Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most cherished holiday traditions. It's an opportunity to express your creativity and bring a festive atmosphere into your home.
If you're looking to make your Christmas tree decorations more sustainable and eco-friendly, consider using natural materials.
Dried fruit ornaments, pinecone decorations, popcorn and cranberry garlands, and cinnamon stick ornaments are all easy to make and add a touch of rustic elegance to your tree.
Here are some of the best natural Christmas tree decorations and how to make them.
1. Dried Fruit Ornaments:
Dried fruit ornaments are a classic and elegant natural decoration for your Christmas tree. They're easy to make and add a pop of color and a lovely aroma to your tree.
How to make them:
- Slice oranges, apples, or lemons into thin slices.
- Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake them at a low temperature (around 200°F) for 2-3 hours, flipping them halfway through, until they are dried but not browned.
- Let the slices cool and then thread a string or ribbon through a hole near the edge of each slice to hang them on your tree.
2. Pinecone Decorations:
Pinecones are a versatile and readily available natural decoration. You can use them as they are or get creative by painting them or adding glitter for a festive touch.
How to make them:
- Collect pinecones from your yard or a nearby forest.
- Clean the pinecones by removing any dirt or debris and letting them dry completely.
- If you want to add color, you can paint the pinecones using acrylic paint or spray paint.
- Once the paint is dry, thread a string or ribbon through the top of the pinecone to hang it on your tree.
3. Popcorn and Cranberry Garland:
A popcorn and cranberry garland is a simple and charming natural decoration for your Christmas tree. It adds a rustic touch and is fun to make as a family activity.
How to make it:
- Pop a large batch of popcorn and let it cool completely.
- Rinse fresh cranberries and let them dry.
- Thread a needle with a long piece of string or fishing line.
- Alternate stringing popcorn and cranberries onto the string until you have a garland of the desired length.
- Hang the garland on your tree by draping it around the branches.
4. Cinnamon Stick Ornaments:
Cinnamon stick ornaments are another fragrant and natural decoration for your Christmas tree. They're easy to make and add a touch of warmth and spice to your holiday decor.
How to make them:
- Gather a bunch of cinnamon sticks of similar length.
- Tie the cinnamon sticks together with a piece of twine or ribbon to form a bundle.
- Add a bow or a small sprig of greenery to the top of the bundle for a festive touch.
- Thread a string or ribbon through the top of the bundle to hang it on your tree.
Making Christmas more sustainable doesn't have to be difficult or expensive.
By choosing eco-friendly decorations, using LED lights, buying local and organic food, reducing waste, choosing a sustainable tree, and cutting down on food waste, you can have a festive and environmentally-friendly holiday season.
So this year, why not make a commitment to celebrate sustainably and embrace the beauty of nature and be more mindful of how we can make a lighter impact at Christmas.