Firstly, it’s useful to think about what you already have and what could be repurposed to keep your Christmas as eco-friendly as possible. The next step is considering what you can make yourself to limit your new purchases. Gumtree is home to all sorts of wonderful second-hand things you can use to create homemade festive knick-knacks. For example, why not go natural with your eco-friendly Christmas decorations and find some twigs or driftwood that can be used to make a wreath, rustic twig candle holders or even an alternative tree? Festive colour can make all the difference so you could have fun jazzing up pines cones and old trimmings in red, gold and green paint.

Pages from old books no longer used is also an imaginative way to create festive decor that can be used to hang around your home year after year. Creating ribbon tree ornaments is another lovely way to use excess ribbon and avoid waste – simply tie little pieces of ribbon around a twig or piece of wood in a tiered shape and you have a ribbon Christmas tree. Voilà! Another thing you can do is collect and clean out glass jars or buy them second-hand and fill them with foliage such as cranberries, branches and holly. Hunting for foliage can also be a fun day out with the family with a unique end result.

Christmas would just not be Christmas without those twinkling lights! The right lighting creates that magical touch we all love at Christmas time but lights needn’t be expensive or unsustainable. Why not opt for tea lights and candles to create that cosy feel? Recycled food tins are an easy way to create Christmas mood lighting with their reflective inner surface – perfect on the mantelpiece. This reflective light can also be created with old CDs: Instead of throwing them away to never decompose in landfills, why not break them up and stick the pieces onto ornaments or baubles for a disco ball-like effect.

If you decide to use fairy lights, you may want to consider LED lights as they’re not only lighter and smaller than standard incandescent bulbs, but they also last up to 20 times longer. For outside, solar-powered fairy lights are also a sustainable choice and help avoid annoying cables and extensions.

The tree is the centre of Christmas in many homes and sometimes a source of argument because, ya know, we have our own decorating methods. However, whether you opt for a potted tree that can be later replanted or a jazzy artificial model that you can bring out year after year, decorating the tree is a family tradition. Gumtree has a huge range of second-hand baubles and sustainable Christmas tree decorations in a range of materials that can be stored and reused.

We all know that the baubles are in fact better edible so why not cook up some gingerbread people and hang them with cute ribbons for the ultimate eco baubles? If you’re going all out, a second-hand tree skirt or mat is also an easy way to introduce traditional colours including red and gold, or even one with an artificial snow effect.

Whether you prefer a consistent theme throughout your home or are happy to mix and match, Gumtree has a variety of wall and window features as well as festive ornaments for all styles. You may want to think about hanging pretty trinkets by putting up small hooks or rails on a wall or perhaps create a winter scene with stencils and snow spray.

Other ways to make the most of your space is to hang things from door and window frames or hang your Christmas cards on some string. Wreaths are also a wonderfully festive way to decorate your front door. For the mantel, don’t forget all those cute Christmas statues and gilded ornaments, such as reindeer, angels and, of course, Santa. These can be easily picked up second-hand at local charity shops or on Gumtree.

Once December hits, your table is bound to become a festive focal point not only on Christmas day but during seasonal dinner parties and celebrations, too. So making sure your table gets the love and attention it needs is vital! An easy way to spruce up your table is to opt for some Christmas themed mats, coasters, napkin rings and perhaps even a table runner if you’re feeling fancy. Gumtree has lots of second-hand table accessories that guests will love. For the centrepiece, why not use spray paint to spruce up twigs and mix with flowers or place gold painted pinecones around the table for a natural festive look. One final thing to consider is Christmas candlesticks for that extra-special traditional finish.

Christmas is a time of celebration and spending time with loved ones. There’s no need to break the bank when it comes to decorating your home, all it takes is a little Christmas imagination. For everything Christmas, look no further than Gumtree for an eco-friendly way to save money and create something unique.