The holidays are full of beautiful displays as people deck the halls in festive style. Decorating is often a staple of celebrating this time of year, but with rapidly changing trends, many supplies end up at the thrift store or in a landfill once the season ends. As sustainability remains one of our core values, we pulled together environmentally friendly (and budget-conscious) ideas!

Garlands are a classic way to spruce up a room. This year, ditch the strands of plastic branches and opt for one made with natural supplies. If a park with pine trees is nearby, you can collect fallen branches and pinecones, then tie them together with sturdy string or twine. Another option is to cut oranges into disks, dry the slices, and thread them together. Paired with popcorn and cranberries, these strands add color to the room, and the citrus from the oranges smells nice when you’re close by. Their biodegradable nature means you can easily compost your garlands when you’re finished with them and have removed the string.

Wreaths open the door for more biodegradable décor, plus they’re extremely versatile in design. Store-bought, premade products are convenient but bulky and can be difficult to store without crushing, resulting in many items finding a new home in a second-hand shop. Alternatively, you can purchase a wreath ring and tie sticks and pine branches to it as a base before embellishing with ribbons, pinecones, or fake flowers. At the end of the season, toss the foraged supplies and easily store the ring, ribbons, and florals for use next year.

Modern gift-giving often involves online shopping and plenty of shipments to your doorstep. With a nearly endless supply of cardboard on the way to your house, you don’t have to look far to gather materials for a holiday village. Tutorials and templates are easy to find online, and once you have your base constructed, source additional items from your recyclables for extra details before painting your creation. Old cereal boxes are easily cut into shingles, twist ties become string lights, and bottle caps make great potted plants to decorate the porch — your limit is your imagination.

Even after your decorations go up, the holiday preparations can continue. Seasonal scents line the shelves in the form of candles, room sprays, potpourri, and more, but you can make your house aromatic with items from your cupboard. Whether you experiment with your own spice blend or stick to the basics, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks are a good starting point. Add them to a pot of boiling water, and your home will smell festive in no time. Using this method is an inexpensive way to make your home cozy, although remember to use proper precautions and never leave your stove unattended.

Environmentally conscious living doesn’t limit your home from achieving its full potential during the holidays. Embracing sustainable solutions gives you an opportunity to flex your creativity and enhance your enjoyment of the season!