Reclaimed Wood Decor: Holiday decorating themes pertaining to nature are in this season. That means there are plenty of fresh pine wreaths, poinsettias, and even ubiquitous painted pine cones to go around. But if you want to kick your holiday decorating up a notch this year, there is no better way than to lean into the natural trend by using reclaimed wood decor.
Reclaimed Wood Decor – Qualities
All materials, whether they be metal, plastic, cloth, or wood, have specific qualities that only they possess. They can make people feel warm, excited, calm, or motivated. Wood, as a natural element, makes us feel grounded and safe. Reclaimed wood decor has an extra rustic quality that creates a strong sense of nostalgia, which is an especially potent mood to express this time of year. That makes reclaimed wood the perfect starting point for your holiday decorating this year.
A Place to Hang Your Stockings
Most people living in apartments, and some homeowners, don’t have a fireplace mantel that they can decorate and hang their Christmas stockings from. However, you don’t need a fireplace to have a mantel.
While a mantel is traditionally a beam that serves as a support for a home’s fireplace, a plank of reclaimed wood mounted on an empty wall can serve as a mantel for decorating purposes. With a reclaimed wood decor mantel, which is essentially a shelf, you now have a place to hang your stockings to ensure a merry Christmas for everyone.
While a mantel is traditionally a beam that serves as a support for a home’s fireplace, a plank of reclaimed wood mounted on an empty wall can serve as a mantel for decorating purposes. With a reclaimed wood mantel, which is essentially a shelf, you now have a place to hang your stockings to ensure a merry Christmas for everyone.
Decorating Your Mantel
Aside from providing a spot to dangle your stockings, there are many ways that you could go about decorating a reclaimed wood mantel.
- Maintain the “nature theme” of holiday decorating by adorning the mantle with pinecones and sprigs of pine branches. The scent will be incredible, and you don’t have to go through all the effort of getting an entire live tree to achieve the refreshing odor of pine. You could also place a wreath on the mantel.
- You can also create a Christmas ornament centerpiece for your mantle. Try stringing together ball-shaped ornaments of different sizes and colors and arranging them artistically on your mantel.
- Frame several photographs of your family celebrating Christmas in the past. If you can find reclaimed wood frame picture frames to use, that would be all the better. Place antique family heirlooms amongst the frames to really amp up the nostalgia factor.
Pallet Board Yard Decorations
If you are interested in taking a DIY approach to your yard decorations this year, try and get a hold of some decommissioned shipping pallets. The pallet boards can be taken apart and reconfigured to create a wide variety of holiday shapes such as trees, snowman, reindeer, and more. Any number of handmade yard sculptures can be created from pallets, just so long as you sketch out your idea beforehand and have enough material on hand to achieve your vision.
The good thing about pallet reclaimed wood decor is that they are sturdy enough to withstand the winter elements and stand up easily when put out in the yard. Search online for examples and plans to follow to find some inspiration.
A Seat at the Table
For a truly rustic Christmas, there is nothing quite like a family dinner served atop a reclaimed wood table. The rustic quality of the wood will no doubt create a calm sense of familiarity and fondness for simpler times.
To put together a reclaimed wood dining table, start by looking at different reclaimed wood table tops. You may have some options to consider, such as whether you prefer a breadboard design or a straight plank table top. You may also need to choose size, shape, finish, and other features. Either way, the natural quality of the wood will shine through and make your dining room instantly feel like you are inside of a cozy cabin in snow-covered Winterland.
Combine your desired table top with a set of legs that you will mount to it. Choose a set of legs, such as hairpin table legs, are easy to install, provide plenty of support, and look great. Hairpin table legs can provide an industrial edge to your design that complements reclaimed wood very well.
Complete your dining table decor with a centerpiece built around a candle holder. You can us naturalist elements like twigs, berries, sprigs, and more–or opt for a more modern look with glass ornaments or other decor.
Barnwood Door
You may not actually live in a barn with Santa’s reindeer. But with a reclaimed barn door in your living room, you can at least pretend. Reclaimed barn doors look fantastic. Whether they are mounted to a wall as a backdrop, or used as a functional barrier that divides two rooms.
If your barn door is mounted to your wall and doesn’t slide back and forth, you can decorate it with Christmas lights and tinsel to give it more of a holiday vibe. If it’s just for the holidays, you could paint it green and red, or paint “Santa’s Workshop” across it in white letters.
More Reclaimed Wood Decor Ideas
Here are a few more reclaimed wood decor ideas to consider for the holidays:
- Use reclaimed lumber from pallets or other sources to build a manger.
- Make a Christmas sign that says “Santa Stop Here” or something similar.
- Build a Santa sleigh and decorate it with Christmas lights.
- Match your reclaimed wood table with reclaimed wood chairs.
- Cover an existing fireplace mantel with reclaimed wood to give it a more rustic feel.
- Find a tree limb and suspend it from your ceiling or outside on the front porch. Hang ornaments from the limb and decorate it with twinkling lights.
Putting it All Together
As you can surely see by now, reclaimed wood decor is perfect for invoking a rustic, nostalgic feeling. You can easily add a reclaimed wood mantel to any home or apartment and decorate it to your liking. A reclaimed wood table provides the perfect place setting for an intimate holiday meal. You can even use reclaimed wood for creating your own handmade decor should you have the inclination and artistic skill.
With all of these elements in place, your reclaimed wood holiday decor will truly stand out. And create a welcoming environment for all who enter.