[dropcap1]C[/dropcap1]hristmas decorations can be expensive and they’re not good for the environment or your home. Those synthetic decorations like tinsel end up stealing storage space or they eventually wind up in landfills where they don’t biodegrade. Here are some better ideas and unlike artificial decorations, many of them can add fun to your decor long after the season.
Choose Treats Instead of Tinsel
Bake your favourite cookies and hang them on your tree. This is a really sweet and unique take on tree decorations, plus it’s a tasty treat for your guests. Make sure the cookies are large enough to have string placed through them and bake them in fun festive shapes, such as stars or miniature trees. Before placing the cookies in the oven, follow Nigella’s tip of using an icing nozzle’s pointy tip to make small holes in them. This is how you’ll thread string or ribbon to attach them to the tree.
Look In Your Kitchen
Remember that other foods you already have in your kitchen can be perfect festive season ornaments. Things such as cranberries, nuts and sweets or chocolates in brightly-coloured wrappers can all be used as interesting table decor or to fill small vases for eye-catching prettiness.
Use Garden Items
Your garden is the perfect resource for Christmas decorations for the tree and festive table. Simply get some tree branches and spray-paint them in festive colours, then use them as table arrangements. You can also use things out in nature that you come across, such as pinecones that are a festive season staple and so pretty. Dip them in some white paint for a glamorous snowy Christmas effect or spray with gold spray paint to add some glamour to your holiday decor.
Collect Old Jars
You probably have some old jars or containers lying around the house. Why not turn them into cute Christmas ornaments? You can paint them in festive colours, then wrap ribbons around them and place them around the house for a few Christmas touches. They also make great additions to gifts!
Update Your Decor With Ribbons
Your chairs and sofa cushions can easily be transformed these holidays. All you need are some ribbons to tie around cushions and make them look pretty. If you want to go the extra mile, attach a finishing touch to the ribbons, such as pretty bows. Ribbons can also be used around vases and candles to make them more visually appealing. If you don’t have lots of ribbons, simply use old material from items of clothing you don’t wear. You can cut strips of this fabric for a unique take on ribbons.
Hang Your Cards
If you have a lot of cards lying around, even ones from previous Christmases, use them as decor this year. Simply hang them on string and drape them over the fireplace or across a doorway for a really easy and eye-catching bit of cheer over the holidays.
Make Use of Mini Trees
If you have some cacti or small indoor plants, these can easily become cute little Christmas trees to use as decoration around your home. Add some small Christmas balls to their pots for a nice dash of colour, or sprinkle glitter over them for a bit of festive fun. You can even let them sparkle all year round.
