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15 Best Plastic-Free & Zero Waste DIY Christmas Decoration Ideas

It’s a fun way to celebrate sustainably by incorporating eco-friendly decorations into your holiday setup. Each of these 15 Zero Waste DIY Christmas Decoration ideas is easy to make, wastes no materials, and brings a little bit of natural charm to your Christmas festivities.

1. Dried Orange Garland

Dried orange slices and twine make a biodegradable, fragrant garland that is great for decorating mantles, trees, or walls.

Steps to DIY:

1. Cut the orange into 1/4-inch thick rounds.

2. Spread them out on a baking sheet and put them in the oven at 200°F (90°C) for 2-3 hours, turning occasionally until they’re dry.

3. Thread the dried slices onto jute twine using a needle. If you like flair, add cinnamon sticks or small pine sprigs between the slices.

2. Pinecone Ornaments

Make rustic ornaments out of backyard pinecones with just twine and optional natural paint. Simple, timeless decorations that bring nature indoors.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Collect pinecones and clean them with a damp cloth.
  2. Attach a loop of twine using hot glue to the top of each pinecone.
  3. Or, you can optionally brush the edges with natural mica glitter or eco-friendly paint to give it a frosted effect.

3. Cinnamon Stick Bundles

These simple cinnamon stick bundles will bring a cozy scent to your home. You can use them as ornaments or table accents.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Gather 3-4 cinnamon sticks and stack them together.
  2. Tie them securely with twine, adding a sprig of rosemary or pine for decoration.
  3. The bundles can be used as ornaments, or distributed around your home for their scent.

4. Recycled Paper Star Ornaments

Turn old paper into elegant star ornaments and give new life to old paper. A fun, low-cost craft for kids and adults alike.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Cut recycled paper into star shapes or use origami techniques for 3D stars.
  2. Use eco-friendly glue to assemble layers for sturdiness.
  3. Punch a hole at the top and tie a loop of twine for hanging.

5. Wooden Bead Garlands

Wooden bead garlands are not only minimalist and chic but also easy to make and can be used to decorate trees in chimneys as well as walls.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Thread wooden beads onto a long piece of jute twine, alternating bead sizes if desired.
  2. Secure the ends with knots and decorate your mantel or tree.
  3. Optionally, paint the beads with natural dyes for color.

6. Burlap Ribbon Bows

Give your tree, wreaths, or gifts a rustic elegance with these reusable burlap bows. Perfect for the farmhouse Christmas.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Cut strips of burlap fabric into even lengths.
  2. Then, tie each strip into a bow and trim the ends neatly.
  3. And, Attach to your tree, wreaths, or gifts using twine.

7. Twig Stars

For a nature-inspired decoration, make star-shaped ornaments from twigs. This is a budget-friendly craft for all ages.

Steps to DIY:

  1. First, Collect small twigs and cut them into equal lengths.
  2. Arrange the twigs into a star shape and tie the corners with twine.
  3. Cool, Hang them on your tree or string them into garlands.

8. Fabric Scrap Garland

Use leftover fabric scraps to make a colorful garland with texture and character that you can decorate with by the holiday.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Collect fabric scraps in various colors or patterns.
  2. After that, Cut the scraps into strips and tie them onto a length of twine, spacing them evenly.
  3. Now, Hang the garland along your mantel or staircase.

9. Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a classic, family-friendly craft and you can shape, bake, and decorate to your heart’s content. this one is the best considerable Zero Waste DIY Christmas Decoration ideas.

Steps to DIY:

  1. First, Mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water to form a dough.
  2. Spread the dough and use cookie cutters to create shapes.
  3. Now, Bake at 250°F (120°C) for 2 hours, then decorate with natural paints.

10. Evergreen Candle Holders

Use evergreen sprigs to transform mason jars or old glass containers into rustic candle holders.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Wrap small sprigs of evergreen around a glass jar or candleholder.
  2. Then, Secure it with jute twine or a burlap ribbon.
  3. Place a candle inside and use it as a centerpiece.

11. Jute Twine Ball Ornaments

These twine balls are rustic and lightweight, making them perfect, beautiful, and versatile ornaments for your tree or holiday decor.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Inflate small balloons to your desired ornament size.
  2. After that, Dip jute twine in glue and wrap it around the balloon.
  3. Now, Pop the balloon once dry, leaving the twine ball intact.

12. Repurposed Jar Lid Decorations

Make old jar lids come alive again as adorable, rustic Christmas ornaments or gift tags.

Steps to DIY:

  1. Paint jar lids with festive designs or cover them with fabric.
  2. Then, Attach twine loops to the edges for hanging.
  3. Cool, Use them as ornaments or gift tags.

13. Paper Chain Garlands

Paper chain garlands are an eco-friendly classic that can be incorporated into your Christmas decor to add a touch of nostalgia.

Steps to DIY:

  1. First of all, Cut recycled paper into strips.
  2. After that, Loop and glue each strip to create an interlocking chain.
  3. Drape the garland on your tree or mantel.

14. Natural Branch Trees – Zero Waste DIY Christmas Decoration Ideas

An interesting, fun, and easy way to create a minimalist holiday centerpiece utilizing only found materials, and rustic branch trees.

Steps to DIY:

  1. At the very first, Collect branches of varying sizes.
  2. After that, Arrange them in descending lengths to form a tree shape, securing them with twine or in a wooden base.
  3. Decorate with lightweight ornaments.

15. Edible Gingerbread Decorations

Bring some delicious edible fun to your holiday decor with these gingerbread ornaments. It’s fun to make and delicious to snack on!

Steps to DIY:

  1. Bake gingerbread cookies in festive shapes.
  2. Then, Thread each cookie with twine before baking for easy hanging.
  3. Now, Use them as ornaments or garlands.

Conclusion

Each of these Zero Waste DIY Christmas Decoration ideas lets you celebrate Christmas in an eco-friendly and unique way. Using natural and recycled materials, you can create decorations that are beautiful, sustainable, and filled with holiday spirit.

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