Hello World! Welcome Friends! We’ve been hearing a lot about the environment in recent months, and many of us are really worried about the continuation of God’s beautiful creation. If you’re one of them, you might think that looking after the environment means going without, but that really does not have to be the case, especially when it comes to decorating your home.
There are so many eco-friendly home decor ideas to try out that you can do your bit for the planet while also making your home look perfect, Sound good? Read on…
Plants and Flowers
Plants and flowers are undeniably one of God’s greatest creations. They are also very beautiful and will enhance any part of any home they are placed in, and they can be very environmentally friendly. To ensure your home’s plants and flowers are as eco as possible, grow them from water seeds that you would otherwise toss into the trash, or if that’s not possible, buy from sustainable suppliers. Also try to choose plants and flowers that have a long indoor lifespan, and ideally those species that will clean the air. That way, not only can you brighten up your home and maintain your eco credentials, but you can actually fight pollution in your own home too.
Insulate your Home
Insulating your home is an excellent way to ensure that the heat stays in and you are cozy as can be when it’s cooler out. It will, of course, also help to keep you cool when it’s hot outside too. Basically, it will increase your home’s energy efficiency, which means you won’t have to run the heaters or air con quite so often, which means you can effectively lower your carbon footprint.
Not only that, but if you learn how to insulate exterior walls, you can make your home’s exterior look way more attractive too. Boosting curb appeal will not only give you a home you can be proud of, but it may also add value to your home too.
Pre-Loved
Buying pre-loved furniture and accessories is not something that crosses a lot of people’s minds, but it really is an excellent way of doing up your home while also being mindful of the planet.
The problem is, when many people think of pre-loved furniture they think of ratty old broken chairs like the one Marty Crane was so fond of in Frasier, rather than the stunning Queen Anne chair being sold at the local antique market when the reality is, there’s a lot of nice stuff out there, much of it vintage and more unique than the stuff you’ll buy at Pottery Barn – it’s just a matter of taking the time to find it, which is actually not as difficult or time-consuming as you may think!
You can really style your home well with pre-loved furniture if you shop around, pick up a few unique pieces and really focus on building a room that nails your personality. It is very possible to do.
Buy FSC Certified Wood
If you do want to spruce up the home with some new furniture and its wood you’re hankering for, you can still do your bit for the environment by choosing furniture made from FSC certified wood. This wood is far better for the environment than wood that does not feature its trademark tick, so you can buy without the slightest hint of guilt.
Upcycle
Sprucing up your home could be as simple as giving that old chest of drawers a new lick of paint or covering that battered old table with comic book pages and a little Mod Podge to create an amazing play table for the kids. By recycling and reusing the home decor items that you already have, you prevent excessive consumption and keep more stuff out of landfills, oh and it’s cheap – you really can’t say fairer than that, and there are lots of upcycling tutorials online that can help you get to grips with the practice if you maybe aren’t the craftiest person around.
Choose Low-VOC Paint
If the time has come to repaint your home, it’s good to be mindful of the fact that a lot of the paints you can buy commercially are loaded with volatile organic compounds that are bad for the earth’s atmosphere, and not exactly great for you to breathe in either. If you are able to, buying low-VOC paint is an easy way to reduce your impact on the planet while ensuring that your home looks just how you want it to.
Thermal Window Treatments
If you feel like your windows need a new look, forget about metal or wooden blinds and go for thermal curtains instead. Why? Because they will not only give the room a softer, floatier appeal. But they will also keep the heat in when it’s cool and the heat out when the sun is beating down on you, which again means you won’t need to use your heating or air-con quite so often, thus reducing your carbon footprint, and your energy bills even further.
Switch to Beeswax
If you’re the kind of person who loves the low light that candles provide, and you are known for having more than a few in your home, it could be a good idea, if you haven’t already, to switch to beeswax, or maybe even soy, candles instead of your usual paraffin ones, which have a far greater impact on the earth. They’re more natural, smell amazing, and come in all of the same scents you love, including vanilla, pumpkin spice, and lemon. Not only will they be better for the environment, but they burn cleaner, so they’re less likely to damage your decor or your lungs, too.
As you can see, it’s really very easy to make a few changes and decorate your home in a more earth-friendly way than you might have been for. Doing so can even save you time and money, and make your home more comfortable to live in, so what are you waiting for?
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
Hi Kathryn! This is another great post from you! My husband and I both are concerned about the planet and being smart about our consumption habits. To be honest, I think it’s a very important subject we should all give some thought to in our day to day lives! I agree with you – God’s creation is stunning and doing what we can to make a change is a beautiful thing.
I love that what you’ve shared here is very actionable and fun. We run a small plant nursery so it goes without saying that we are big fans of bringing nature in by loving on a plant! The reward we receive from caring for them is pretty amazing, isn’t it? We really do learn empathy by tending to plants and their individualistic needs.
I’m also in full agreement with you about choosing pre-loved furniture. (Love how you worded that!) A lot of incredible pieces are overlooked because they need a little love. Like you said, they’re guaranteed to be more unique than anything you could buy at Pottery Barn or produced in mass numbers for some store.
As a candle lover, I’m definitely giving more thought to beeswax and soy. Thank you for reminding me of the environmental benefits this switch can have! It’s one I’ve been intending to be more aware of.
Love to you & your family! Thanks for these fun reads! ♥