A Winter’s Table: How To Bring The Outdoors In

I love going on walks through my neighborhood and along the amazing trails around the metro. The fresh air is energizing, and I enjoy taking in all the beauty of the landscape as I stroll. No matter the season, there is always something beautiful to take in. As fall transitions to winter, the cooler temperatures beckon us indoors, but heading outside when it is crisp offers a wonderful chance to embrace winter’s magnificent landscape and bring a touch of the outdoors in. This is where you get the chance to share quality time and great conversation with friends and family over warm meals or afternoon teas.

Although the landscape may appear barren and without color, I urge you to take a closer look; there is much to see. Evergreens come alive in all shades of green, birds and owls fly above gracefully, and there is an immense amount of texture below amidst the pinecones, needles and twigs. So, step outdoors and go on an adventure. Gather some findings along the way and bring them indoors to create a beautiful winter tablescape in a warm and cozy setting. For some inspiration, see what we put together:

Fresh Harvest

Create a beautiful tablescape by arranging fresh green cuttings with an assortment of fresh fruit, crabapple berries and pinecones. You can fill a hurricane vase with similar items to add some height and dimension to your table.

Winterberry

Fill your favorite vase with some fresh green cuttings and arrange atop additional green cuttings. We like adding in some alder trimmings here for those mini pinecones. For a touch of white, add in some faux berries and you have a perfect setting for any winter gathering.

Wreath to Table

Want to put together a tablescape in minutes? Simply place a fresh wreath on the table, add in some pinecones, colorful twigs (we like red twig dogwood) and crabapple berries. Finish by placing some flameless candles in the center and you have a fabulous display! You can add in additional greenery to run down the table as well to extend your arrangement.

When creating interior décor using outside findings, some things to keep in mind:

• Select Carefully
  • Warm interior temperatures combined with a lack of humidity can cause fresh cuttings to dry out quickly. Don’t trim your cuttings until closer to when you plan to use them to maintain freshness longer.
  • Some of our favorite greens choices for cutting are boxwood, blue juniper, yew, arborvitae, alder and red tree dogwood. There’s a good chance many of these are in your very own backyard!
• Be Mindful of Color
  • It is important to remember that any cutting with berries attached may lose berries during arranging and as they begin to dry out. Berries from cuttings may also be harmful to pets or children (and not to mention they may stain if they break open).
• Choose Fresh
  • Select greens that feel moist and fresh when cutting to elongate their life indoors. Do not take cuttings from dried out trees and shrubs.

Need help setting your table this holiday season? Or, looking for expert advice on how to bring the outdoors in? Our experts are always ready with creative ideas to make something custom for your space. Give us a call at 515.987.0800 or request a quote online here. We would love to chat!