If you are thinking of redoing your home in an eco-friendly way or you’re looking to decorate your home using ideas that aren’t harmful to the environment, go for it and don’t have second thoughts about it. Contrary to what most people believe, eco-friendly décor isn’t expensive or odd. There are almost limitless ways you can renovate and beautify your home without wasting precious natural resources.
Repurpose
Repurposing might require more time and effort, but breathing new life into old things is extremely satisfying and rewarding. You can find inspiration everywhere and give new purpose to any old thing in your home – repaint old tables and chairs, reupholster old ottomans and armchairs, use old Mason jars as planters or holders, turn old T-shirts into cushion covers and old baby stuff into a quilt and repurpose a vintage family trunk into a chic coffee table.
Choose sustainably-sourced materials
Give your contribution to environmental protection by only supporting companies that have ethical labour standards and practices fair trade. There are fantastic globally inspired home products that give back to the communities and artisans who make them and are deeply passionate about environmentally-friendly decor. Wood is most commonly the best material for furniture but make sure you choose sustainably sourced wood that doesn’t contribute to the deforestation epidemic.
When you decide to warm up your room with hardwood or tile flooring, look for sustainable rugs produced from eco-friendly materials like seagrass, jute or recycled plastics. Research them and ensure they were made without causing any harm to the environment during their production, are natural and contain no chemicals or synthetics.
Buy recycled items
Choose sustainable materials when you’re considering flooring options – bamboo, cork or linoleum. For furniture, opt for rattan, bamboo or sustainable wood. You can also choose organic cotton bedding or sheets made of hemp, dinnerware made of recycled glass and recycled polyester curtains.
Natural findings such as seashells or unusually shaped pieces of wood or rocks are perfect as decorating pieces and give an earthy feel to any room.
Go vintage
Going vintage and buying pre-used things is a simple way to have a positive impact on the environment. There’s a lot of charm and appeal in the worn-and-torn or “distressed” look. Not to mention that vintage decor is stylish and chic for a lot less money than new things. So head over to the local estates, thrift stores and flea markets for a little hunting spree. And if you still can’t find something for your taste, there’s the Internet where you can explore the vintage offers.
Grow indoor plants
Among the simplest and easiest ways to green up your home is bringing in plants. They will improve the air quality in your home but they will also brighten it up. You might start with a couple of tiny pots of cure succulents and then expand to larger plants such as indoor palm trees and various air-purifying plants.
Donate your discarded things
If you have positively decided that some things have served your home to their fullest potential but are still in good condition, donate them to charities or non-profit organizations. You could also get into contact with organizations that come and inspect your refuse for any reusable building materials and take them away for further use. This helps reduce the impact your home décor changes have on the environment, plus it also helps you get a tax break.
Change your lighting
Even with lighting fixtures, you can still keep it stylish but sustainable. Lots of people love installing dimmers for those fixtures they use the most. They are ideal for areas such as dining and living rooms because you can easily control the amount of lighting according to your needs or mood.
Another advantage of a dimmer switch is that it reduces the energy bill if you make sure it’s ENERGY STAR certified and if you don’t keep it on the maximum all the time. Lower electricity consumption also cuts down the waste created at power plants, and all it takes is installing a simple switch.Once you’re certain about your design style choices and preferences, you could use some of the tips mentioned here to create an eco-friendly interior décor that brings together your style and sustainability. Going vintage, supporting local artists and small businesses and repurposing old items are just a few simple ways you can redesign your home and still reflect a sustainable lifestyle.
