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Decorating your home is something that can feel intimidating enough, without having to take the environment into account. However, if you think outside of the box a little, and choose some more eco-friendly ways to decorate, then it will be something that is beneficial not only to you, but to the environment, in the long run. With all of that in mind, here are some tips to help you to choose the most sustainable ways to decorate, as well as how you can reduce your carbon footprint. You never know, you’re probably more likely to save some money on the way too!
Sustainably-sourced materials
When you are thinking about renovations and redecorating, then it is important to look to use and work with companies that have an ethical ethos and that work with fair trade. There are a number of products that you can use in your home, that help to give back to local people, and those that make sure that their products are eco-friendly. For a lot of home renovations and decorative pieces, one of the main materials of choice is wood. But when you look to choose what kind of wooden furniture you buy, for example, look to choose a wood that doesn’t contribute to deforestation. This is going to be just as important as the overall style of it. You can check, for instance, that wood is FSC certified and comes from a sustainable source.
You may be left wondering what tiles should you use for your bathroom? The good news is that many tiles, especially porcelain, are actually sustainable because the totality of the raw materials that are needed to make them, even the glazes and the water, can all be recycled. So more things are sustainable than you might think.
Think vintage
One of the simplest ways to have a positive impact on the environment with the decora that you choose, is to look for already used items. It saves you having to buy brand new items that could be costly, and that could come from a source that isn’t very sustainable. If you prefer a more shabby-chic or distressed look, then this will fit in nicely. However, there are a number of things that you can tweak to make it work for you, such as altering with varnish or chalk paints. So look in charity stores (many have a furniture section in larger stores), as well as use eBay and local selling pages on Facebook.
Timeless styles
One of the main problems with decoration at home is that styles change every few years. You might decorate and then in a couple of years, the room can look really dated as it is now not a style considered to be trendy. This can mean a lot of waste, from paint to furniture, especially if you look to change things regularly. So instead, look to choose styles that look good, but that aren’t necessarily ‘on trend.’ Then your home decor will never go out of style.