Dreaming of a Christmas tree that whispers cozy cabins and rustic charm? Forget the glitter and the predictable baubles for a moment. This year, let’s embrace the wonderfully textured, earthy appeal of burlap. It’s a material that instantly brings warmth and a touch of country elegance to your holiday decor.
Decorating with burlap isn’t just a trend; it’s a way to infuse your home with a natural, handcrafted feel. It’s versatile, budget-friendly, and surprisingly easy to work with, allowing you to create a truly unique and memorable centerpiece for your festive celebrations. Ready to transform your tree into a rustic masterpiece?
Embracing the Burlap Aesthetic
Burlap, with its natural fibers and distinctive weave, offers a rustic elegance that perfectly complements the festive spirit of Christmas. It’s a material that speaks of tradition, warmth, and a simpler time. Incorporating it into your Christmas tree decorations can create a look that is both sophisticated and inviting, moving away from the mass-produced feel towards something more personal and handcrafted.
The beauty of burlap lies in its inherent texture and its natural, earthy color palette. It provides a fantastic base layer, allowing other ornaments to pop, or it can be the star of the show itself. Whether you’re aiming for a full-on country Christmas or just want to add a touch of rustic warmth, burlap is your go-to material.
Choosing Your Burlap Elements
When you decide to decorate your Christmas tree with burlap, you’re opening up a world of possibilities. It’s not just about the fabric itself, but how you utilize its different forms and textures. Let’s explore the various ways you can bring burlap into your festive decor.
Burlap Ribbons: The Versatile Workhorse
Burlap ribbon is arguably the most popular and versatile way to incorporate this material. Its width can vary, from thin, delicate strands to wide, statement-making rolls, offering immense flexibility in your decorating approach.
- Wide Ribbons for Garland Effects: Use wide burlap ribbon (6 inches or more) to create a dramatic garland. Start at the top of the tree and gently weave it down, creating loops and folds as you go. This adds significant volume and a strong visual impact. Don’t be afraid to let it hang loosely; the natural drape is part of its charm.
- Thin Ribbons for Accents: Narrower burlap ribbons (1-3 inches) are perfect for tying bows on individual ornaments, creating small, rustic loops to hang items, or even weaving them more tightly through the branches for a subtle textured effect.
- Layering Ribbons: For a truly dynamic look, consider layering different widths of burlap ribbon. A wider ribbon can form the base garland, with thinner ribbons woven in or used for accent bows.
- Textured Burlap Ribbons: Look for burlap ribbons with added texture, such as lace inserts, frayed edges, or even subtle metallic threads. These can add an extra layer of interest and sophistication.
Burlap Ornaments: Diy Delights
The tactile nature of burlap makes it ideal for crafting your own ornaments. These handmade treasures add a personal touch that store-bought decorations often lack. (See Also: how to draw a tree easy)
- Burlap Bows: Simple yet effective, large burlap bows can be tied and attached to branches. You can add a pinecone or a small cluster of berries to the center for extra flair.
- Burlap Wrapped Ornaments: Cover plain styrofoam or glass ball ornaments with burlap. Secure the fabric with hot glue, and then embellish with twine, buttons, or small wooden stars.
- Burlap Cutouts: Cut burlap into shapes like stars, hearts, or gingerbread men. You can leave them plain, or paint simple designs on them with acrylic paints. Add a twine loop for hanging.
- Burlap Pouches: Small burlap bags or pouches can be filled with potpourri, tiny pinecones, or even small candies, and then hung as charming, scented ornaments.
- Burlap Flowers: Create rustic flowers by layering and shaping burlap pieces. These can be attached to the tree as standalone decorations or used to embellish other ornaments.
Burlap Tree Skirts and Collars: The Foundation
The base of your tree deserves just as much attention as the branches. A burlap tree skirt or collar provides a grounding, cohesive element to your rustic theme.
- Classic Burlap Skirt: A simple circle of burlap with a slit for the trunk is a timeless choice. Look for skirts with frayed edges or a simple trim of lace or twine for added detail.
- Burlap Collar: For a more modern and structured look, consider a burlap tree collar. These are typically made from stiffened burlap or a burlap-wrapped frame, offering a clean, neat finish around the base.
- DIY Skirts and Collars: You can easily create your own burlap tree skirt by cutting a large circle from burlap fabric and adding a casing for the trunk. For a collar, you can use chicken wire or cardboard as a base and wrap it with burlap.
Burlap Accents: Small Details, Big Impact
Don’t underestimate the power of small burlap details to enhance your overall theme.
- Twine and Rope: Natural jute twine and thicker burlap rope can be used to hang ornaments, tie bundles of cinnamon sticks or dried oranges, or even as a base for creating rustic garlands.
- Burlap-Wrapped Branches: For a truly immersive look, you can wrap individual branches (or sections of them) with thin strips of burlap or twine.
- Burlap-Covered Picks: Many craft stores sell decorative picks that are wrapped in burlap or feature burlap elements like bows or flowers. These can be easily inserted into the tree.
Planning Your Burlap Decorating Strategy
Before you dive in, a little planning can go a long way in ensuring your burlap-decorated tree is a cohesive and stunning display. Think about the overall feel you want to achieve and how each burlap element will contribute to it.
Define Your Color Palette
While burlap’s natural color is a beautiful earthy tone, you can enhance it by incorporating other complementary colors. Consider:
- Natural Elements: Pinecones, acorns, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and berries pair beautifully with burlap.
- Warm Tones: Deep reds, burnt oranges, mustard yellows, and forest greens create a rich, autumnal feel that transitions perfectly into winter holidays.
- Neutrals: Cream, ivory, and muted grays can add a touch of softness and sophistication, preventing the look from becoming too overwhelming.
- Metallic Accents: A touch of antique gold, bronze, or even a muted silver can add a festive sparkle without detracting from the rustic charm.
Consider Ornament Pairings
Burlap has a way of making almost anything look a little more rustic. However, some ornaments will naturally complement its texture better than others.
- Wood and Natural Materials: Wooden ornaments, carved figures, and items made from natural fibers will blend seamlessly.
- Metal Accents: Galvanized metal stars, antique brass bells, or wrought iron pieces can add a charming farmhouse feel.
- Glass Ornaments: Opt for muted or antique-looking glass ornaments. Clear glass with natural elements inside, or deep jewel tones, can work well. Avoid overly shiny or brightly colored glass.
- Fabric and Felt: Ornaments made from wool felt, linen, or even other natural fabrics will enhance the textural richness.
- Pinecones and Botanicals: Real or faux pinecones, dried flowers, and berry clusters are natural allies to burlap.
Balance Is Key
While you want to embrace the burlap aesthetic, it’s important to strike a balance. Too much of any one thing can be overwhelming. Consider how the burlap elements will interact with the tree itself and other decorations. (See Also: how to decorate a christmas tree)
- Tree Type: Burlap often looks best on artificial trees with a fuller, more traditional shape, or on real trees that have a slightly more spaced-out branch structure.
- Ornament Density: Don’t overcrowd your tree. Allow the burlap ribbons and ornaments space to breathe.
- Foliage vs. Fabric: Ensure that the green of the tree branches still has a chance to shine through. Burlap should enhance, not completely obscure, the tree.
Step-by-Step: Decorating Your Burlap Christmas Tree
Now that you have your materials and a plan, let’s get decorating! This process is about creativity and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Step 1: Prepare Your Tree and Base
Ensure your tree is securely in place. If you’re using a burlap tree skirt or collar, position it now. This creates the foundation for your decorating.
Step 2: Add Your Lights
It’s generally best to add lights before any ribbons or ornaments. This ensures even coverage and avoids the frustration of trying to thread lights through already decorated branches.
Step 3: Drape Your Burlap Ribbons
Start with your widest burlap ribbons if you’re using multiple widths. Begin at the top of the tree and gently weave the ribbon downwards, creating loose loops and folds. Secure the ribbon at intervals by tucking it into branches or using small floral wire if needed. Continue until you’re satisfied with the coverage. If using thinner ribbons, you can weave these in a similar fashion or use them for more intricate detailing.
Step 4: Hang Your Burlap Ornaments and Embellishments
Now for the fun part! Start hanging your burlap ornaments and other complementary decorations. Begin with larger or heavier items and work your way down.
- Placement: Distribute ornaments evenly, ensuring a good balance of color, texture, and size.
- Depth: Place some ornaments closer to the trunk and others further out on the branches to create depth and dimension.
- Bows: Tie burlap bows and attach them to branches, or use them to embellish other ornaments.
- Natural Elements: Tuck in pinecones, cinnamon stick bundles, or dried orange slices among the branches.
Step 5: Add Final Touches and Fill Gaps
Step back and assess your tree. Are there any bare spots? Do you need more visual interest? (See Also: how many magic tree house books are there)
- Smaller Ornaments: Use smaller burlap cutouts or baubles to fill in any remaining gaps.
- Twine and Garland: Add extra strands of burlap twine or a simple bead garland for added texture and visual appeal.
- Tree Topper: Crown your rustic masterpiece with a burlap bow, a large pinecone, a wooden star, or a galvanized angel.
Step 6: Admire Your Handiwork
Take a moment to appreciate the beautiful, rustic Christmas tree you’ve created. The warmth and texture of burlap will undoubtedly make it a focal point of your holiday decor.
Tips for Working with Burlap
Burlap is a forgiving material, but a few tricks can make the process even smoother and more enjoyable.
- Prevent Fraying: To minimize fraying when cutting burlap, you can use pinking shears or apply a thin line of fabric glue or mod podge along the cut edge.
- Secure Ribbons: For wide ribbons, use floral wire or pipe cleaners to secure them to branches, especially if you want them to hold a specific shape. For smaller items, hot glue or twine is often sufficient.
- Layering Textures: Don’t be afraid to mix burlap with other natural textures like wool, linen, or even rough-spun cotton.
- Consider the Scent: Burlap has a natural, earthy scent. If you find it too strong, you can air it out for a few days before decorating, or embrace it as part of the rustic charm.
- Storage: Store your burlap decorations in a dry place to prevent mold or mildew.
Beyond the Tree: Integrating Burlap Into Your Holiday Decor
Once you’ve mastered your burlap Christmas tree, why stop there? Burlap can extend the rustic theme throughout your home, creating a cohesive and inviting holiday atmosphere.
- Burlap Wreaths: Create a charming wreath by layering burlap ribbons, adding pinecones, berries, and a large burlap bow.
- Table Runners and Placemats: A burlap table runner can instantly add a rustic touch to your dining table. Burlap placemats also work wonderfully.
- Pillow Covers: Sew simple burlap pillow covers or tie burlap ribbon around existing ones for a seasonal update.
- Gift Wrapping: Use burlap ribbon or small burlap bags to wrap gifts, adding a unique and eco-friendly touch.
- Garlands: String together burlap shapes, pinecones, or cinnamon sticks for festive garlands to hang on mantels or stair railings.
- Candle Holders: Wrap mason jars or tin cans with burlap and tie with twine for rustic candle holders.
Conclusion
Decorating your Christmas tree with burlap offers a wonderfully tactile and visually appealing way to embrace the holiday season. From wide ribbons creating flowing garlands to charming DIY ornaments and a grounding tree skirt, burlap provides a versatile and affordable foundation for a rustic, warm, and inviting festive display. Embrace the natural textures and earthy tones to craft a Christmas tree that feels both timeless and uniquely yours, transforming your home into a cozy, celebratory haven.
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