Practical Stuff: The Decorating - Practical Stuff: The Decorating Making magic in... | Use, Year, Lights, Decorate, One | GoGre

Making magic in your environment doesn't have to be hard on the planet. This is the darkest part of the year in North America. That's one of the reasons that warm colors, and things that reflect the light, are so popular.

Create light and luminosity- mirrors and glass and silver and white are so nice for this reason. Repurpose things in the house made from these substances in new ways, or use thrift items. And Shine your windows! Shine your walls! Let the light in! Use thinned out water based paint on the windows and create your own stained glass effects. Use nature's décor, or things from your yard- if you're in the city, decorate with plants that will keep. In California, it's our rainy season, so we use mossy logs and live holly- and bring in the sugar pine cones collected the year before.

You can also decorate with food items- bring in the sunshine like orange, like lemon, like pomegranate. One young woman we know, living in her first apartment in NY, decorated her baby tree in thrift store jewelry with an Audrey Hepburn doll as the angel. There are limitless capacities for creativity here.

What about the outdoor lights?
Well, this is a tough one. It's so magical to see everything lit up at night. I know it's a hard sell to let that go. One of the guys who works at GoGreen says that he gives the North Pole a run for its money every year- and racks up an extra $200 in electricity charges in December. He's giving a portable solar panel a go this year, and trying to reduce during other months to compensate. Another option is to select light strings that run on solar, or simply can cut back on the sheer amount. These lights use LED bulbs. Strings of LED lights, which look the same as conventional incandescent bulbs, last longer and use 80 to 90 percent less energy. LED lights are also safer since they barely warm up. It's worth it to invest in timers that automatically shut off your lights. Try www.solarsanta.com/home.php OR www.siliconsolar.com/solar-christmas-lights.html

Other ornamentation tips from our readers and members:

Use popcorn or cranberries instead of tinsel to decorate.
Decorate your home with clippings from local evergreens and holly bushes.
Make your own decorations.
Use tree ornaments and decorations year after year.
If you want a new look, swap ornaments and other decorations through Freecycle.
Look for secondhand and Fairtrade decorations in charity shops.
Don't follow "color" trends in holiday decoration unless you can do it in an environmentally responsible way.
Trim a tree in your yard with biodegradable treats for the birds.

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