Earth-Friendly Christmas Decorations

Even if you have a basement filled with boxes of Christmas decorations it can be difficult to resist buying that sparkly new bauble come the holiday season. If you are trying to make your Christmas more earth-friendly, however, you might want to avoid buying that sparkly item and fill your home with eco-conscious decorations instead. Having a "green" Christmas can make your home more beautiful, warm and inviting during the holiday season.

Loot the winter garden

Bring trimmings from evergreen trees indoors to use as decorations. Combine greenery in a glass bowl with a few of your own ornaments or some winter fruit for a lovely centerpiece. Greenery can be hung above doors, twisted into a wreath or tucked between your everyday decorations to add as festive accent. After Christmas toss the trimmings in the compost heap.

Think edible

Winter fruits and vegetables make amazing centerpiece and table decorations. Any combination of pomegranates, chestnuts, pears, figs, acorn squash cranberries or tangerines can be artfully placed in a clear bowl, large vase or candle holder. Entwine a bit of tinsel around or some sprigs of holly as an accent.

Make a dried apple wreath

A dried apple wreath is an inexpensive, earth-friendly accent for any door inside your home. To make the wreath slice and core several ripe apples, placing the slices in cold water and a bit of lemon juice immediately after slicing. Drain the apples and bake in a 140 degree oven for 1 hour (or until firm), turning once. Glue cooled apple slices to a cardboard wreath base or an inexpensive embroidery hoop. Garnish the finished wreath with cinnamon sticks and ribbon.

The greenest Christmas tree

Green your Christmas tree by taking some important eco-friendly steps when its time for tree-trimming. Purchase an artificial tree that can be used for years or buy a tree with the roots in tact and keep it in a pot until it can be replanted outside. Accent the tree with handmade decorations and edible items such as candy if you need additional trimmings. Be sure to use recycle your old lights and switch to new LED lights which require very little energy to run. Visit Holiday LEDS for information on recycling old lights.

Switch your outdoor lights

Update your outdoor lights to the LED lights mentioned above, or better yet purchase solar powered Christmas lights if you get sunshine in December.

Use candles liberally

Candles are an inexpensive item most of us have around the house already. Put those candles to good use during the holidays by lighting them. Turn down the lights, save energy and scatter candles around your home for a warm holiday glow.

Hit the thrift store

Is there a decorative item you just have to purchase? Hit your local second hand store first. Not only will you be giving a decoration new life, you'll be saving money.

Consider gingerbread

Sure you probably don't want to eat your weeks old gingerbread man, but he is a wonderful decoration and entirely biodegradable. Think beyond the typical gingerbread house and try your hand at a gingerbread tree. Any Christmas cookie cutter can be used to make adorable decorated gingerbread ornaments.

Decorate with memories

Hunt down pictures of Christmases past and use them to decorate your living room table, mantle or even clip them to the tree. Your family and friends will love recalling wonderful holidays past. If you are concerned about protecting your pictures purchase clear plastic page protectors, arrange the pictures on a sheet of paper and leave the sheets out in the open for all to see.

Ribbon, ribbon everywhere

Use recycled scraps of ribbon to dress up every corner of your house. Ribbon and bows can be tied onto door handles, lamps, chair rails or plants. Extra ribbon can be saved from gifts for use in the future or purchased at the thrift store.