Holiday DIY: Homemade Wreaths and Décor Using Garden + Barnyard Finds

ByUser002

One of my favorite holiday rituals happens before the decorations ever go up—walking around the garden and coop, gathering bits of nature to craft something truly homegrown. Pine branches from the back fence, dried herbs from the kitchen garden, a few leftover zinnia heads, a stray feather or two from the hens… it all becomes part of the celebration.

There’s just something special about holiday décor made with your own hands and your own harvest. It smells better, feels more meaningful, and brings a little piece of the garden and barnyard inside during the coldest days of the year.

So whether you’re decking the halls, adorning the front door, or adding rustic touches to your holiday table, here’s how to make homemade wreaths and natural décor using what you already have around your homestead.

🧺 What to Gather: Your Garden + Barnyard Treasure List

Take a walk around your property with clippers and a basket—you might be surprised by what you find.

From the garden & yard:

  • Pine boughs, cedar, or juniper
  • Dried herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Dried flowers: hydrangea, strawflower, statice, lavender
  • Seed pods: poppy, milkweed, allium heads
  • Curly willow, grapevine, or dried vines
  • Berries: winterberry, rose hips, crabapple
  • Pinecones, acorns, bark

From the barnyard:

  • Feathers (clean and naturally shed)
  • Cleaned eggshells or mini eggs
  • Twine, raffia, or hay
  • Old feed sacks or scrap fabric for bows

Image 1: A rustic wooden table with gathered pine, herbs, feathers, and dried flowers arranged for crafting.

🎄 DIY Wreath Tutorial: Step-by-Step

What You’ll Need:

  • A wreath base (wire frame, grapevine coil, or even a bent coat hanger)
  • Floral wire or natural jute twine
  • Scissors or garden clippers
  • Your gathered greenery and décor items
  • Optional: hot glue gun for stubborn pieces

Step 1: Build Your Base Layer

Start with your evergreens. Work in small bunches, layering pine, cedar, or juniper around the wreath form, overlapping each bunch as you go. Secure with floral wire or wrap with twine for a rustic look.

Tip: Always work in the same direction for a natural, flowing shape.

Step 2: Add Texture and Scent

Next, layer in dried herbs like rosemary or sage—they not only look beautiful but add a comforting, earthy scent.

Tuck in sprigs of lavender or thyme for a touch of silver-green contrast.

Step 3: Bring in Color and Detail

Now for the fun part—decorate with whatever you’ve found! Add clusters of berries, dried flower heads, pinecones, or feathers. I like to place 3–5 focal points and then build out the rest.

Use glue for tricky items, or wrap with fine wire for better hold.

Image 2: A half-finished wreath.

Step 4: Embellish and Finish

Tie a bow using:

  • Twine
  • Burlap strips
  • Strips of old feed sack fabric

Optional: Add a loop of twine to hang your wreath or nestle a small egg in a bundle of moss for a sweet farmhouse touch.

🕯️ More Garden-Inspired Décor Ideas

1. Mini Egg Ornaments
 Clean and dry mini eggshells, then glue a bit of twine to the top to hang on your tree. Fill with moss, tuck in a tiny feather, or leave natural.

2. Herb Bundles for Gifting or Hanging
 Tie together small bundles of dried rosemary, lavender, and cinnamon sticks with twine. These make lovely drawer sachets or kitchen decorations.

3. Dried Flower Garlands
 String dried marigolds, strawflowers, or seed heads onto jute twine for a garland you can hang over a window, mirror, or mantel.

4. Feather & Pinecone Centerpiece
 Fill a wooden bowl with pinecones, feathers, and bits of dried citrus for a centerpiece that smells like the season and looks like your backyard.

Image 3: A cozy holiday table with a bowl centerpiece of pinecones, feathers, herbs, and mini dried oranges.

🐔 Final Touches from the Homestead

I love that nothing about this kind of decorating has to be perfect. In fact, the imperfections—the uneven bow, the crooked seed pod, the surprise feather tucked into the greenery—are what make it feel real.

Each wreath, each bundle, each ornament tells the story of your garden, your flock, and your season. No plastic, no glitter, no fuss—just natural beauty made with care.

So this holiday season, grab your snips and step outside. Your next decoration is probably already waiting under the juniper or nestled beside the coop.

Happy holidays from my homestead to yours. 🎄
 —Susan