Trees provide us with many things, including decorating possibilities.
Wood adds a nice rustic touch to a home to make it feel less sterile.
Here are a few ideas on ways to decorate your home using twigs, branches, driftwood, and logs.
photo courtesy of MattWalker69 flickr.com/photos/88786104@N08/9156149269/Twigs
In a Vase
Many people like to display twigs in a vase as they would display flowers. Twigs can be a more dramatic accessory because they can easily be found in a much larger size than fresh flowers. You can even spray paint them for a metallic or bold color for a more modern look.
Chandelier
You can make a chandelier out of twigs using a traditional light bulb or the twigs can be covered in Christmas string lights.
Wreath
Consider weaving some smaller twigs together to create a custom wreath for your home. Large wreaths are quite expensive, but you can make your own for free with twigs you find.
Bowl
Just as you can weave your own wreath, you can also weave your own decorative bowl.
Branches
Coat Rack or Coat Hook
If you have a larger branch from a tree or a small tree that has died, you can make it into a coat rack or coat hook for the entryway of your home. Sand the tree branch down to make it very smooth and secure it so it won't tip over if something heavy is hung on one side.
Curtain Rod
Curtain rods can be made out of branches. You can clean the branches to make them very smooth or keep them rough. Using branches as curtain rods works well for a group of several windows together where finding one large curtain rod at a store is challenging.
Furniture
If you are handy, you can create custom furniture using tree branches. Consider making a tree branch chair or bench.
Pot Rack
You can hang a branch over your kitchen island to use as a pot rack to hang your pots.
Stair Rails
If you like the rustic look, consider using tree branches to create your stair rails. Just make sure that it is very sturdy and you follow all local building codes.
Driftwood
Jewelry Holder
Since driftwood is so beautiful, many people use it as a jewelry holder. You can mount it to your wall or display it on your dresser. Some people leave it as is but others drill holes to accommodate different types of jewelry.
Wall Art
Hanging a piece of driftwood on the wall can cover a large section of wall beautifully.
Sculpture
Driftwood is often sculptural on its own, so why not display what Mother Nature has made?
Candle Holder
If you have a piece of driftwood that has branches sticking up, consider making those branches into candle holders. Depending on the amount of branches you have, you could have a candle holder with many candles.
Furniture
Bundle pieces of driftwood together to create furniture.
Logs
Side Table or Table Base
If a log has a large enough diameter, it can be a side table or be used as a table base. If using as a table base, make sure to secure the table top well.
Wall Shelf
Many people use logs that have been rough cut into rectangles as wall shelves.
Votive or Tea Light Holder in Fireplace
Consider putting some logs in your fireplace and drilling holes in them just large enough to hold a candle votive or tea light. That way, you have the feel of a fire in the summer without all of the heat.
Drink Coasters
You can cut the ends off a medium sized log approximately 1/8" to 1/4" thick to make drink coaster or trivet accessories for your home. You can even stamp, draw, or write something on the coasters or trivet. Make sure to seal them with a varnish or polyurethane before using and add felt to the bottom to avoid scratching your table.
Christmas Ornaments
Take a thin slice of the base of your Christmas Tree each year, write the year on the tree slice, drill a small hole in the top, cover it in polyurethane or varnish, then use it as a Christmas ornament.
Used as a Focal Wall
Create a recessed niche in your wall near the fireplace and stack cut logs in the recess with the cut side showing. The ends of the logs will be beautiful and become a focal wall.
Carved Into Most Anything
If you are handy, you can carve logs into most any home accessory. Consider making figurines, beer taps, vases, bowls, etc.
