Frugal and Green Decorating for the Holidays

The Holidays are fast approaching and of course you want your home to appear festive, inviting and reflect the spirit of the changing seasons or of the holiday you are decorating for. How do you decorate for the holidays while honoring your desire to be environmentally conscious without spending a lot (or any) money? These tips will help!

One of the best ways to create a frugal and green holiday is to utilize the bounty of mother nature. For the fall holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, consider a grouping of miniature pumpkins, squash, and other gourds that bring to mind the season of Autumn. These vegetables have a very long shelf life and can be cooked and eaten in a variety of recipes when you are done decorating with them. Instead of pumpkin carving, you can paint faces and other decor on pumpkins with non-toxic, washable paint and then bake at a later date. Items such as acorns, leaves, and dried flowers can all reflect the spirit of the season without damaging planet earth or your pocketbook. For The winter holidays, the same rule applies. Cranberries in a clear bowl on a mantle surrounded by evergreen branches makes a stunning display. The cranberries can be used in recipes later. Pine cones grouped in a clear bowl with a couple of red taper candles in the middle is also a frugal and earth-friendly option. A wreath made from dried twigs, evergreen branches and wrapped in strung cranberries is all biodegradable and reusable and makes a festive and environmentally-responsible statement. Consider a potted Christmas tree that you can plant after the holidays are over. Those are just a few examples, but the idea is to look around in mother nature and to think outside the box. Most times you will not have to spend a dime or make any impact on the environment to create a look.

Another way to decorate on the cheap while still respecting the planet and using less waste, is to decorate with things already in your home. For autumn, a scarecrow can be made with old jeans, a plaid shirt, a pumpkin, and stuffed with old newspaper that you can recycle or compost later. A few white tea towels, stuffed for a head and tied with string, make lovely ghosts. You can wash the tea towels and re-use them for everyday. For the winter holidays, the same applies. Cans from your canned goods can be saved and turned into luminaries. A white tablecloth can be made festive by setting a white plate with red and gold candles in the center. A variation of that is to place Christmas balls you already have (hooks and tops removed) in a clear bowl in the center of the table. Saving boxes from pasta or rice containers, then wrapping them like presents to display in a grouping is a great way to decorate without spending much. You can recycle the boxes later, save them for crafts, or save the "presents" to decorate with next year. A great decorating tip that is easy on the environment and on your wallet is decorating your windows. Paint can be made washable by mixing it 50/50 with a clear dish detergent. Seventh Generation Brand dish detergent is wonderful for this, as it is clear and is biodegradable and good for the environment.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on your journey to green holiday decorating without spending a lot of money. Happy decorating!