Natural Decorations for a "Green" Holiday

When the holiday season arrives, it can sometimes be tempting to overlook your normal "green" lifestyle. Instead, why not focus on natural decorations to create a festive and yet environmentally friendly holiday atmosphere in your home? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to use beautiful natural decorations to enhance the beauty of your home while still allowing you to be friendly to the environment. Here are some great "green" holiday decorating tips that you can use to have a festive and yet responsible holiday season.

Avoid Disposable Decorations
When shopping for holiday decorations, it's important to avoid the many disposable items that are available in stores. Although it might be tempting to buy that package of festively printed holiday napkins, in the end they waste trees and other natural resources. Instead, purchase a set of beautiful organic cotton table napkins that you can use for your holiday table this year, as well as for many years to come. Instead of purchasing a box of cheap plastic decorations, a box of beautifully designed glass or metal ornaments will last a lifetime. By thinking in terms of permanent decorations instead of those which are disposable, you'll be doing your part to reduce landfill clutter, while still enjoying a beautiful holiday home.

Decorating with the Beauty of Nature
There are many ways to utilize the beauty of nature to decorate your home. Simply trimming a few branches from the evergreen trees in your yard can provide plenty of beautiful boughs for wreaths, swags, your mantel or the front door. By trimming your own branches, you'll have the assurance of knowing that the tree was not actually cut down to provide the holiday greenery. You'll be able to prune your trees while decorating your home beautifully at the same time. Choosing a live tree instead of a cut one is another great way to enjoy an environmentally conscious holiday season. Once the holiday has passed, you can plant the tree in your yard, adding to the outdoor beauty of your home and yard. You can also use small potted evergreen shrubs as indoor holiday decorations, which can also be planted outdoors when the holiday season is over. Decorating with natural plants, potted fragrant herbs or flowering year-long houseplants such as a Christmas cactus are also great ways to add a natural and "green" touch to your holiday decorations. Or, create a natural wreath by fashioning a circle from cut grapevines, festooning it with pine cones, seed pods, dried flowers, and other natural materials from your yard.

Edible Decorations
It's hard to beat the environmental friendliness of edible holiday decorations. Not only do they look beautiful, but they can also add a natural and nutritional element to your holiday meals. A beautiful bowl of nuts, red apples, or other kinds of fruits can add a festive look to your table. A homemade gingerbread house can be a beautiful and delicious holiday decoration. Or, make a batch of homemade popcorn balls, taffy, or other holiday treats, piling them in bowls around the house to add a decorative touch.