It’s a magical time of year! Let me first start off by saying you CAN be an aspiring minimalist and still enjoy decorating for the holidays. No shame in that. Now that I’m a homeowner, my desire to “decorate” has become amplified. However, rather than going out of my way to spend unnecessary money and create more clutter, I’m doing what I can to make our home feel festive without being wasteful. I read an article recently that pointed out that people generate more waste during the holiday season than any other time of the year.

In the United States, Stanford University stated that Americans throw away 25 percent more trash from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, amounting to 25 million tons of garbage. Putting things into perspective, if every family would reuse gift ribbons, the 38,000 miles could “tie a bow around the entire planet.” And, if recycled paper was used to wrap presents, the amount of paper saved could cover 45,000 football fields.

While I’m definitely not highlighting this to be some sort of bah humbug, eco-Grinch, I do think it’s important to be conscious of avoiding additional and unnecessary waste that comes with the territory of holiday decor. There are endless things you can do to get into the spirit, and I love finding mindful ways to enjoy all of my favorite holiday moments while keepin’ it simple and more sustainable.

Here are some ways I'm creating a cozy holiday home as a minimal lovin' + thrivin’ gal:

1. Decorate with real plants.

I’m obviously a big fan of plants year-round. Especially around the holidays, there are so many beautiful in-season plants to adorn your home with. Pick up some pine cones, eucalyptus, berry branch arrangements, and run with it. It’s such a simple and low-cost/low-waste way to make your home feel fresh n’ festive. Once you’re done, you can compost the plants, so it can go back into the earth.

2. Amp up that mood lighting.

Go ham with some non-toxic candles + string up some LED lights. There are so many reasons to switch to LED lights. LED stands for light-emitting diodes, so this new technology makes it more energy efficient than the regular fluorescent incandescent lights. It lasts longer, it’s more durable, and it’s safer, since they do not get hot to the touch. So, pull out the all the stops with some LED lights outside of your house. You can also bring inside the holiday sparkle with some low-key twinkle LED lights that you can keep up year round! Don’t believe me? One simple Pinterest search for “twinkle lights”, and you’ll find endless inspiration of people creating twinkle light magic in their homes all year long.

3. Craft your own DIY wreath or garland.

Let me preface by saying, I am NO expert on wreath-making. This year was my first attempt, and in true Jules fashion, I just freakin’ winged it. It definitely filled my cup on the fun factor. If you’re having family come to town, I recommend making your wreath or garland as close to their visit as possible, so it will stay fresh for longer. Austin had a serge of fluctuating hot and cold weather, which I think affected the longevity of my eucalyptus. Was it worth it? HECK YES! Pinterest has got you covered on all the wreath-making tutorials your heart desires. I’m not even going to advise you on how to make it, because I know there’s a better approach than the way I did it (using a coat hanger as the base). I’ll leave it at that. Oy.

4. Make it smell like holiday spirit.

We all know that smell triggers memories. I’m all for creating a warm and cozy scent utilizing 100% natural essential oils to make people feel good. My favorite and most-trusted essential oils brand is Saje. I make zero commission from them - I just truly love their products. You cannot go wrong with any of their holiday sets, but if you can only get one, then go with All the Feels, which is a blend of vanilla, orange, and clove. Here is the diffuser I have.

5. Rethink your tree.

Supporting your local tree farmer is one of the most sustainable things you can do. Real trees are a renewable resource for mama earth as long as it does not end up in landfill. So, if you do end up with a real tree, make sure to look up what local “treecycling” programs your city offers and take care to follow the steps.

Now, what if a real tree isn’t for you? That’s okay… it wasn’t the right choice for us either since we travel for work a lot. Last year, we decided on a non-toxic 100% recycled PVC plastic tree, so it could be reused for years down the road. Balancing business with environmental sustainability, Oncor Recycled Trees donates at least 1% of annual gross sales to One Percent for the Planet-approved non-profit environmental organizations. I highly recommend their trees.

It feels really good to make intentional decisions where you can and find new ways to still truly enjoy the traditions that make this time of year so special. If you’re looking for some other ideas to help you stay mindful, simplify the holidays and make space for what matters most, here are 5 Things I’m Letting Go of This Holiday Season. And if you have any low waste holiday decor ideas you swear by or festive favorites of your own, drop ‘em in the comments! I’d love to hear what you’re doing to decorate ‘n celebrate.

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