With our planet having to bear the burden of nurturing of over 7 billion people, we must pull every single lever to ensure sustainability for our future generations. One such lever is home décor. Turning to home décor that’s eco-friendly can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
Redefine What Sustainability Means to You
The way you spend your money can have a ripple effect on your surroundings. It’s not about buying a product from a perceived premium brand. It’s about being conscious and conscientious about what you buy. All it takes is to pause and ask a simple question: is this product aligned to sustainability? Am I aiding sustainable values or am I abetting them?
Choose Materials that are Sustainably Sourced
Having an eco-friendly home décor doesn’t always mean starting over. It’s a matter of making small yet simple decisions about your home to protect the environment. Use brands that are driven by ethical labour standards and fair trade practices. There are some great brands that enable and give back to traditional craftsmen, local artisans and communities. These people are passionate about sustainability and supply products acquired from eco-friendly avenues. While one of the best natural materials for furniture is wood, ensure that you work with brands that do not contribute to deforestation and are ensuring that all the wood is sustainably sourced.
Use Materials that are Non-toxic
Your paint matters. The next time you decide to paint your walls or your furniture, ensure you choose a paint that is free of VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are not only harmful to the environment but are also harmful to you and your family’s health.
Use Indoor and Outdoor Plants
Plants bring about a renewed life into any space. A few plants such as ferns and palms can not only add to the décor but also increase oxygen levels in a room. You won’t lose any sleep over potted plants during your vacations either. In-house plants are low maintenance and can live up to 3 weeks without water.
Make Old New Again
While it might take more effort, consider repurposing your old stuff into new. You can repaint wooden chairs or tables to refresh your room’s look or even reupholster your old chairs to make them look brand new. You could also try to make your home far more eclectic by using salvaged materials and reclaimed wood. This is not only going to help the “green” in you, but you will also find it far more rewarding than purchasing new things every time.
Pass it on to the Gen Z
It’s an old native American saying that we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, but we borrow it from our children. The same could be said about our home and its interiors. As you age, you will outgrow your belongings such as beds and bookshelves. Do not throw away what you don’t need. Instead, you can pass it on young artists and architects who can reimagine it for a new space.
Eco-friendly homes allow life of all sorts to thrive in their natural surroundings. Be a part of this inclusive lifestyle and enable a greener future to flourish. Let’s do our best to preserve our planet.
References –
50% of digital consumers say environmental concerns impact their purchasing decisions – https://blog.globalwebindex.com/chart-of-the-week/green-consumerism/
