Sustainable Christmas Decorating Ideas That Are Not Boring

You can decorate for Christmas sustainably without it looking dull. Start with what you already own and add natural elements like dried citrus and gum leaves. Choose warm LED lights, then bring in a few pieces made to last, like handmade decorations from recycled bottle top lids. A mix of old and new looks better than a matching set anyway.

Updated October 2026. Written by the Banish team.

What makes a decorating idea sustainable?

It lasts, it can be reused, or it was made from something that already existed. A decoration used for ten years is more sustainable than one used for one, no matter what it is made from. So the best ideas below are the ones you will still want to put up next December.

What can I reuse that I already own?

Look around before you buy. Old jars become candle holders or vases. Fabric scraps become bows. A string of bunting from a birthday works on a mantelpiece. Last year's gift tags can become this year's tree decorations.

Mixing decorations from different years also helps your tree look collected, not matched. You do not need everything to go together.

How can I decorate with natural elements?

Natural materials are cheap, and they can go back in the garden or compost afterwards. Try:

• Dried orange or lemon slices, threaded on twine
• Gum leaves and eucalyptus clippings from your own garden or a friend's
• Fallen gumnuts, painted or left as they are
• Pinecones, if you can find them
• Cinnamon sticks tied into bundles

Dry citrus slices in a low oven until they are firm. They smell good and look like stained glass in the window.

What can I make with the kids?

Paper stars from old maps, newspaper or sheet music are easy and look good. Salt dough shapes can be painted and kept for years. A string of paper chains uses scrap paper. These are all cheap and let kids feel like the tree is theirs.

How do I make Christmas lights more sustainable?

Keep the lights you have until they stop working. LED strings use less electricity than older bulbs, so they are worth choosing when you do replace a set. Put lights on a timer so they turn off when everyone is in bed. Warm white tends to look softer than cool white.

When a set of lights finally dies, it is an electrical item, so do not put it in the yellow bin. Our guide to what to do with old baubles, lights and tinsel explains your options.

Which Banish decorations work best for which ideas?

If you want a few pieces that will last, our decorations are handmade in Sydney from recycled bottle top lids, and each one is a bit different because the colours come from the lids.

• A garland. The Star Garland comes as 10 stars with 3 metres of natural jute twine. It arrives unassembled, so you thread it yourself. Hang it across a mantel, along a window or on the tree.
• A classic tree. The Star Pack gives you stars in the colours you choose, each with twine for hanging. Use them on a tree, a wreath or a window.
• A mix of shapes. The Decoration Pack has stars, baubles, trees and candy canes. You can hang them, add one to a present, or string them together as a garland.
• A very Australian tree. The Aussie Animals set has an echidna, koala, kangaroo and kookaburra. Our guide to an Aussie animal Christmas tree has styling ideas.

You can see all of them in the Christmas decorations collection.

How do I put it all together?

Pick a rough colour idea and let it be loose. Natural elements and recycled plastic stars sit well together, because both have a handmade look. Add one thing that feels a bit unexpected, such as a garland across a bookshelf instead of on the tree. Group small things in odd numbers.

Then leave it alone. The best decorated homes are ones where the decorations look like they belong to the people who live there.

What about decorations I no longer want?

Pass them on to a friend or a community group, or save them for craft projects. If something is broken, our guide to recycling Christmas decorations covers what goes where. For the other things that pile up at Christmas, read our sustainable Christmas guide, or browse our sustainable Christmas gift guide.

Frequently asked questions

What are some sustainable Christmas decoration ideas?

Reuse what you own, make paper stars and salt dough shapes, use dried citrus slices and gum leaves, and buy a few decorations made to last, like recycled bottle top lid stars.

Are LED Christmas lights more sustainable?

LEDs use less electricity than older bulbs, so they are a good choice when you need to replace a set. Keep your existing lights until they stop working.

Can I make a garland from recycled materials?

Yes. Our Star Garland is a kit with 10 recycled plastic stars and 3 metres of natural jute twine that you thread yourself.

Where can I buy sustainable Christmas decorations in Australia?

Banish's Christmas decorations collection has stars, baubles, trees, candy canes and Aussie animals, handmade in Sydney from recycled bottle top lids.