This holiday season, eco-friendly is the way to go! Everywhere you look these days, there’s something “green” – from clean-running hybrid cars to hardwood bedroom furniture made from sustainably harvested forests. I guess it’s fitting that the color “green” is one of the colors that’s synonymous with the holiday season (along with red)! In keeping with the holiday tradition of “giving back,” here are the top 5 eco-friendly holiday trends this year. This is a preview of the “Green Christmas” series I’m planning for upcoming weeks.
1.) Eco-Friendly Christmas Trees:
Despite the fact that Thanksgiving isn’t even here yet, Christmas trees are going up in homes across the country. When it comes time for you to purchase your Christmas tree, it’s recommended that you buy from a seasonal Christmas tree lot. The majority of trees sold on these lots come from tree farms, meaning no forests are being destroyed for your benefit! When you are done with your indoor Christmas tree, recycle it by having it ground up into wood chips, or contact your local city hall to find out about tree recycling in your area.
2.) Light Up Your Holiday with LEDs:
Replace those annoying old string lights with some new LED lights! LED (Light Emitting Diode) holiday lights look just like the standard incandescent variety, but they are way more energy-efficient. Two of the worst things about standard string lights is how hot they are to touch and how quickly they burn out. Not only are LED holiday lights cool burning — they also last between 50,000 to 100,000 hours vs. incandescent bulbs which typically last for 1,000 hours. LEDs by nature are also more durable than incandescents — with no filament or fragile tube, they are harder to break. Resistant to heat, cold and shock, LED lights are great for indoor and outdoor use.
3.) Give the Gift of Green:
According to Marketwatch.com, Toys ‘R’ Us is predicting a jump in sales for green toys this holiday season. Green toys are generally made from organic cotton or sustainably harvested hardwood. All paints, stains and dyes are non-toxic and natural, making them ideal for really young children who put their mouth on everything. When it comes to gift wrap, go green by either putting gifts in reusable bags or packaging or using wrapping paper made from recycled materials.
4.) DIY Holiday Decorations:
Decorate your home for the holidays by using what you have lying around the house. For tree ornaments – consider using pine cones, cookie cutters, or old toys. String bits of popcorn together and make traditional popcorn garlands! Decorate your windows with paper snowflakes! Use empty glass jars to make your own votive holders. Depending on how creative you want to be, your options for DIY holiday decorations are endless and a great way to get the whole family involved.
5.) Take Green to the Dinner Table :
This season might the time to invest in some high quality table linens. While paper plates, napkins and placemats are convenient and disposable, they are wasteful! Instead, buy some nice table linens made from natural and organic materials or hit up your local thrift stores for some used linens. Make your own centerpiece out of fallen evergreen branches from your yard. Paint the branches, using a non-toxic, place the branches in a big ceramic bowl, and add pine cones, berries, and some ribbon. Your eco-friendly table setting is sure to impress!
During the holidays, it can be easy to fall into the trap of excess — too many presents, too much waste, too much money spent, too much plastic. Don’t let the season change your green goals. This is the perfect time of year to test your green mettle — see how eco-friendly you can make your Christmas, and vow to do it again next year. Decorating in an eco-friendly way is definitely a great first step for those who can’t justify purchasing brand new green bedroom furniture or a hybrid car. Just remember that when it comes to the helping the environment, every little bit helps.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jamie Sward is a home decor expert for Bedroom Furniture.com, a part of CSN Stores, where he has been for over a year. With a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, Jamie loves to write about the latest in design trends for the home. He currently resides in Boston, MA. (sponsored post)
SUBSCRIBE
I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
We bought a live Christmas tree last year, then planted it in our yard after the holidays (where it has since flourished!). Living in Florida, it wasn’t a traditional spruce tree but rather a red cedar, so it wasn’t quite “traditional”, but I felt great knowing that we no trees had to be cut down to make our holidays more enjoyable. Most areas have a Christmas tree farm that sells live trees, so consider seeking one out when it’s time to buy your tree this year!
@Jenni That is a great point. I’ll go into a lot more detail in my coming “Green Christmas” series about alternative means of handling a live Christmas tree and alternatives to getting a Christmas tree at all. Thanks for your insight!
Reusable and sustainable decor is the only way to go. We offer 100% sustainable bamboo candles with refill kits so you can reuse over and over. Love the popcorn strands on the tree for Christmas, a very fun family activity as well.