The Nature-Inspired Christmas Tree Trend That Brings The Outdoors In

If you have ever cut your own Christmas tree, you may be aware of the fact that sometimes crawly creatures will hitch a ride into your home — though there are ways to keep your Christmas tree pest-free. While spiders and other insects may seem a bit more appropriate for Halloween than Christmas, there is a current trend that is leaning into highlighting the furry friends you might find in the forest. The woodland Christmas decor trend is embracing all things natural, meaning pinecones, acorns and berries, as well as the animals that you might find in the forest — all in ornament form that is. 

When it comes to the animals, we are seeing everything – birds, squirrels, mice, hedgehogs, turtles — the list is really endless. Basically if you could find it in the forest, it has a valid spot on your tree. But the woodland theme itself is quite vague, and can actually be paired up with some other current trends to make it feel unique to you. One popular decor style for 2025 is leaning into nostalgia and whimsy. Though exactly what this entails is quite up to interpretation, aiming for somewhere between Beatrix Potter and a Muppet's Christmas Carol is a pretty good place to start. Think small animal wearing some sort of adorable winter accessory and you are on your way to a winter woodland wonderland. 

If you want to embrace the woodland theme but looking like you're roommates with Peter Rabbit isn't really the vibe, there are still ways to make the woodland theme work for you. Instead of the animals themselves, you can take inspiration from them for your ornaments — think feather-covered, or Bambi-patterned balls. If you want to add in some actual animals, one of your best bets is birds. There are endless bird ornaments to be found in an array of colors, shapes, and sizes, and you can even find some super realistic versions. 

When it comes to the rest of your tree, there are many ways to make it look as if it were decorated by the likes of a forest Nymph. Though it's easy to assume that ornaments and lights are the only way to go, adding in some wintery floral picks can give your tree dimension as well as bring in some natural elements. Winter berries, birch branches, or dried grasses add texture, color, and help fill up some space so you don't have to use as many ornaments. 

Purchasing your ornaments is always an option, but especially when you are embracing a more natural aesthetic, it can be fun to try your hand at some creative Christmas decorations you can make with household items. Dried citrus garlands are easy to DIY — simply slice an orange thinly and bake in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until they are fully dried out. Once dried and cooled, you can then run a needle and thread through them to make a garland, or treat them as separate ornaments. Another way to get a frosty and foresty feel is by gathering up some acorns and pinecones and giving them a bit of shimmer with a little glue and glitter. 

This woodland theme works wonderfully with the addition of paper crafts — think paper snowflakes, hanging paper stars, and paper chains. These can be made from any paper you prefer, but if you want to go the eco-friendly route, reuse some old books, newspaper, or grocery bags instead of purchasing new craft supplies. Finally, there is nothing quite as apropos for a woodland themed than tree creating an outdoor Christmas tree to attract birds this season. Decorate an outdoor pine with shaped suet ornaments, popcorn and cranberry garlands, or the traditional peanut butter and birdseed covered pinecone.