Christmas is a time for celebration, but it’s also the perfect time to show your green side! This year, why not decorate with eco friendly Christmas decorations? So go ahead and give those trees some love by ditching those old tinsel strands for sustainable, organic options like these handmade crochet garlands!
Some general advice for an eco friendly Christmas
Before getting into the specific types of eco friendly Christmas decorations, here are a few general tips for having a greener Christmas:
- Choose LED lights instead of traditional lights. LEDs use up to 75% less energy than regular lights!
- Avoid buying new Christmas decorations every year – reuse old ones or borrow from friends and family.
- Try making your own decorations – there are lots of great ideas online.
- Use natural materials like branches and leaves to decorate your home.
- Recycle your Christmas cards and wrapping paper when you’re done with them.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are 14 greener Christmas decorations that you can use to decorate your home this year!
Scrap Ribbon Tree Ornament
This scrap ribbon tree ornament is perfect for recycling all of your old Christmas cards. It’s easy to make, and after the holiday season, you can even attach a small gift to it!
Materials:
- Scraps of ribbon or string in various colors
- Embroidery floss in the desired color(s)
- Tapestry needle
- Green cardstock paper (optional)
Instructions:
1. Cut nine 4″x4″ squares from green cardstock and punch holes along 2 opposite sides with a hole puncher about half an inch from the edge. Cut a small slit just below each punched hole.
2. Starting with one side, thread the ribbon through all nine squares to create a tree shape, knotting the ribbon on the back of the ornament to keep it in place.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with different colors of ribbon, or use embroidery floss to create colorful trees.
Salt Dough Decorations
Salt dough decorations are perfect for the eco friendly Christmas decorator on a budget! They’re easy to make, and you can keep them all year round as decoration if you finish them off with a non-toxic sealant.
- Materials:
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 cup of water
- Spices or dried herbs like cinnamon or rosemary for fragrance (Optional)
Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until combined. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-8 minutes, adding more flour as necessary to achieve desired consistency (thinner for smaller shapes/deeper colors, thicker for larger shapes).
2. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes, and bake on a cookie sheet at 170 degrees F for 1-2 hours or until dry. Finish by coating with a non-toxic sealant to keep the decorations from absorbing moisture over time.
Welljourn Eco-Conscious Seasonal Home Decor
If you’re looking for a more high-end eco friendly decoration option, look no further than Welljourn. They offer a range of beautiful, sustainable home decor that is perfect for the Christmas season.
Reclaimed Wood Snowflake Ornaments
These reclaimed wood snowflake ornaments are the perfect addition to your rustic eco Christmas decorations. They’re made from recycled wood and finished with natural beeswax and oil, making them safe for both the environment and any curious pets or children.
Instructions:
1. Trace snowflakes with a pencil onto reclaimed wood.
2. Use a small saw to cut out each shape (you can use an X-Acto knife instead, but make sure you perform this task with adult supervision).
3. Sand the edges of each ornament until smooth, removing splinters as necessary. Finish by sealing with beeswax and oil mixture (warm beeswax in the microwave, mix in oil and apply liberally).
Acacia Creations: Ethically Made Christmas Stockings & Accessories
If you’re looking for a stocking to hang on the mantle this Christmas, Acacia Creations has a range of beautiful, ethically made stockings that will make your tree even greener.
Acacia Creations has been around since 2006, and they pride themselves on using sustainable materials and ethical production practices.
Hang these stockings with pride knowing that you’re helping to support a company that is working to make the world a more sustainable place!
Old CDs Christmas Baubles
If you’re looking for a unique, eco friendly Christmas decoration, look no further than old CDs! You can use these baubles to add some extra sparkle to your tree, or even make a garland out of them.
Instructions:
1. Cut a circular shape out of the center of each CD.
2. Use spray paint or glitter to decorate the baubles (or leave them plain).
3. Punch a hole in the top of each bauble and tie it with ribbon to create a garland.
Rustic Twig Candle Holders
Add a touch of rustic charm to your Christmas decor with these simple, twig candle holders. They’re easy and inexpensive to make and can be used year after year.
Instructions:
1. Gather a few small branches (the thinner the better) and trim them to about 4-5 inches in length.
2. Use a hot glue gun to attach the branches to a candlestick or other small object that will act as the candle holder base.
3. If desired, use a sealant like Mod Podge to give the holders a more finished look.
Wrap your gifts in fabric
Gift wrapping is pretty much one of the main things we all partake in during Christmas time. The best way to show your friends and family that you care about the planet is by giving them gifts that have earth-friendly gift wrap.
Instead of wrapping them in traditional paper or plastic, give them a gift that has been wrapped using fabric! This simple switch will help reduce waste while showing off your eco ethics at the same time – win/win!
Mood lighting cans
Give your Christmas decor a more modern look by making some mood lighting cans to shine on your tree. They’re easy to make and will add some fun, festive flair!
Instructions:
1. Paint empty cans of any color you like (spray paint is recommended for ease).
2. Once dry, cut two small holes in the top of each can – one that is big enough for an LED tea light candle to fit through, and another that is just big enough for the plug at the end of the candle cord to fit through.
3. Slide LED tea light candles into each can and plug them in!
Twig Stars
Another great eco friendly decoration for your Christmas tree is these simple twig stars. They’re easy to make and can also be used as ornaments or on wreaths.
Instructions:
1. Collect twigs from your backyard that are about 6 inches long. (you will need about 5-6 pieces per star).
2. Use a hot glue gun to attach the twigs together into a star shape – two circular triangles, glued at the tips, will form an open center for hanging.
3. Once dry, use ribbon or wire to hang them from your tree!
Recycled paper Christmas decorations
Instead of buying new Christmas decorations, try creating some from materials you have lying around the house! You can use all kinds of colorful papers to create beautiful decorations that look great hanging on your tree.
Instructions:
1. Cut different-sized circles out of colored paper (you may want to draw a template and cut them all at once).
2. Punch a hole in the top and thread string, ribbon, or wire through for hanging purposes (you can also skip this step and just attach with glue).
3. Arrange your recycled paper circles into layers to create height or leave them all flat – either way, they’ll look great!
4. Finish by decorating the outside if desired with sequins, glitter, or paint.
Newspaper Christmas Cards
One of the most eco friendly things you can do this festive season is to send out holiday cards that are made from recycled materials. Newspaper is a great option because it’s sturdy and can be decorated in a variety of fun ways.
Instructions:
1. Cut a rectangular piece of newspaper that is about 6 inches wide and 8-10 inches long.
2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise, then fold it in half again so that it forms a small square.
3. Use a hole punch to make 2 holes in the top of the card – one for the string or ribbon, and one for the stamp.
4. Decorate your card with stamps, drawings, or photos – get creative!
5. Once your card is finished, tie one end of the string to it and thread the other through a hole in your stamp for mailing purposes.
6. Mail your card to family and friends – they’ll be blown away when they receive it in the mail!
Recycled bottles Christmas tree
Instead of buying a new Christmas tree this year, try decorating an old one with the bottles you already have! This will add a fun and colorful backdrop to any room.
Instructions:
1. Arrange your empty bottle collection in a triangular shape on top of the tree from largest to smallest.
2. Use colored string or yarn to tie them all together securely at the points where they intersect so that they don’t fall off while hanging.
3. Once finished, add some colorful ornaments to complete your recycled bottles Christmas tree!
Fair Trade Winds: Holiday Decor for the entire house
Fair Trade Winds has a wide variety of organic, fair trade home decor that is handmade and eco friendly – from homemade wreaths to garlands, ornaments, and more!
The company has been in business for several years and uses only eco friendly materials that are free of pesticides, herbicides, toxic chemicals, lead paint, mercury, formaldehyde, and PVC.
Origami Stars
These origami stars are a beautiful and simple way to add some eco friendly decor to your Christmas tree or anywhere else in your home. They’re easy to make and can be decorated with glitter, sequins, or paint for a little extra pizzazz.
Instructions:
1. Cut out a square piece of paper that is about 6 inches wide.
2. Fold the paper in half, then fold it in half again so that it forms a small square.
3. Cut along the folded lines and unfold the paper to reveal 4 smaller squares.
4. Take one of the smaller squares and fold it in half diagonally – this will create 2 triangular shapes.
5. Make a small slit in the center of each triangle and fold the top point down to create a star shape.
6. Decorate your stars with glitter, sequins, or paint before hanging them up for all to see!
Conclusion
So this year, why not green up your Christmas table and decorate it with eco friendly Christmas decorations? There are many beautiful and festive options to choose from, and you can feel good knowing that you’re helping the environment in the process. Merry Christmas!