Looking for some easy winter decor? Here are 21 ideas for decorating with pinecones to your winter decor (and they are free).
There is so much more to a simple pinecone than meets the eye:
1. Did you know you can spell it pinecone and pine cone? Take your pick.
2. Pinecones close when it rains. They open and close like window blinds.
3. The seeds of a pine tree are inside a pinecone. It’s the pinecone’s job to keep those seeds safe.
4. Pinecones and pine trees belong to a group of plants called gymnosperms that date back to prehistoric times.
5. You can bleach pinecones and turn them white.
6. Some pinecones stay on a pine tree for more than 10 years before dropping to the ground.
7. You can make cinnamon pinecones that smell amazing and scent the entire house.
And you know what else?
Pinecones make the best decorating accessory for fall. When I made these DIY wood slice branches and decorated the kitchen island with pinecones, I started thinking about all the ways I’ve decorated with pinecones over the years. So I did a little research and dug into the Thistlewood archives and found almost two dozen pinecone decor ideas.
And so, in no particular order, here are 21 ideas for decorating with pinecones.
21 ideas for decorating with pinecones
1. Add pinecones to a wreath
This is one of the easiest ways to decorate with pine cones.
Take a basic wreath with greenery.
Then simply wire in pinecones onto the wreath base.
2. Make a wreath from pinecones
Take your pinecone wreath to the next level with a wreath constructed entirely of pinecones.
You can use mini pinecones or regular pinecones.
See the DIY instructions here.
Also found the cutest version here if you don’t want to DIY.
(total aside: you can also glue pinecones onto a cone and make a tree, too).
3. Add pinecones to a bookcase
This is such an easy way to decorate for winter.
Here, I just took pinecones and tucked them into the bookcase in the family room.
They add a layer of winter texture in minutes.
4. Decorate a coffee table with a pinecone filled dough bowl
In the family room, I filled the dough bowl with rusty jingle bells and pinecones.
It’s so easy to make the jingle bells rusty.
Let me know if you would like a rusty jingle bell tutorial.
5. Add pinecones to a toolbox to create a centerpiece
Here I took a vintage toolbox and just filled it and decorated it with pinecones.
Make sure to turn them different directions in the toolbox.
Then add a sprig of cedar at each place setting.
6. Add a ribbon and a banner
This is a garden armillary I had out on the porch.
I added a sprig of cedar and a noel banner to the pinecone and tied it onto the armillary.
You could print any message (“joy” “peace” “winter”) for the new year instead of Noel.
7. Tie pinecones onto ribbon on a wreath
Here’s another idea for winter decorating.
These are actually wooden pinecones ornaments left over from Christmas.
I tied a ribbon in the top and then tied them onto two sizes of grapevine wreaths with a satin ribbon.
8. Add pinecones to mini drawers
I’ve added so many different things to these drawers.
Pumpkins for fall.
Trees for Christmas.
And now?
Pinecones for winter.
9. Add to a mantel with hydrangea and cedar
This mantel is comprised of layers of different types of greenery.
Next, add in pinecones for texture.
Then add in dried hydrangeas and layer in burlap ribbon.
10. Fill a small bowl with mini pinecones
Easiest pinecone decorating ideas ever.
Take mini pinecones and fill a bowl.
I used a carved out wooden bowl and then scattered a few mini pinecones next to the bowl on the table.
11. Mix it up with garland and greenery stems on a mantel
Here’s a simpler mantel idea for winter.
Start with these battery-operated candles (there’s a $3.00 off coupon right now).
Then add in pinecones and pine branches and eucalyptus.
12. Make a snowflake from pinecones
This simple DIY snowflake is made with mini pinecones.
I used a vintage barn door for the back drop.
13. Decorate with a pinecone garland
Add a pinecone garland to your winter decorating.
Drape it on a mantel. Add it to a centerpiece. Put it on the front of a hutch. Layer it over a door.
You can find pinecone garlands here.
14. Add a pinecone under a cloche
Everything looks cuter under a cloche.
Including a pinecone.
Stack a set of white plates and add a pinecone to the center.
15. Fill a vintage truck with pinecones
This is where the entire pinecone decorating post started.
I had this truck on my kitchen island filled with ornaments. Now it’s filled with pinecones. I found a similar truck that’s a little less rusty.
Find an unusual container and fill it with pinecones.
16. Make a wreath out of greenery with mini pinecones
Here’s a simple way to decorate with pinecones. Make a wreath out of wired pine garland.
Twist and make a circle.
I found this super similar garland that would make two wreaths.
17. Add pinecones to the bottom of a vintage chalkboard
I decorated the chalkboard in the kitchen for winter.
All I did was add a layer of pinecones to the base.
This would be a cute look for a window sill, too.
18. Use pinecones for placeholders
Having a winter dinner party?
Why not use pinecones as a place holder?
Print out. your guest’s names and tuck them into a pinecone on the center of the plate.
19. Create a dough bowl centerpiece with pinecones and printed ribbon
Here’s another winter dough bowl decorating idea.
I filled the doughbowl with pinecones.
Then I added burlap ornaments and a printed banner.
20. Add a couple of pinecones to a stack of books
I love decorating with books and winter is no exception.
Start with a stack of books then add a string of wood beads.
Then add a couple of pinecones.
21. Fill whiteware with pinecones
One last easy way to decorating with pinecones.
Start with whiteware and stack it on a wood slice.
Then fill with pinecones.
See what I mean?
21 ideas for decorating with pinecones and counting.
Pinecones are the next best thing in winter decor. Your mantel and doorway and wreaths and bookcases and coffee tables are waiting.
And all you have to do is shop the yard. 🙂
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.
Yes to rusty jingle bell tutorial!!!!!
Loved all your ideas. I have quite a nice collection of pinecones. I am surrounded by pinecones where I live , and never pass up picking up specimens. But really, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your emails. Breath of fresh air in my mailbox.
Love to decorate with pinecones, I have lots of pine cones around my house right now. Thank you for all the ideas! Great winter decor! Enjoy your posts! I’m going to do the wood slices and branches, love that idea.
Do you have a tutorial for the rusty bells?
Love to decorate with pinecones, I have lots of pine cones around my house right now. Thank you for all the ideas! Great winter decor! Enjoy your posts! I’m going to do the wood slices and branches, love that idea.
I love all of your ideas and yes, please do a rusty jingle bell tutorial!!!
This has been my year of pinecones! They are still everywhere…Love all of your ideas!
Love all of these! Made my own wood slice branches thanks to your inspiration and I LOVE them. You’re a wonder Karianne and a breath of joy with each post!
I miss the hemlock (Tsuga) tree we use to have in our yard. It gave us the best tiny little pine cones. I saved and saved them, but have since gifted them all away. I guess I’ll need to head into the forests to collect them from now on.
What is it about those mini pinecones that makes it impossible for me to walk by then when hiking in our woods?
Love all of these ideas! Please do a rusty bell tutorial. I love pinecones. I use them frosted , natural and painted on our Christmas tree. That is my first layer of decorations. After Christmas I strip the tree down to pinecones, gilded walnuts , lights and glass icicles and keep the tree up until February when I change it out for Valentine's Day. I live in the snow belt of Ontario,Canada and our winters are looong and snowy so I love the cozy lights on the tree during these long winter evenings.
Yes to rusty sleigh bells tutorial!
Love pinecones! I even use the mini ones (from my yard) in the summer. I used essential oils to add some nice ambiance :) Thanks for the additional ideas! Love the idea of a rusty bell tutorial.
Yes please, on the rusty bell tutorial. Also educate us on paper banners. Thanks!
I love pine cones -- any and all sizes. Love your ideas and posts. Just discovered your Amazon live posts and ordered a couple of items. Saved me from looking for them. Love your joy and thank you for sharing. Blessings
Another great posting with clever ideas to use items readily available to most of us. I think that is one of the things that I most enjoy about reading your emails. Your ideas use items that most of us may either already have or are easily available. I always smile as I read your bubbly descriptions and am so glad I subscribed to this blog. Also, please add me to the definite YESs for the rusty jingle bell tutorial! Have a joyful day, Karianne!
We have 2 giant pinecones on display all year. I don't know where my husband found them but I love them.
These are such cute ideas. I love using pinecones in my decor also.
Love to see how you did the rusty bells 🙃
Great ideas, now, what to do with the gumballs that are starting to drop...
January = pinecone decor! It's such an easy way to make this month of winter feel a bit cozier. They can stay on trees for 10 years!! Wowza, who knew! Thanks for this bit of PC cozy inspiration, KariAnne!
Am I the only one who thinks #7 is acorns not pine ones? But it easily could be changed to pinecones. Loved these ideas!
You are right! LOL! When I look at them again they are acorns! You could do the same thing with pinecones!
So many great ideas and they are all gorgeous. I had a chuckle at 12's heading. Did you do that on purpose? It's cute, lol!
My daughter and I collected some beautiful huge pinecones on a trip to Beufort N.C this Dec. Have been looking for some ideas on how to use them other than displayed in a basket on our hearth. Thanks Karianne for all the great ideas.
I've always loved pinecones! Also, I love your never-ending ideas for loving our homes! <3
I have a small, shallow, vintage cut glass dish that I fill with mini pinecones!! I love the juxtaposition!!! xoxo
Pinecones take well to spray paint. High gloss white makes them look like china or ironstone. Red or green for Christmas, orange /black for Halloween. My favourite, oil rubbed bronze, makes them a deep brown, nickel, silver, gold, the options are endless to match decor. Thanks for more wonderful pinecone ideas Karianne.
Yes, please share tutorial for making jingle bells rusty. Love your blog!
More fun ideas from you as usual! I tucked pinecones,evergreen, branches and birch in a lot of my decor once the Christmas red and green was down. Love the cozy feeling it gives. Would love to see how you made those bells rusty.
Thank you so much for this.
Thank you for your amazing ideas. We really don't have pinecones in the part of Texas that we live. We vacationed in New Mexico last spring break & came across miniature pinecone at a rest stop. My Goddaughter & I picked up 2 bags full. This past Springbrook we went up to Pekin, Indiana stopping in Little Rock, AK to rest. The park next to the hotel had so many large ones, we couldn't resist to bring back a huge shopping bag full. We soaked them in the hotel tub to get rid of any uninvited little crawlers. At our destination in Pekin, In. we came across long ones, miniature ones & brought back more. Our plan is to make a beautiful 2 foot Christmas tree, which we will be starting next week. I will be sure to share our completed project. I really enjoy your ideas & appreciate your bubbly stories. U R Amazing!:) South Texas DIY'er.