Reasons to choose wood over plastic this Christmas:

Make It Unique: Anyone can purchase plastic decorations from stores. Make your house stand out from your neighbours with individual statement pieces in highly-colourful and original designs. Let your inner creative go wild and get festive without all the tacky kitsch of mass-produced plastic decorations.

Get Active: Making your own decorations is a great way of getting the whole family active and keeping children busy with fun and artistic challenges. Not only will it encourage independent thinking, but get the next generation focusing on sustainability.

Ecological: Global waste at Christmas time increase by up to 30% which a staggering amount! It’s estimate that in the U.K. alone over 100,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will end up going into the bin over the festive season. As we strive towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future, this is the perfect time to try out your D.I.Y. and craft skills. Sourcing wood and natural materials locally to make your own decorations means less waste plastic, and as a durable material, can be stored and reused year after year.

Cost Effective: Not only will long-lasting wooden decorations save the planet, but it will save your bank balance too! Whilst getting started might accrue some costs, especially if you’re needing to buy tools, your creations will have such a long life expectancy, you’ll never have to head down to the shops for decorations again. Remember, you don’t have to go big to begin with either, and below you’ll find some inspiration for easy to make and inexpensive decorations anyone can have a go at crafting!

Think Local: Rather than heading to large outlets and supermarkets for imported plastic decorations and gifts, search for your local crafters and artisans and give them your support or come to a family owned and operated independent supplier like Duffield Timber, to find all the basic materials you’ll need to make your own. Our Joinery and Woodworking Centre has a fantastic clearance section with off-cuts and end-of-line timbers, planks, strips and mouldings to get stuck into and our new Hobby Centre has a wide range of shorts and special boards for more ambitious projects!

Inspirational Ideas for Wooden Christmas Decorations and Gifts:

We’ve created our own Pinterest board full of creative pins to give you all the inspiration you will need to make your own wooden Christmas decorations and gifts. You’ll also find some really good step-by-step D.I.Y guides there to give you a hand if you’re unsure where to start. Below are a few of our favourite creative ideas to get your creative cogs turning!

Wooden Block Decorations:

Even the most humble chunk of wood can be transformed into bespoke and beautiful decorations. These simple designs are a great starting project for budding D.I.Y. and Crafters, and a great way of using up scrap material and offcuts. Whether you're looking to make tree ornaments, such as the set of three ribboned and snowflaked ones above, or larger decorations, such as the present wreath above, there are plenty of ways of turning simple wooden blocks into unique decorations and gifts. They are also a good way of creating eye-catching signage, such as the Let It Snow blocks above. Bright up your home and put a big smile on your family's faces this Christmas with minimal effort and little expense, just grab any block of wood and get making!

Wooden Tree Decorations:

Another simple craft project to keep you busy this winter! Trees in all shapes and sizes, patterns and colours, styles and tastes can be made effortlessly. These make incredible gifts for friends and family, and will last a lifetime! We especially love this little forest of trees decoration that would be sure to put a smile on anyone's face! Going for natural wooden finishes will make your home glow with hygge-inspired warmth, perfect for those Scandi-interiors. The more rustic the better!

Wooden Ornaments:

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a well-lit tree decorated with beautiful hanging ornaments. Many of us pass these on down the generations, each with their own unique story and history. So give the gift of a handmade ornament made out of solid wood to last a lifetime! If your tastes are more modern, then a geometric design, such as Laura Burkhart's Starbursts, will be your best bet, especially with a blend of different timbers to add natural colour variation. If you're more bold and love a bit of vibrancy, check out Melissa Mary Jenkins' Colour Block ornaments. If you're a skilled turner or enjoy a bit of sanding, why not throw yourself into bauble making? Unlike their glass or plastic counterparts, they won't break and look extremely effective.

Wooden Gifts:

Nothing says appreciation more than taking the time to design and make by hand gifts for your friends, family and loved ones. Candle holders and decorative items such as bookends are good entry level projects to get started with, and a great way to try out new tools and skills. For those looking for more challenging projects, why not make more practical items such as a wine rack or even a mug rack! Whether ornamental, sentimental or practical, handmade wooden gifts will never fail to win a smile.