July 12th, 2012 
Tushar Mathur 
Image By: *0*PrincessCCCC
I know the holiday season is long over, but there’s something on my mind I just can’t shake. In my back yard, lies a dry, decaying Christmas tree. Yes, I know it should have gone to the tip long ago, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I feel like Phoebe from Friends screaming at the woodchipper – it just seems cruel to dispose of a plant like that when it was used for less than a month.
So I’ve made a mid-year resolution. From now on, I’m going to try and reuse as much as I can from the holidays. Starting with the tree.
Reusable Christmas Trees
Next year, I’m buying a potted tree instead of a cut one, and will make it my mission in life to keep it alive. There’s also artificial trees, but as soon as that breaks, it’ll just end up in a landfill (plus they’re not as pretty).
If you want a tree that you can reuse every Christmas, buy from a sustainable producer, and repot it as soon as you get it home. A big, wooden pot with good drainage is a good start (plus, it looks very festive indoors too, though you might want to stick something underneath to protect the floor). Use lots of good quality compost, and give it a really good water every few days.
Once the holidays are done and dusted, just pop you tree outside in the garden and make sure it gets plenty of water throughout the seasons. You might need to prune and repot as it grows, but take care of it and it’ll thank you by looking amazing next Christmas.
Fairy Lights
I am notorious for buying cheap fairy lights that generally last the few weeks over Christmas before one of the bulbs blows out and you have to chuck the lot.
This year, I’m going to spend a little more and buy a string with bulbs you can replace. Then after Christmas, I’m going to create a diva mirror by white-tacking the fairy lights around my dressing table. Sustainable lighting that’s great for doing your makeup? What more could you want? Chocolate? Yeah, let’s get some chocolate too.
Wrapping
The amount of wrapping we throw away at Christmas is horrendous. This year I’m collecting newspapers and using the nice pages (read: I think political scandals might send the wrong message!) to wrap up my pressies (and recycling the rest of the paper, of course).
And where I can’t stop the little ones in my family from ripping into their gifts, I’ll be opening mine ridiculously carefully and using the wrapping next year!
At the end of the day, does your home need to rival Saks Fifth Avenue’s commercial Christmas decorations? Or can you live with knowing that your house looks cute, and you’ve done your bit for the environment?
Estelle Page is a self-employed interior designer. Aesthetics are of great importance to her as is functionality and eco friendly design methods. She’s a keen gardener, loves D.I.Y and highly recommends Ambius for all your gardening needs.
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