Some Simple Tips when you’re Aiming for Sustainable Decor
By Andi Croft
When you finally finish the tiring aspect of moving into a new home, especially one that is more spacious than your previous one, the exciting part comes: decorating.
There are many ways for you to find inspiration for how to decorate your new home. Many people like to grab inspiration from somewhere, like looking at celebrity homes like Adam Sandler’s house to see what speaks to them and what they can apply to their home. Others look at Pinterest boards to see what catches their eye.
Another excellent way to know how you can decorate your home is by sticking to a specific theme or goal. For example, if you’re eco-conscious, sustainable decoration is something you should prioritize. By sticking to a plan, you can eliminate specific decor styles or pieces simply because they fit them.
That said, sustainable home decoration styles are becoming more popular today as more people care about their personal effects on the environment. If this sounds like you, then there are several ideas that you can apply to turn your home into a sustainable home, even down to the most minute decor.
There are many simple ways to decorate your new home sustainably, and here are a few ideas you can try for yourself.
Recycle to make something new
A home is a place where we spend most of our time. The decor should reflect the personality and taste of the person who lives there.
Like you can recycle to make something new, and you can also recycle to create something new as sustainable decor. It’s easy to get ideas for your interior design from your things – clothes, furniture, old books, etc.
Recycling is a process that transforms waste into material for reuse. You can recycle in many ways, such as composting, reusing products, and manufacturing new items from recycled materials.
If you don’t know which ones to recycle (or reuse) to turn into the decor, you can always look at a DIY Home decor blog to find ideas and project directions that you can do yourself.
Recycling has become popular because it is helping the environment and making the world a better place to live in for you and the people who live with you. Many people are getting creative with their recycling and using it to decorate their homes. They create new furniture, wall art, and other items.
The entire DIY process can make you a handier person and ignite your creative juices. Sometimes, you can even use it to bond with the people you live with or your loved ones so you can spend a day chatting and making homemade or DIY decor together out of recycled materials.
Buy Second-hand decor items.
Buying second-hand decor items is a sustainable way of decorating your home. Not only will you save money, but also you will be able to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
If you want a new home and make it more personal, buying second-hand decor items can help you achieve this goal. You can find unique pieces that suit your needs and style at a fraction of the cost.
Buying second-hand items has many advantages over buying new ones – it reduces waste, saves money, and helps you personalize your home. Protecting the environment is essential, but so is protecting your wallet.
When you think of second-hand items, you might think of a piece of furniture that is too old or worn out to be a decoration. But don’t let this stop you from buying second-hand items. There are many benefits to purchasing such items.
Just because it’s second-hand doesn’t mean it will be of poor quality. Here are some tips on how you can shop for high-quality and unique decor that is second-hand:
- Have a clear goal
- Stay true to your budget.
- Start by looking at the local thrift stores
- Ask friends what they have in their homes that they don’t want anymore
- Check out websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Etsy that have second-hand listings
- Do your research and ensure the store has been around for a while.
- Check out consignment shops as well
- Go to garage sales and estate sales to shop locally
The key is finding a place that has a large inventory of home decor items at affordable prices so you can find some fabulous pieces that are high-quality.
Use Eco-friendly paints and finishes.
Sustainable decorating is not just about being green and organic. It’s also about being innovative, efficient, and cost-effective. Using eco-friendly paints and finishes can save money while being environmentally friendly.
The most important thing to remember when choosing an eco-friendly paint or finish is that it should be easy to clean. If it’s too hard to clean or takes too much time, you might want to reconsider your options.
As the world is becoming more environmentally conscious, eco-friendly paints and finishes are becoming more and more popular. These paints are non-toxic and safe for both your health and the environment.
Eco-friendly paint is a type the manufacturer usually makes using a mixture of water, oil, pigment, and thinners. It is non-toxic to reduce toxic emissions from the manufacturing process of other paints. The paints also contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to global warming by damaging the ozone layer.
Many people think these paints are only suitable for interior decoration, but there are some great exterior paint colors.
The key is to research the company that makes the eco-friendly paint to double-check that they stay true to their word. Some more nefarious companies are simply “greenwashing” or riding the “trend” of sustainability while making little or no changes to the product. Doing your research first can ensure that your paints and finishes are suitable or that they do what they say they can do.
Buy some decors that are made from sustainable materials.
Ideally, you should avoid buying new as much as possible if your goal is to be eco-friendly. However, if you’re going to buy contemporary decor, you might as well purchase these decors if the decor is made from sustainable materials and uses sustainable processes.
Buying new home decor made from sustainable materials is vital for the environment.
Sustainable materials are not just eco-friendly. They also make your home look more beautiful and unique. You will want to show off your new decor to all of your friends and family members.
Many people are trying to go green these days and use sustainable materials to decorate their homes. These materials are more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and trendy. You can even shop online for your new home decor as a wide range of options is available in the market.
Regarding eco-friendly decor, there are many options. You can go with wood, metal or stone. Some options use natural materials like bamboo and cotton.
Don’t forget to check that they are making these eco-friendly decors using sustainable practices because if they’re mass producing said decor and there are poor labor practices involved, that renders the point moot for sustainable decor.
Again, checking a company’s reputation can be a great way to avoid that. However, buying from a small business that handmakes their decor can also be a great way to not only purchase decor made from sustainable materials but also support local communities while you’re at it.
Go plastic free
When decorating your new home, you should consider going plastic-free. There are a couple of reasons why this is a good idea:
- It will save you money in the long run because you won’t have to replace furniture often, reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals.
- You’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment by using fewer resources.
We all love to decorate our homes with beautiful objects. But do you know that purchasing a new item will last for about eight years? That’s why it is essential to buy furniture and accessories that are made from sustainable materials.
When decorating your home, there is no need for plastic. You can save the planet by going plastic-free when you want to decorate your new home sustainably.
Switch up some of your home products
One way of sustainable decoration is by switching up some of your old home products for eco-friendly alternatives. You can switch out your old furniture for new ones made from sustainable materials like bamboo or use recycled materials like a newspaper to make a paper lantern.
Some people might think it’s too much of an effort to change their home decor, but if you look at it from an environmental perspective, it’s worth it.
Of course, if these furniture and decor pieces are in the prime of their life or are in working condition, replacing them is unnecessary and is more wasteful. However, if you have a dining table with wobbly legs and cracked surfaces, then you might want to replace that.
Sustainable decor isn’t going to be intimidating with these tips listed above. You can act on these tips today or while you’re planning the set for your home to keep aligning your home with your principles. That way, your decor can make your home look good and feel good in more ways than one.