This year, I've been thinking about how I can make my home as Christmas and planet-friendly as possible. Although we all love a bit of indulgence over the festive season, in true Haines style - when it comes to Christmas decor, I like to do things a bit differently.
Have a read for some inspo on how to bring sustainability to your Christmas decor this year...
Treasured Items
If like me, you have a tendency to hold on to things, I'm sure you have a list as long as your arm of items around the house which you treasure, but can't quite place where they came from! Top of my list is Christmas decorations which have been around longer than I have - the ultimate hand-me-down! These come out every year and sit in pride of place around the house. From childhood table decorations to generations-old tree toppers, I think it's lovely to have items in your home which have a story to tell and bring a sense of home comfort and tradition - something which new items just can't!
Handmade
For my Christmas decor this year, I want to focus on handmade decorations made mainly from fabric. No matter how crafty you think you aren't, there's always something you can turn your hand to. This garland is easy to make, can be reused year after year and looks really effective...
What you'll need:
- Twine or string (wool or thread also works)
- Fabric scraps
- Scissors
- Pins for hanging
How to make your fabric garland:
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Measure out how long you want your garland to be and cut the twine, wool or thread to size.
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Next, cut the fabric into long rectangular strips about 5cm wide.
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Now fold the fabric in half, so the ends meet and place them under the twine with the loop poking out of the top.
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Grab the ends of the fabric strip and poke them through the top of the loop, so you catch the twine in between.
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Pull the fabric tightly to secure the twine through the loop.
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Continue steps 2-5, spacing the fabric evenly until you have the desired amount of fabric tied onto the twine.
Be Plastic Free
Statistics show that in the UK alone, we create 30% more waste than usual during the festive season, so upcycling or sourcing plastic-free decorations this year will hugely reduce your impact on the environment. Making your own decorations is also a great opportunity to get people crafting and could become a Christmas tradition in itself!
