With the holiday madness now just a few days behind us, this is generally the time to begin packing away the season's decorations and possibly even give the home a new look. 

Before you throw away that Christmas tree, broken ornaments or burnt out strings of lights, read on to see how you can recycle or reuse holiday decorations.

Every year, millions of trees are cut, sold and used solely for the purpose of holiday decor.  The ideal green solution is to purchase a re-usable artificial tree, or use a planted tree that can stay alive and grow with your family each year. 

For those that have cut trees and are in need of disposing it, you can visit websites such as Earth 911 to locate nearby recycling centers for trees, paint, computers, cans and even more. 

Some cities offer a recycle pick up service as well. 

Between moving trees and taking down decor, you may end up with a few broken or mismatched ornaments.  To decorate a drawer top, desk or even table setting, crush broken ornaments to create reflective pieces and mix with larger objects inside a beautiful vase. 

(image from freshome)

If you're in the creative mood, purchase a blank art canvas and spray with an adhesive, then sprinkle the broken ornament pieces to create an abstract wall art piece. 

Place your holiday candles on different holders or stands to add ambiance or color to another room. Holiday colors such as red, green, silver, blues and more can be utilized to accent everyday decor throughout the year. 

(image from oregonlive)

If you've ever shopped at home decor stores such as Z Gallerie or Potterybarn, you've certainly seen abstract and multi-purpose decorative balls.  Sometimes they are made from wicker or varying woods, other times a metal wire. 

Take an old decorative string of lights, cut off the lights and wrap it around painted foam balls to create a textured decorative piece.  Read the entire instruction list here.

Whether you decide to make a contemporary wreath, fill a large centerpiece bowl, or hang them at different lengths from your ceiling, they are an inexpensive and interesting way to decorate your home and garden. 

There is a frequent misconception that led stringed lights are only for the holidays.  From 3rd Street Promenade in Los Angeles, to 5th Avenue in Hillcrest San Diego or even at a restaurant in Ibiza Spain, white led lights are often used to add a bit of romance, mood and visual depth to any area.  White LED stringed lights are the quintessential all year round decorative item. 

Rubios restaurants often cascade white stringed lights over their Thatch Umbrella kits to add that extra bit of flare to their tropical decor.  Depending on how you use them, colored lights can add a tropical look and not just a holiday one.  Lining stringed lights along your bamboo borders, bamboo fencing or Tiki Bar can add the color you need to create that island festive look for your next get together.

We want to not only help create tropical paradises but assist in creating "greener" ones as well.  So participate in atleast a couple of the 3 Rs and Re-use or Recycle your holiday decor.