Here’s an article from treehugger.com for some eco-friendly holiday decorating ideas. : )
Photo via anti joe @ flickr
Stuck to white lights, green wreaths, and an 8-foot-spruce? Perhaps this is the year to start changing things up. Don’t worry: We’re not suggesting you get rid of that ornament your newlywed son made in first grade, but there are plenty of other ways–from incorporating nature into your place settings to finding new ways to use old holiday goodies–for you to give your home a December makeover without wasting time, money, or resources. Read on for seven of our favorites–and leave your can’t-miss traditions in the comments.
1. String up Energy-saving LED lights
Make a cheery first impression with the right holiday lights for indoors and out by trading out your old incandescents for bright, bold LEDs–which can save you as much as 30 percent on your electric bill. Traditional bulbs tap between 6-9 watts, while LEDs use .05-.07; you could use an LED strand more than 200 times for the same cost as one use of an older strand. (Figure out your own savings at Holiday LEDs.) While the initial investment might seem like a lot, you can get discounts by recycling your old lights at Home Depot or Holiday LEDs–and since LEDs last longer, you won’t need to replace the whole string next Thanksgiving. Want to save even more energy? Shell out for solar-powered LED lights, which use the power they collect throughout the day to light your home at night.
2. Choose the Right Tree (or None at All)
Photo via ScottFeldstein @ flickr
You can skip the tree entirely: Create a holiday atmosphere by lighting a pine-scented soy candle and decorating with branches and wreaths. But if you absolutely need a place for Santa to leave the presents, you can still add some green to your greenery: Choose a potted tree that you can replant outside; go to your local Christmas tree farm instead of buying one shipped from across the country; and choose an organically-grown version of your favorite pine or spruce. And once the needles have dropped and the season is over, recycle it through curbside pickup (after which most trees are turned to mulch) or check Earth 911 for a list of drop-off locations near you.
3. Think Recycled, Used, Biodegradable, or Already Owned Ornaments
Photo via Kisocci @ flickr
Unless you’re decorating a tree that’s going to be highlighted in some sort of national decorating magazine, trust us: You do not need perfectly new, color-coordinated ornaments every year. But you also don’t need to use everyone one of your elementary school art project ones every year, either: Try choosing a color or theme to help you edit your collection and give your tree a modern look, from traditional red, gold, and silver to more contemporary purple, blue, and green. Still think your tree is a little bare? Collect family favorites from your parents or grandparents; make your own ornaments from recyclables, cloth, or paper; or bake new ones from biodegradable dough.
4. Serve a Festive Feast with a Gorgeous Centerpiece
Photo via PamRamsey @ flickr
Planning an eco-friendly, vegetarian menu is one thing (see our green dinner party tips for foolproof, flawless food) but every great entertainer knows that presentation is everything. Creative, inexpensive centerpieces–like fresh foliage from your yard, mix-and-match ornaments, or holiday potpourri–can take the place of elaborate displays while keeping your table cozy and comfortable. Shop for coordinating (but not identical) holiday dishes at thrift stores and yard sales to create one-of-a-kind place settings for each of your guests (and rearrange them next year for an entirely new look). And don’t underestimate the beauty of the food itself: Serve pumpkin soup in a hollowed out pumpkin, stuff squash for extra effect, and let bright berries pop on neutral platters.
5. Rethink What You Have
Photo via brockvicky @ flickr
Now that you have the showiest parts of your holiday decor ready for their closeup, it’s time to spread the season throughout the rest of your home–though that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot or waste a lot. Shop your home for items you can rework for the holidays: Display red serving platters, fill a jar with peppermints, tie bows on the frames of your favorite photos, or paint your favorite outdoor planters for splashy entryway decor. Don’t feel committed to traditional colors, either: collect blue, green, and gold ornaments in a vase in your bedroom, arrange black and silver candlesticks with jewel-toned ribbon on the mantle, and set out black and white photos of past generations opening gifts, meeting Santa, or hanging stockings for a sentimental touch.
6. Bring the Outside In
Photo via Muffet @ flickr
Old-fashioned revelers always seemed to make their homes look flawless with nothing more than a string of popcorn, some carefully threaded cranberries, and a few modest candles. And while you don’t need to give up all of your decor in favor of plants, you should think twice before ignoring what Mother Nature has to offer: Surround stems in glass vases with deep red cranberries, leave out a bowl of chestnuts for an earthy accent, line up green and red apples on your windowsill. Check local farm stands and produce markets for in-season pumpkins, gourds, fruits, and vegetables that do double duty as placecards, candleholders, or stocking-stuffers.
7. What About Wrapping?
Photo via Alliet @ flickr
Now’s the time to take a fresh look at paper around the house. Recycled brown bags, wallpaper, maps, the Sunday Funnies–all these sources lead to uniquely wrapped gifts that add holiday cheer without sending more waste to the landfill. More crafty? Try painting empty cardboard boxes, collaging magazine or newspaper pages, or designing your own wrapping paper on upcycled paper bags for a unique finish touch on any decor.
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