Eco-Friendly Décor: Sustainable Ideas for Your New Space
The sustainable living movement encourages us all to make more conscious, planet-friendly choices in all aspects of our lives including how we choose to decorate our homes.
The great news is that decorating sustainably doesn’t need to be difficult, so we’re here today with some of our top tips, tricks and ideas to help you make your space feel like a home in ways that won’t take a toll on the planet.
Choose Sustainable Materials
Furniture made from sustainable, biodegradable and renewable materials has a much lower impact on the environment than furniture that has been constructed using unsustainable materials. So, when shopping for furniture, choose pieces made using natural materials like stone or bamboo, or that have been made from recyclable materials such as metal, ceramic and glass.
Shopping mindfully also provides you with the chance to look for some of the many craftspeople who are creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture using repurposed materials that can instantly give a space a unique personality. You can expect to find everything from coffee tables made from reclaimed barn doors to office desks made from an old piano, so there’s something for all tastes out there once you know what you’re looking for.
It’s also a good idea to extend a preference for natural materials to your choice of soft furnishings, particularly when those soft furnishings are made from sustainably farmed and organic natural materials like linen and cotton. Natural materials are breathable, long-lasting and biodegradable, making them a much more planet-friendly alternative to synthetic materials that can take decades to break down. For example, while a cotton t-shirt can biodegrade in as little as six months, nylon fabric can take between 30 and 40 years.
The Benefits of Indoor Plants
If you’re feeling particularly green-fingered, incorporating indoor houseplants into your space can bring a sense of the outside in, which can bring both calmness and a burst of colour. As well as just looking beautiful, houseplants can actually improve the quality of the air in your home as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen throughout the day.
Although the air-purifying effects of houseplants are modest, the right plants can make a huge difference to the way your home looks and feels. For example, plants such as the snake plant can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen both during the day and at night, making it a great option for bedroom spaces as well as living rooms and bathrooms.
Energy-Efficient Lighting and Appliances
Standard light bulbs use a lot of energy, but the good news is that switching to LEDs is super simple. LED lights use significantly less energy without compromising the amount of light they emit, and they also have a much longer lifespan than alternative bulbs. In fact, when compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs use around 90% less energy, which is a huge saving. You could also choose compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL), which can be recycled and therefore contribute to less waste reaching landfills.
Switch to Greener Energy Solutions
As technologies have improved, the costs associated with installing greener energy solutions have decreased significantly. The cost of solar PV systems, in particular, has fallen markedly, enabling more homeowners to invest in solar panels and reduce the cost of their energy bills.
A solar PV system can also help you to minimise your reliance on fossil fuels, increase the value of your property, and even sell extra energy your solar panels have generated back to the National Grid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
Shop Locally
Transportation significantly increases the carbon footprint of an item, which is something you can reduce by shopping locally and choosing pieces that have been made in the local area. Spending a bit of time looking for small businesses online or visiting craft fairs will not only enable you to find some truly unique items of decor for your home, but it will also help you to minimise everything from air pollution to unnecessary plastic packaging.
It is also possible to find some incredible second-hand and vintage items in local charity shops, vintage stores and online via sites like Facebook Marketplace. Or you could visit your local auction house and find some beautiful antique pieces, which often sell for surprisingly affordable prices.
Try Your Hand At Upcycling
If you’ve found a beautiful piece of second-hand furniture, but it’s not 100% your personal style, why not try breathing new life into it yourself? Upcycling is a great way to teach yourself some new skills and challenge yourself to get creative.
From simple sanding projects or switching out door handles to grabbing your paint brushes and adding a bold splash of colour to a neglected sideboard or wardrobe, there are so many ways to create a beautiful, unique piece of furniture that reflects your personal style.
If you’re feeling confident, you could even take on a much larger project, such as refreshing your kitchen by painting your existing cabinets and getting creative with shelving or cupboard organisation.
Positive First Steps
Importantly, incorporating more sustainable and mindful choices into your approach to home decor doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing thing. You can start small and build from there or dive straight into a larger-scale sustainable project, but crucially, you get to decide where to begin.
If you’re preparing to move house and want to embrace sustainability every step of the way, we’re here to help. Our team offers eco-friendly services that make use of recycled packing materials and low-emission vehicles. Get in touch to discuss your requirements and take the stress out of moving day.