43 Rustic Christmas Decorations to Craft That Cozy Holiday Feel
Celebrate a country Christmas with wood accents, vintage finds and easy DIY ornaments.
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Defined by natural textures, reclaimed woods, distressed metals and earthy colors, rustic home decor is less about designing perfectly modern interiors and more about arranging comfortable, warm spaces. During the holiday season, it's especially important to make living areas feel as cozy as possible — with plaid throws, fresh green garlands, DIY Christmas wreaths and burlap everything. For ideas on how to weave a country aesthetic into your home for the holidays, we've rounded up rustic Christmas decorations that are super easy to recreate.
If you're worried that farmhouse Christmas decorations can't feel modern, rest assured that isn't the case. You don't have to go full-on country to blend festive holiday touches with vintage rustic charm. You can decorate a wooden ladder with Christmas cards, create a rustic Christmas table setting with pine sprigs or fill a Christmas tree with homemade ornaments, glittered acorns and burlap garland. You'll also find inspiration for outdoor decor, like displaying galvanized buckets and firewood racks on the porch or hanging natural wreaths from the front door.
While some of these Christmas decor looks may require a trip to the store (or a quick browse on Amazon or other popular online retailers), you can recreate a ton of these styles by repurposing items you have at home or in the backyard. For an inexpensive solution, grab a few pinecones from out back and see what you can DIY. As you scroll, you'll discover that the tiniest of details can have a big impact.
Greenery Table Runner
Line your dining room table with a burlap table runner topped with fresh or faux greenery. Layer in vintage-style candles and candle stick holders to complete the aesthetic.
Wooden Crate Full of Trees
This interior has a rustic cabin feel that's made even more apparent by the decorative touches: a red lantern hanging on the wall, a red and white table runner and a wooden crate filled with bottle brush trees.
Fresh Apple Garland
Sure, it may be holly berry season, but apples still deserve their time to shine. Scatter real or faux McIntosh apples throughout garland for an unexpected accent.
Hanger Card Display
Turn a vintage-style hanger into a unique holiday card display by decorating it with greenery and pinecones. Finally, use a few clothes pins to add your favorite cards.
Country Dining Room
If you're hosting for the holidays, don't settle for traditional. Instead of a tablecloth, layer a few plaid throw blankets onto your dining room table. Finish the look with greenery and citrus.
Bookshelf Display
It doesn't get more rustic than a room that's outfitted with wooden bookshelves. Give yours the Christmas treatment with bottle brush trees, a decorative gift box, a few figurines and a dose of greenery for holiday cheer.
Gold Leaves
Give faux leaves an instant rustic makeover by using gold leaf sheets. Use craft brushes to lightly cover the surface with adhesive, then lightly smooth the sheets on with your hands.
Triple Wreath Door Hanger
Enhance your porch with rustic touches, like a galvanized bucket full of pine sprigs, a firewood rack full of logs and three full wreaths — because one isn't always enough.
Burlap Bows and Ribbon
Dangling birch sticks, glittered acorns, snowy twig ornaments and burlap garland are just a few of the natural elements adorning this Christmas tree. Make your own burlap bow as the perfect rustic tree topper.
Bookshelf with Hanging Wreaths
Tuck away your books for the holiday season and give your bookshelf a whole new purpose. Display wrapped presents, bottle brush trees and fresh wreaths.
Dramatic Garland
Use silky red and burgundy ribbon to secure (and dress up!) the fresh greens on your banister. A distressed gold bucket filled with firewood adds to the rustic feel.
Candle Display
Use vintage-style candles of various heights and shapes to create a minimalist aesthetic. Add in sprigs of greenery, as well as neutral stocking adorned with velvet ribbons.
Citrus Garland
Even if you're working with a tabletop tree, you can pack it full of rustic elements — citrus garland and pinecone ornaments all while the tree sits in a distressed gold bucket.
Ladder Decked with Garland
For a simple rustic look with tons of style, prop a decorative wooden ladder against a wall and enhance it with any creative garland of your choice.
Gold Leaf Candle Holder
Transform simple white candles holders with gold leaf sheets. You can apply the sheets in a pattern or go for something that feels organic and a bit distressed for that rustic feel.
Plaid Christmas Tree
Wrap your Christmas tree in a thick plaid ribbon — red and green, of course — before filling it with pinecones, candy canes and other wooden ornaments.
Galvanized Bucket Advent Calendar
Underneath your classic garland, hang 25 mini galvanized buckets from a ribbon for an easy DIY advent calendar. Fill each pail with sweets, treats and trinkets to enjoy all month long.
Rustic Signs in Living Room
Take your next Hallmark movie binge-watching session to the next level with a farmhouse-inspired living room. Surround a rustic sign with snowflake ornaments and add a statement tree topper to your coffee table, and you're all set.
Twig Ornaments
Looking for a way to encourage your kids to get in on the holiday fun? Invite them to make twig ornaments. Simply use glue and embroidery to create patterns and shapes out of twigs.
Plaid Living Room
To give your living room an easy holiday makeover, dress your mantel in an assortment of plaid stockings and lush garland. Don't forget the complementary throw pillows for your seating and a gorgeous floral arrangement for the coffee table!
SHOP PLAID STOCKINGS
RELATED: Easy and Elegant Christmas Mantel Decor Ideas
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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