I'm Ditching Wreaths for Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott's Simple Christmas Bush – It Instantly Transforms Their Backyard Into a Festive Oasis

Outdoor decorating just got interesting with Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott's understated ornament-covered evergreen bush – here's how to recreate it

Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel
(Image credit: GettyImages)

When it comes to outdoor decorating, it feels there are just a few options; a wreath on the front door or adding Christmas lights to the exterior of your home. This year, however, Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott are reinventing the wheel with a playful Christmas bush in their backyard.

The couple took to Instagram to share a swoon-worthy expression of excitement about spending yet another holiday together, but we were more taken with the background. Their stunning outdoor Christmas decor idea centers on an evergreen bush decked with felted red and green ornaments. The decor is traditional, while the effect is anything but.

Recreate Jonathan and Zooey's Look at Home

So, what works so well about Zooey and Jonathan's choice to upgrade their Christmas foliage? First, they have chosen color-coordinated ornaments, which creates a stylishly cohesive finished look. Second, they have opted to decorate without Christmas lights which not only makes the design easier to execute, but creates a prettily provincial effect.

To emulate the family's decor, I'm starting with a grouping of traditional ornaments. They opted for a red and white design, and I am going for a similarly classic red and green. Following their lead, I am skipping on Christmas lights and outfitting my backyard bushes in ornaments alone. This choice has the effect of making the design feel festive without looking over the top. I can't wait to show my neighbors.


This year, we are looking for creative solutions that add festive flair to parts of the home you would never expect. From the backyard to the flower bed, nowhere is too obscure to become a simple nod to the holidays. A Christmas bush is a great place to start.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.