How to Decorate Your Home with BranchesEugene Chrinian

How to Decorate Your Home with Branches When people try to incorporate natural elements in their home’s interior

design, flowers and plants are a popular choice. However, wood is another natural material that can add drama and sophistication to any room. Instead of adding wood floors or exposing beams, consider using a simpler natural feature: a tree branch.

Surprising versatile and effortlessly organic in shape, a branch could be the design element that you’ve been missing in your home. There are countless ways you can use tree branches of any kind to update any room. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Lamp

Make a big statement in any room by turning a larger branch into a lamp. By either mounting the branch on a stand or adhering it to the wall, you can easily create a rustic lamp of the same height as any traditional lamp. You’ll need a sturdy branch and a lamp kit that includes a cord, fittings, and socket—most hardware stores carry these for under $20. Search for tutorials and how-to instructions online. Depending on the kind of lamp you want to make, you can opt for elegant pendant lighting, or go a more traditional route with a simple bulb.

Image courtesy Tall Chris | Flickr

Room divider

With a little ingenuity, branches can also make beautiful room dividers or screens. If you’re looking for an easier DIY project, gather driftwood or fallen branches, and attach them to a wooden base so they’re standing upright. You can also pour your own concrete base for an interesting contrast of textures. If you have more skill with woodworking, another option is to use lumber to create a basic frame, and then attach branches inside the frame for a natural-looking screen. String twinkling lights along the arms of the branches for a whimsical effect.

Hanging rack

Whether you want to show off your DIY skills or need a simpler project, there are countless ways in which you can turn tree branches into handy hanging racks for your home. If you need extra coat storage, try hammering nails into a thicker branch, and mounting it to the wall or suspending it from the ceiling with wiring. If natural wood doesn’t suit your taste, paint the branch with a metallic finish for a more polished look. Short, stubby branches with thick twigs that protrude slightly upwards can also make attractive coat hangers when adhered to the wall in your foyer.

Image courtesy Salvage Beast | Flickr

Jewelry holder

With branches, you can also create unique, elegant holders for your jewelry. Start by hammering a line of smaller nails into a short branch, making sure they are secure but still sticking out, as these will be the hooks on which to hang your necklaces and bracelets. Paint the branch whatever color you wish, or leave it natural; then, tie strong wire to either end so you can hang it on the wall. You can also assemble a group of short branches upright in a cement base to create a small jewelry tree.

Headboard

Another space in your home that can benefit from the addition of natural branches is the bedroom. Whether you already have a wooden headboard or you want a creative way to simulate the look of one, wood is an excellent choice for a rustic, organic style. For example, a line of thin branches affixed to the wall as a faux-headboard can make a dramatic impact on the entire bedroom. If you already have a headboard, you can also use branches to embellish the lines of the headboard and add a bit of rustic style to the room.

Image courtesy Rooky Yootz | Flickr

Shelf

A few carefully placed branches can even fulfill your need for extra shelving around your home. Begin by finding a few larger, wider branches with at least one portion that is straight enough to hold objects. With its smooth, often flat surfaces, driftwood is a particularly good choice for simple branch shelving. Whatever type of wood you choose, clean the entire piece before mounting it to the wall.

Chandelier

Fallen tree branches can make a big impact on your dining room when you use them to create a rustic chandelier. You can go as simple as hanging an intricate net of branches from the ceiling or fashioning them into a more traditional chandelier shape. Another elegant design choice you can try is to hang candles from the branches. Suspending each light at different heights will create a unique look and provide beautiful, soft lighting for dinner parties or special meals.

Image courtesy Amanda Hirsch | Flickr

Art

If you don’t need to use branches in a functional way, then you can harness their decorative capabilities by hanging them as pieces of art. For a quick DIY project, simply place some branches into a glass vase for a woodsy, autumnal arrangement. However, you can also get more creative with these natural materials throughout your home. For example, an elaborate array of tree branches or driftwood can make a stunning focal point above your living room couch when enhanced with spotlights. To simulate the look of a framed painting, you can also adhere a number of small branches to the back of a standard frame and hang it on your wall.