Decorate Sustainably on the Cheap this Christmas

Plenty of ideas before you head off to the store… again.

  • Published: 12/12/2022
  • 2 min. read

You’ve made it this far into the Christmas season, which means a few things, namely: one, you’re aghast at how much money you’ve already spent on gifts, wrapping, party prep and the like, and two, you’ve accrued a bit more waste than you normally do in a regular month.

If you’ve been wondering how to make the rest of the month a bit more sustainable and lighter on your wallet, this is the post for you. There are plenty of ways to maintain Christmas traditions while reducing your carbon footprint, especially as you prepare for your next dinner party or get-together. We’ve got some great ideas to make your next tablescape and dining decor a smash, while keeping sustainability in mind. 

Decorated dried oranges

Take advantage of citrus season and make a batch of decorated, dried oranges from the comfort of your own home. Cut oranges into thin slices, then place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dry them in a preheated oven at 75°C/167°F for about three to four hours, and make sure to open the oven a few times during the drying process to let the steam out. 

Use the orange slices to decorate your dinner table, garnishing holiday cocktails, or add a bit of earthy panache to your gift wrapping. 

Sustainable gift wrapping

Consider utilizing a more sustainable gift wrap option to ornament gifts to loved ones this year. Utilize recycled paper or applying practical fabrics that double as an extra gift such as a beautiful kitchen towel or tea towel. Top it off with those homemade dried orange slices, and better yet, add a short cinnamon stick and a short pine spruce to the center of the wrapping underneath the ribbon as well.

Raw treats in egg cartons

Planning on making some homemade gifts this season? Make some protective inserts for homemade treats by cutting up parchment paper, crinkling them up, and nesting the treats onto the inserts and into the recycled egg cartons. Decorate the box with some festive and fragrant cinnamon sticks and what do you got? A sustainable, thoughtful gift.

Sustainable Christmas decor

Bring it back to the old school (like the Viking-era school). Use fresh spruce sprigs to decorate your holiday table, and add a few pine cones for an authentic, woodsy feel. Place some apples between the twigs for some color and scatter walnuts and dried oranges to fill the spaces. 

But what for the walls? Recycle old paper bags to create folded fans and stars in various shapes, and hang on the wall, draped by battery-operated LED Christmas lights.

And of course, no party is complete without some mood lighting. Finish it off with candles of different shapes and sizes to add height to the display — don’t forget to light them before your guests arrive. 

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