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Decorate with Winter Berries

Great ideas for no-fuss holiday decor that’s all natural.

Jess Chamberlain

1 /5 Thomas J. Story

Create a stunning centerpiece

Combine organic and architectural elements for streamlined elegance. A piece of 1/4-inch-thick acrylic plastic (cut to fit at a framing shop) rests atop a bright jumble of berries and seeded eucalyptus. Vintage blue-glass bowls overflowing with deeper red berries are staggered with taller clear-glass candlesticks for a layered effect.

What we used

  • Pepperberry
  • Red berries such as viburnum and pyracantha
  • Seeded eucalyptus

Style tip
Arrange berry and eucalyptus branches after setting down plates to make sure
the proportions are right.

2 /5 Thomas J. Story

Have a seat

Floral-wire letters wrapped in floral tape, dusted with blue glitter, and overlaid with glued-on pepperberries serve as place cards. Use cuttings from a florist or your garden to dress up the table.

10-minute party trick
Make single-variety bouquets. Stick loose bunches of berries or flowers in colorful containers, and arrange in groups of two or three

3 /5 Thomas J. Story

Welcoming entrance

A row of white lanterns and vintage red sap buckets adds spark to the entryway. Protect a non-watertight container by dropping in a small plastic container (an empty yogurt tub works well).

What we used

  • Geraldton waxflower

Style tip
To maximize the life of your bouquets, clip 1 inch off stems before putting them in water

4 /5 Thomas J. Story

Warm up a winter window

Violet anemone and hyacinth blooms, seeded eucalyptus, and green winter berries are displayed like rare specimens in bell jars below a wreath. The large glass-cloche terrariums are from Campo de’ Fiori (from $147; campodefiori.com for stores). We used anemone, berzilia, hyacinth, pepperberry, seeded eucalyptus, and Viburnum tinus.
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Colorful bouquet

Show off a vibrant mix of berries, seeded eucalyptus, and flowers in a pedestal bowl.

When arranging, think triangles: Start by sticking three of the heavier branches into the bowl at an angle and evenly spacing them, then continue layering branches within this frame, turning the bowl as you work and interspersing smaller sprigs for balance.

We used blackberry cuttings, grape hyacinth (Muscari), nandina berries and leaves, red viburnum, [urplish Viburnum tinus, and seeded eucalyptus.

Anchor heavier branches by loosely tying together their stem ends with a piece of twine.