Your Guide to Sustainable Holiday Décor

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christmas wall hanging made with natural materials

Sprucing up your space with festive décor is one of the best parts of the season. But for those who are trying to consume less, decrease clutter and make more eco-friendly choices during the holidays, decorating can pose a challenge. Fortunately, there are many more sustainable and beautiful ways to decorate! This guide offers suggestions that can help you save money, and hopefully create less waste and keep junk out of your home (and the landfill).

Thrift, Thrift, Thrift

Decluttering and reducing the demand for more waste-producing items starts with simply using what already exists. You can explore your local thrift stores and check online marketplaces to try to avoid spending money on newly manufactured items and their packaging.

Embrace Natural Greenery

Artificial greenery is often made from petroleum-based products that require a lot of energy to produce and typically can’t easily be recycled.

Nature provides beautiful decorating materials that smell great, are compostable and often cost little to nothing! Look to your backyard and the grocery store for things like evergreen boughs, holly, pine cones, cinnamon sticks and citrus fruit to slice and dry.

Additionally, check with stores that sell real Christmas trees. They usually have clippings you can take home for free! And speaking of trees …

Choose a Sustainable Tree (Whatever That Means for You)

There is some debate about whether a fake tree or a real tree for the holidays is more sustainable.

Artificial trees are made of plastic and metal, shipped across the world and are not recyclable. It’s estimated that nearly 13 million artificial trees will be purchased by U.S. households this season alone, and most will inevitably end up in a landfill someday. However, fake trees are a one-time purchase that can usually be used over and over again for 10 years or more.

Real trees help clean the air, provide wildlife habitats and improve soil quality as they grow. But they require resources to farm, and depending on where you buy from, real trees may still involve plastic packaging and transportation. And because a new one must be purchased every year, they aren’t as budget-friendly over time.

Ultimately, real trees are generally considered to be the more sustainable choice, but the takeaway is this: If you prefer an artificial tree, thrift a used one or continue using your current one as long as possible. Otherwise, buy a real tree fresh from a local farm that supports sustainable practices, and make sure you dispose of it in an eco-friendly way.

Organize a Décor Swap

If you and your friends bond over things like shopping, hosting and interior design, consider organizing a décor swap. Think of it as your very own, holiday-themed “Buy Nothing” group. It’s a great way to give your old pieces a new life elsewhere, and everyone gets to enjoy the thrill of finding a treasure without buying anything new.

Say “No” to New Plastic

Research has indicated that Americans generally produce more trash during the holidays than any other time of year. Much of this is due to unwanted food and other food-related waste. Sadly, the convenience of our disposable dinnerware comes at a cost.

When decorating or hosting a holiday party, try to use only items that can’t be thrown away: fabric tablecloths, glass drink dispensers, washable plates, real silverware, and so on.

Then, send your guests home happy with leftovers in compostable to-go containers!

Do Old-Fashioned Crafts

Jump into festive, timeless DIYs that bring together repurposed items and natural elements. Projects like stringing cranberry garlands, baking cookie ornaments and wrapping gifts in fabric are more sustainable alternatives to short-lived staples such as tinsel, plastic-wrapped candy canes and throwaway wrapping paper.

Activities like these are also great ways to make new memories by picking up old traditions.

Sustainability Is a Way of Life

Adopting sustainable habits year-round can help save money and some studies indicate that a healthy environment can also support mental and emotional well-being. Check out this downsizing webinar with decluttering expert Matt Paxton, along with our articles about budget-friendly holiday décor and pollinator gardening.