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‘Tis the Season to Go Green: Tips on How to Decorate for the Holidays While Remaining Environmentall |
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Written by Nevada Home Staff
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Monday, 03 November 2008 |
The holiday season is nearing and with it comes a time of joyful celebration with special friends and family. But with rising energy costs and a troubled economy, many consumers are actively seeking options for sprucing up their décor to create a festive and inviting ambiance without breaking the bank. Also important is the trend towards going green and reducing energy use and costs.
• While wrapping presents to go under the tree, save any extra ribbon and use to “gift wrap” throw pillows like packages to give your sofa a festive feel. Adorn your walls with indoor wreaths made from scarves and a little boxwood to create a nice scent that brings you a taste of the outdoors while you stay warm inside.
• Use recyclable, colorful paper when wrapping presents to create an inviting atmosphere with a rich color palette for your living room. After the presents are opened, either save the paper and ribbon to re-use next year or take all used paper to your local recycling center.
• Use fewer lights when decorating the tree and, instead, use bright-colored and reflective ornaments to light up the room. Plug in tree lights and nearby TVs, VCRs and appliances to a power strip that turns them all off with one easy click, therefore reducing energy costs for unused electronics.
• Although it might sound surprising, turn your heat down and your ceiling fan on. Lowering your thermostat by just one degree can reduce costs by about 4 percent, while a ceiling fan helps distribute the warm air across the room. Hang mistletoe from the ceiling fan to add a romantic and cheerful holiday touch to the room. |
