After a summer of bringing the comforts of the indoors out to our decks and patios the cooler weather has us now turning our attention to bringing the outdoors in. We want to continue enjoying the beauty of nature while keeping an eye on sustaining our natural environment.
Here are ten tips that show you how to do both while creating a naturally beautiful holiday:
1. Branch Out
Logs and tree branches brought indoors at the holidays are said to bring prosperity and good fortune. This tradition goes trendy when the look of white birch is used with matte silver, champagne and white in a monochromatic scheme that is as serene as a walk in the woods. Pairing modern materials with wood keeps the scheme contemporary rather than country.
2. Add Ice
Invite the magical quality of light dancing off the surface of icicles and icy tree branches indoors. Crystal clear decorations mimic the shimmer and shine of ice. Using decorations that are clear, have a soft luster or are iridescence surrounded by winter white, cream, silver and touches of gold or bronze adds elegance and a feeling of fantasy to your indoor winter wonderland.
3. Reuse Essentials
Finding items that can be used for festive occasions year round means fewer holiday specific items. Vases, candlesticks, and serving pieces in neutral hues or wood, metal and glass are season-less. Set the stage by grouping neutral pieces and then bring in seasonal flowers and accessories to add just the right color and style for any occasion.
4. Gather Together
Use a color palette of yellow green and rosy brown rather than the traditional red and green to create a scheme that is warm and inviting. A winter lodge decorated with shed antlers, pheasant feathers and pinecones found on the forest floor inspired the look. You can recreate it with pinecones you’ve gathered or ones made of porcelain or glass and faux antlers.
5. Reinvent Vintage
Vintage style has added appeal as an eco-friendly alternative for holiday decorating. Creating a memorable look can be as easy as pulling out an old sled, teddy bear or toy and adding ribbons and greenery that have the same soft coloring and gently worn look. Hunt for older ornaments and garland or find old cards that can be cut into ornaments in your grandma's attic or at neighborhood yard sales.
6. Kitsch Santa Claus
Vintage doesn't necessarily mean traditional. An aluminum tree decorated with brightly colored ornaments and multi-colored lights can be a fun and funky alternative and unlike most artificial trees aluminum is recyclable. Add any small, lightweight items you find interesting. Include things you have collected or remind you of your childhood --game pieces, souvenir spoons, Pez dispensers or Barbie dolls. Don't worry if your favorite things aren't usually associated with the holiday. Your decor can reflect a style that is uniquely yours.
7. Remix and Mingle
Even new decorations sometimes stay tucked away at holiday time as styles and situations change. Organizing a pre-holiday swap party is great, no costs way for family and friends to exchange decorations and update their decor. The best time for this is in mid-November just as you are getting ready to decorate. Keep the party relaxed and enjoy a casual get together to kick off the holiday season.
8. Wrap Wisely
A big part of the fun of the holidays is unwrapping gifts but rather than using gift wrap that will get tossed out after a single use look for colorful and unusual alternatives. Brightly colored reusable shopping bags can hide larger gifts then be used over and over again. Plastic boxes or bins filled with shredded paper from the recycling bin can be tied up with a big bow and used for storage between holidays. Be creative.
9. Get Glowing
Nothing adds ambiance to a room like the flickering light of a candle. Mirrored or reflective surfaces surrounding a candle or group of candles can heighten this effect. For traditional candles that are both healthy and environmentally friendly vegetable-oil-based or beeswax candles are the best choice. Flameless and battery operated candles are a safer option that don't require as much attention.
10. Lighten Up (or Light It Up)
For many the holidays just wouldn't be the same without the display of lights. Keep the holiday shiny brightly with strings of LED lights, which use far less energy and last much, much longer than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs shouldn’t be used in traditional strings of lights but when buying new sets LED is the smart choice.
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