With a slight chill in the air, the holidays are truly among us. This time is a time for family, cheerful bliss and coming together to reminisce on the year we’ve had. With most people staying home for Christmas this year, we wanted to give you ways that you can still make the most of your time off and get your home Christmas ready!

With the holidays just around the corner, you may be thinking about decorations and gifts. Just because it’s the holiday season and it calls for lights, Christmas wreaths, and trees, it doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment! Here at Liquid Interiors, sustainability is always a priority, and always an option. This season, we’re providing you with 5 tips and tricks to implement into your homes, without making big sacrifices.

Find your perfect Christmas Tree

Are you looking for a Christmas tree? An eco-friendly option would be to shop second hand! Find your perfect preloved tree on the Facebook marketplace for just 1 dollar! If this option isn’t for you, you can always get an artificial tree made from recycled materials. (Pro tip: Just make sure to use it at least 20 times to make it worth the energy going into it.) Finally, if you and the family are looking for a real Christmas tree, make sure you select one with a take-back and recycling service included! You could also always plant smaller, potted fur trees and put them outside after Christmas so it can continue to clean the air! As for decorations, a great way to give your tree a unique spin is to use homemade ornaments, not only is this special for the whole family but also adds a little extra something to your holiday season.

Go Natural and Neutral

When it comes to decorations, the rule of thumb is “less is more”. Be sure to leave space around your dècor and you’ll be surprised by how little you actually need to make that impact! Our tip is to try something new and leave the plastic out of your decorations. Not only will you leave your pre-existing vision of what Christmas should look like in 2020, but you may also find a new way to use materials! Here at Liquid, we’re big fans of using wooden ornaments, dried berries, ceramics, home-made clay ornaments, pine cones, and a wooden bead garland, and fresh flowers from your local market! If you don’t have access to all of this, another great way to incorporate that Christmas feel is to play around with your lighting and music, after all, Christmas is a feeling, not a place. It’s time to step into something new and try out the neutrals this holiday season, you won’t be sorry!

Entertaining zero waste

The holidays are a common time to turn to single-use plastic, this season we’re urging you to instead turn to reusable everything! It’s the perfect time to take out and show off your beautiful plates you’ve been saving for a special occasion, cutlery, napkins, glasses, and of course your favourite plant-based dècor, adding a touch of green and red in there to give it an extra Christmas boost! If you’re planning on doing a family-style potluck this year, remind your guests that you’re doing a zero waste Christmas and encourage everyone to bring their own reusable serving dish and of course extra Tupperware to take leftovers home afterward! It’s guaranteed to be a happy holiday season for all!

Photo from Apartment Therapy

Incorporate scents to add to your Holiday mood

While food is a holiday must, we can’t forget about the scents! There are many natural ways to make your home feel like and smell like Christmas without polluting your indoor air with artificial chemical-based room sprays. Some great ways to do this are holiday-themed potpourri – not only will your home smell good, but this serves as great extra decorations when laid out on a tray or bowl. You can also opt for popping in ingredients like nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, orange peels, and cranberries into a simmer pot and letting the smell take over your home. You can always check out more ways to spruce up your holiday season here.

Photo from Mel Poole

Tis’ the Season for Giving

Your eco-friendly Christmas tree wouldn’t be complete without your zero waste gift wrapping! One of our favorite ways to do this is by using DIY Furoshiki Fabric gift wrapping which can be used all year round! All you simply need for this is old bedsheets, curtains, or any materials that can be upcycled. Another way you can incorporate zero-waste into your gift wrapping this season is to find something suitable on sites like Facebook Marketplace or even reusing old paper bags – you can always add on your own holiday-themed ribbons or hand-drawn decorations. Remember to also be mindful of your giving this year, focusing more on thoughtfulness and quality goods rather than quantity. The smallest things can often be the most beautiful, you may even consider replacing a gift altogether and instead gift an experience and a lovely hand-written note. One more great way to bring the holiday cheer is to support your local artisans and shops, no matter where in the world you are! Bonus tip: If you have a loved one abroad, choose a gift from somewhere that is local for them – this will not only support the local community but will also save you the shipping costs, it’s a win-win!

Photo from Simone LeBlanc

Wherever you may be spending your holiday seasons this year, we wanted to remind you that the Holidays are about spending time with loved ones, a time to rejuvenate to reflect, and to slow down. With everything that 2020 has brought on, this just might be the perfect time to take a step back and rethink what Christmas is all about. From our family at Liquid Interiors to yours, we wish you a healthy and prosperous year ahead!