10 Creative Ways to Decorate with Pinecones

Decorating with pinecones along with other all-natural elements & add cozy warmth to any room!. Bring a SIMPLE rustic touch to your home for the holidays by opting for handmade all-natural displays.

Today, I am going to share with you how I decorate using pinecones each year beginning in early fall to late winter. Here in the north country as soon as a chill hits the air I’m ready for my pumpkin spice and pinecones!

It’s a busy season filled with the beginning of a new homeschool year along with canning and dehydrating at the end of the summer harvest.

Our winters are quite long here and we can experience snowfall and freezing temps well into the month of May. I find that adding pinecones along with all-natural elements in our home brings a cozy, warm feel to this very long season.

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10 ways to decorate using pinecones

There are dozens of ways to decorate using pinecones but here are 10 ways I decorated this season & I couldn’t wait to share them with you!

1. Pinecone garland

Making a SIMPLE garland using pinecones only takes about 10 minutes to assemble. You can add any pattern or style of bows to adorn the ends. I choose all-natural, eco-friendly jute and burlap because it’s what I had on hand and I love the rustic appeal. Here’s my post on How to Make Pinecone Garland in 10 minutes!

2. Tablescape

This easy-to-make table centerpiece adds a cozy, peaceful feel to any room. It can be set up in minutes using items that you gather from your yard and around your home.

The options are endless and full of possibilities when working with all-natural elements. It can be made for little to no cost using earth-friendly materials and can be used in any room you choose.
Here’s my post on how I made this All-Natural Holiday Table Centerpiece.

3. Natural bowl fillers

Bowl fillers are probably one of my favorite things to put together for the holidays. I love using a variety of different kinds of pinecones along with adding in other natural elements. You can use them plain, lightly painted like my favorite “snow-kissed” cones or painted solid colors.

4. DIY pinecone gift tags

These beautiful & simple pinecone name tags make the perfect gift topper! Wrapping gifts in reusable fabric or fabric bags and adding some jute or burlap. You can add a dye-free candy cane, a sprig of greenery, or a mini grapevine wreath. Topping off your gift with a pinecone name tag brings a special handmade touch to your gift. Here’s my post on how I made these easy DIY Pinecone Ornament, Place Setting & Gift Tags.

5. Place setting name tags

I love hosting family dinners and placing a special treat at each place setting to welcome our guests. (Even when it’s just my husband & I along with our kids). These offer not only a warm welcome but also a small reminder of the special time together. Here’s my post on how I made these easy DIY Pinecone Ornament, Place Setting & Gift Tag.

6. Pinecone garland shelf sitter

This DIY garland offers both plain natural pinecones and a touch of snow inside your home. You can make these as full or sparse as you wish! For this DIY garland, I painted every other cone white-tipped and left the other half of the cones plain. Here’s my post on how I made this easy DIY Snow Kissed Pinecone Shelf Sitter.

7. Pinecone Christmas tree ornament

DIY Pinecone Christmas tree ornament(s) add the perfect natural look to your tree. They can be added to any type of greenery from a wreath to the garland. You can add a ribbon or a bow incorporating your holiday theme. It’s a perfect way to fill your tree with your Christmas theme for a lot less cost than store-bought ornaments.

8. Fireplace mantle display

I don’t have a fireplace but if I did this is how I would decorate it for CHRISTmas! Instead, I set this display up on my dining room buffet. I added some candles for a peaceful glow in the evening. A combo of mini grapevine wreaths, acorns, dried fruit, and a few apples for color. A few different varieties of pinecones along with 3 different types of greenery completed this fragrant display.

winter simmer pot with pinecones and apples

9. Pinecone simmer pot

I love the smell of pinecones baking in the oven to prep them for crafting. The scent of the pine fills the air with the smell of CHRISTmas! Last year I tried adding them to my simmer crockpot and oh, my it worked! I added a few sappy cones, fresh-cut pine needles, some holiday spices, and a few drops of essential oils. Along with dehydrated citrus peels, cinnamon apple peels, and cloves. I tried some today in my cast iron skillet and it was AMAZING!

Pinecones displayed in a basket wall hanging

10. Wall hanging

Pinecones strung and draped over the corner of a hanging basket along w a touch of greenery is a perfect winter display. Drape a handmade doily or vintage handkerchief to add a SIMPLE charm. You can check out my post on how to paint pinecones for a simple snow-kissed look ~ How to Make a Simple Snowy Pinecone Garland.

Painted Pinecones for crafting, DIY projects and Holiday decorating

Pinecones can be used plain, bleached, painted a solid color, or lightly brushed with color. Weaving felt or ribbons in between the rows of scales or adding glitter are more design options.

If painting your pinecones you can opt to hand dip them, spray paint them, or brush them lightly with paint. Keep in mind a second coat may be needed if they are super dry.

How to prepare pinecones before using them indoors?

If your pinecones are handpicked then be sure to bake them first to ensure they are “bug-free”. If they are store-bought you should be good to go. See my post here on How to Clean Your Pinecones.

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