.

Wreaths can go anywhere in the winter home! Handmade with pure evergreen or embellished with other foliage like pines and berries and burlap ribbon or rope.

Drape evergreen garlands over mirrors, windowsills or mantels.

A fresh way to incorporate evergreens beyond the holiday’s is to group a collection of cypress topiaries in a variety of ceramic pots on a vintage burnished silver tray. Add fresh citrus fruits or sprigs of rosemary to complete the look. A live edge wood tray also looks beautiful here. 

A classic lake house look is to plant a small tree in a galvanized pot. Choosing a cypress topiary exudes casual elegance, while a potted blue spruce or noble fir adds a festive holiday feel.