The holidays are a cheerful time full of gift-giving, precious time with family and friends, and festive foods. What’s not so cheerful is all the waste that comes from the holidays! This year, try out these DIY plastic-free Christmas ideas to decorate your home a little more sustainably. You’ll find that these decorations might even be more cheerful than what you used to use!
DIY Plastic-Free Christmas Ideas
1. Dried orange garlands
Make your own garlands from natural materials rather than using plastic garlands to decorate your fireplace, windows, walls, and counters! These orange garlands are so cheerful and charming. You’ll never miss the original.
You’ll need:
- 4-5 oranges
- Twine or fishing wire
- Sharp knife and wooden cutting board
- 3 baking sheets
- Parchment paper or baking mats
- Paper towels
Directions:
Firstly, cut the oranges into thin 5 mm slices. Then, place them in a single layer on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or baking mats. Use paper towels to blot excess moisture from the oranges and place them into an oven preheated to 100°C (225°F). Bake for three hours until they get darker and dry. Once cool, poke your string or wire through the flesh of the orange (not the rind) and evenly space the slices along the string. Hang and enjoy!
Tip: There are many festive ways to use dried oranges. You can add them to a wreath or string them individually to hang on your tree!
2. Forage pine cones and foliage
To bring in some greenery without buying any fake plants, go foraging in your local area! Hunt for materials such as pine cones, firs, herbs, driftwood, seashells, and anything else that catches your eye – just be sure not to take anything from someone’s personal garden. Decorate tables, fireplaces, windowsills, and more. You can also arrange the items in pots and bowls to create arrangements.
3. Decorate with food
Using fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins, gourds, lemons, cranberries, oranges, apples, or pears can add some much-needed colour to your home decor. Just be sure to have a plan to eat or use the fruits and veggies in some way once they go ripe, so you don’t waste anything. You can also put individually foil-wrapped candies in mason jars and bowls to decorate with, or even bake some festive biscuits to hang on the tree or decorate a gingerbread house!
4. Visit a thrift store
Thrift stores are full of holiday decorations, especially in the months following Christmas. Even if you’re looking for last-minute decor, you’ll find that there are items that, when properly displayed and combined, can double as holiday decorations. Look for items such as candlesticks, candlestick holders, framed art, interesting glassware and bowls, knick-knacks, and more.
5. Make your own ornaments
Rather than purchasing new ornaments, make your own from what you already have! Popsicle sticks, newspaper and magazine clippings, yarn, and ribbon are great materials to start with. You can also use twine and clothespins to hang Polaroid photos or anything else that you have that could look festive on your tree.
Do you have any plastic free Christmas ideas that you swear by? Leave a comment below and share the knowledge so we can all have a more sustainable holiday.
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