How to Make Sustainable Choices When Decorating Your Home

17.01.2020 GREEN LIVING 0.0 0

sustainable home decor

Sustainability isn’t just about the big things like renewable energy, plant-based diets and likewise. Sometimes being sustainable relies on choices we make in every aspect of our lives, including the way we decorate our homes. Because, yes - we can make informed and sustainable choices when decorating a space. And often it can be a much better design and feel more closely in tune with the way we live our lives as a result.

So, with that in mind, here are some of the best ways that you can include sustainability in your decoration efforts.

Eco-Friendly Materials

Eco-friendly paints, recycled plastics to make decorations and similar can be one of the easiest ways to introduce sustainability into your home.

One good tip here is to try and make an art piece out of recycled plastics (or unrecycled) from around your home. It may not look like a masterpiece, but if you put the right amount of effort into it, there’s no reason it can’t be worthy of some wall space. It can also be a great exercise in reducing your waste on a regular basis. Or at least every time your walls need a little sprucing up.

Add Plants

House plants are not only a good addition to your home for a green thumb. But, they can actually help your home’s sustainability and help to reduce pollutants in your home naturally. They do so because plants take the carbon monoxide from the air and convert it naturally back into oxygen.

As a result, houseplants can be a simple and effective way to improve the green rating of your home. And they look great as well!

Sustainable Furniture

One of the biggest factors when it comes to home sustainability is the furniture you use to furnish your home. As these are bigger pieces, they often lead to much bigger waste, which is why making your home furniture more sustainable is vital.

Furniture that is made to be used only for a short time – a couple of years or so – may look good and keep your home trendy. But, it is not sustainable and it is important to choose pieces that will last longer. Thankfully, this is currently a noticeable trend that a lot of contemporary furniture is benefiting from as more and more pieces of furniture are being designed to last for sustainability.

Choose Vintage

This is an offshoot of choosing sustainable furniture. When it comes to choosing decorative pieces or even larger staples - such as a sofa, dining table, etc. - it can be incredibly sustainable to choose something that is second-hand. Or if you are looking to match a certain aesthetic, then choose something which is classed as vintage.

This is also beneficial for the fact that these older pieces were often built to last. Craftsmanship is paramount, with none of the flimsy materials and poor screws used in high street furniture that we have become accustomed to in the modern era. For that reason, you could potentially buy second-hand furniture which lasts for a very long time.

And, if nothing else, you have a decorative talking point in your home – because your guests are guaranteed to notice any vintage piece!

Final Thoughts

Sustainability is a daily struggle. We must work towards and build upon sustainability in both small and big ways every day, even in the heart of our own homes. A green future is one where everything from big business to every home is sustainable, with as minimal an impact on the environment as possible in every case.

Such a change is difficult to make happen overnight. But, little by little, one sustainable home at a time, it can happen. So, start it today in your own life.

Written by Natalie Wilson

About the Author

Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer with a particular focus on sustainability and eco-friendly living. Whether you’re looking for a new meditation method or some facts on plastic pollution, she’s your girl! When not writing, Natalie can be found heading to the gym or walking her dog. You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.