Environmentally Friendly Holiday Decorating That Saves Money

[jeffrey]

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

Have you thought about how your holiday decorating affects the environment? What can you do about your holiday decorating to improve your happiness and at the same time be kind to the environment?

The good news, taking action to decorate your home and office for the holidays, while keeping respect for the environment, makes your workload easier.

Conquer holiday stress with simplicity. Keep your decorations to a minimum. Simple holiday decorating makes your life easier to manage.

Simple decorating doesn't mean no impact. You can use Environmental Psychology strategies to achieve a stunning display with less work. At the same time, you can save money on new holiday decorations.

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Eight Environmental Psychology Holiday Decorating Tips

1. Too many small items in a small space tire the eye and overload the brain. Don't go over the top with holiday decorations. Don't spend your money foolishly on a lot of cluttering ornamentation.

2. Choose a few large holiday decorations to make a bold statement. Bright and deep colors take up more visual space.

3. Make a gorgeous framed note on parchment that says: "We love the earth and choose to celebrate with nature."

4. Work with the holiday decorations you already have. Renew tired ornaments with non-toxic craft paint.

5. Decorate with consumable food, like nuts, fresh fruit, and cookies.

6. Decorate with Mother Nature. Cuttings of evergreens bring respite to tired eyes and fresh aroma to enclosed stale air.

7. Increase your office productivity and business prosperity. When people feel happy, they accomplish more. Take a tip from music therapy expert Enicia Fisher: Play easily-recognized soft music without voices. This encourages signing or humming to oneself to fill in the lyrics.

8. Instead of hanging lights all over your home, concentrate on the front entry to attract the eye and make all feel welcome.

Defeat holiday stress this year. Use holiday decorating ideas that protect the environment and yourself.

Happy Holidays!

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Join Jeanette Joy Fisher for a free holiday decorating ideas teleclass, "Interior Design Secrets to Glorious Holiday Decorating" and more holiday decorating tips ant <a href="http://JoyHolidays.com">Joy Holidays Decorating</a>

[Fern]

Re: Environmentally Friendly Holiday Decorating That Saves Money

i can't believe the author left out the most obvious one of all...using either an artificial tree that will last forever and wont' require cutting down a tree.

Or, if you must have a live tree, putting it out on your property to offer shelter for birds and wildlife during the coldest months of the year.

[lvhocken]

Re: Environmentally Friendly Holiday Decorating That Saves Money

i can't believe the author left out the most obvious one of all...using either an artificial tree that will last forever and wont' require cutting down a tree.

Or, if you must have a live tree, putting it out on your property to offer shelter for birds and wildlife during the coldest months of the year.

I actually read an article last year ... may have been in Vegetarian Times, but don't quote me on that ... that said the live tree which is "donated" after the holidays to animals and birds for shelter is a more environmentally sound option. These trees are grown on tree farms, so the user isn't reducing forests by getting a live tree. Plus, the live tree will eventually compost itself, or it can be cut up and used for campfire wood (instead of cutting down a different tree) if you would use that. The artificial tree, on the other hand, will eventually be thrown out and it will take decades to decompose, if it ever does. I always thought the artificial tree was a more ecologically sound option, but the article changed my mind. I'll have to see if I can find it. I know it was from a reputable source.

Also, as far as "budget decorating" goes, my husband and I went out on Christmas Eve last year to buy our live tree. We got a very nice one for about $3 (they basically give them away by then) and we were able to spend Christmas Eve together decorating it. Most people leave their trees up until after New Year's anyway, and this way it stays fresh until New Years. If you decorate the old fashioned way with strings of popcorn and cranberries, you can leave those on when the tree goes outside. The birds and critters that "move in" to the tree will appreciate the treat.