The 10 Best Green Holiday Decorating Ideas
Go Green This Festive Season and Save Yourself Time and Money
Nov 1, 2009
The holidays are often a time when we're all stressed with work and holiday preparations, never mind saving the planet.
If you're pressed for time (and money), but still want all the holiday trimmings (without the guilt), try some of these eco-friendly ideas – and get everyone in the house involved.
Holiday Lights
- Brighten up end tables by filling wide glass vases or bowls with strings of LED lights (run the electrical cord behind the vase and down the wall). Layer the strings and, every so often, drop in a colorful ornament ball. Ensure that the vases are made from thick glass and do not leave the lights on for too long.
- No fireplace? No problem – you can add a charming twist to a non-existent or non-working fireplace by filling a vintage laundry tub or a large basket with sparkling holiday LED string lights and place beside your tree. Add some pine cones to the top for added charm.
Tinsel Styrofoam Garlands
- If you have some tinsel garlands on hand, you can create a pretty pom-pom garland for the mantel. Wrap Styrofoam balls (carve these from recycled from packing or use store-bought ones) with the tinsel and string all the Styrofoam balls together on a length of ribbon using a glue gun. Use clear, detachable hooks to affix this garland the mantel.
Recycle Mittens and Socks
- Instead of store-bought stockings, a line-up of real socks in different shapes, sizes and patterns can be just as effective. You can also use knitted woolen mittens. Fill with small gifts and tie a pair (they don’t have to match) to a child’s bedpost.
Recycling Greeting Cards and Ribbon
- Get the kids involved creating gift tags, holiday invitations and ornaments using old holiday greeting cards. Give each child safety scissors, a glue stick, some ribbon and glitter and let them go to it. Have them glue on glitter to the edges to make a frame, punch a hole, and hang up the card with a wire hook.
- Hang this year's cards (as they arrive), along with a few festive decorations, across a window from a length of string. Use small plastic clothes pegs to hold in place.
- Honor your family with a garland of photos hung across a fireplace mantel with small dolly pegs. Add new photos every year.
- Create festive paper cones from old greeting cards or sheet music and fill with candy and other goodies. Hang in unexpected places as a surprise.
- Use any leftover ribbon to trim an outdoor Christmas tree. Tie ribbon into bows and secure to tree branches with wire.
Take a look around your home for more stuff you can recycle this holiday season.
HOL101
The copyright of the article The 10 Best Green Holiday Decorating Ideas in Interior Decorating is owned by Stefanie Gabrych Fraser. Permission to republish The 10 Best Green Holiday Decorating Ideas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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