Traditional, kitsch, natural, colourful, old-fashioned, or mystical. Christmas decorations are usually rather different depending on whose house you’re at. And they tend to be quite a mismatch of styles because of the fact that some have been around since our childhood (or maybe even our parents’ childhood), and some are brand new. They also tend to vary because of the fact that we’re encouraged to buy new ones each year depending on whatever the Christmas decorations trend is. And we often do.
But surely, once we’ve bought some decorations, we can just bring them out each year, we don’t always have to buy new ones?
It seems that it’s not always that easy. Buying something new gives us that joy and thrill and as we’re in the middle of the big season of commercialised holidays, it’s easy to get sucked in. To the latest trends, to create that gorgeous holiday atmosphere we saw in the ad for the Christmas party we’re hosting in a couple of weeks.
Conscious decorations
There are more conscious ways of doing this though. Firstly, as with fashion and interior design, try to ignore the annual trends and find your Christmas style. Find what you like when it comes to Christmas decorations and stick to it over time. Maybe buy one item each Christmas that adds to your collection of decorations and over time you’ll have this treasure box that you get to bring out each year and dress your home. A collection of things that mean something and that you’ll be happy to bring out every year.
When you do buy something, try to find it second hand, in a charity shop, a flea market or on a site like eBay. Buying second hand isn’t just better for the planet but when it comes to Christmas decorations it can definitely be preferred in terms of quality as old, classic items are more likely to last over time than newer, plastic ones. If you do buy something new, look for something of good quality that’s been made by hand – Christmas markets are usually good for locally produced craftsmanship.
Making your own
Another way of adding to your collection is of course by making something yourself. Homemade decorations add a bit of fun to a home at Christmas and are a good way of bringing in natural materials. Like citrus or popcorn garlands, or my most recent favourite feature – the fabric wrapped Christmas present.
Making your own decorations is also a perfect reason to get some friends together and get into the Christmas spirit. Gather some friends, drink some mulled wine, eat some gingerbread cookies with blue cheese on, and bring whatever colourful paper and string you all have and get creative! Here are a few articles from other sites with tips on DIY decorations:
5 easy and ethical decorations to make
45+ DIY Christmas decorations that are a joy to make
32 homemade eco-friendly Christmas decorations that look stunning