Photo: Bartosz Zakrzewski (Shutterstock)
‘Tis the season to dig out the decorations and trim your tree, and any other parts of your home that you think could use some holiday cheer. But if rising energy costs have you hesitant to plug in multiple strings of lights, an inflatable snowman, or your blow mold nativity scene, you may be rethinking your design strategy.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can deck your halls for the holidays without running up your electric bill. Here’s what to know.
Christmas decorations that don’t require electricity
Of course, going out and buying all new holiday decorations isn’t the most cost-effective solution, but if you’ve decorated in previous years, you should at least a few things to work with already. Here are some options:
Wooden cutouts
If you’ve inherited vintage outdoor Christmas decorations from your parents or a family member, it might include wooden cutouts of various holiday and winter characters—Santa, reindeer, snowmen, carol singers, and the other usual suspects. They typically have a stake at the bottom that can be pressed into the lawn or other unpaved area.
Wreaths and garland
Who doesn’t love a festive wreath or some evergreen garland? Whether yours are fresh or artificial, they don’t need electricity to add some holiday cheer to the inside or outside of your home. If the wreath or garland you already have has a strand of lights woven through it, you can still hang it without turning them on.
Solar-powered decorations and lights
Need a way to illuminate your outdoor decor? Opt for solar-powered spotlights, which can be found at most hardware and big-box stores, as well as online retailers. Plus, you can use them for other purposes year-round.
Other than that, there are now more solar-powered light-up Christmas decorations available than in previous years. If that’s something you’re interested in, you could always buy and try a few this year, and if you like them, stock up for next year when they go on sale after Christmas.
