It’s no secret that the cost of living is on the rise. Aside from wondering how you could possibly keep up with everything that’s increasing right now (like your household bills), there’s the issue and the consciousness of helping the environment. There’s the practice of recycling gray water and then installing solar energy panels.
Safe to say, eco-friendly decor trends have caught up to the home decor and maintenance front.
Whatever your taste, eco-friendly trends don’t have a limit. Beautifying the home is more than possible with eco-friendly decor.
Why stop at conserving water and sorting recyclable materials when your environmental awareness stretches out toward interior decor?
How to Implement Environment-friendly Home Decor
The environmental awareness movement is here to stay. And to be frank, we’re huge fans of it. You can still get a chic and charming looking home — free of worrying about whether or not your choices have negatively affected the environment in some way.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t need to dish out large quantities of cash to contribute to conserving the environment. Something as small as upcycling furniture can make a huge difference. And here are a couple of tips that can help you do just that.
#1 Hunt for treasure at the flea market
The flea market or the thrift store. Either of them works, actually. True, it’s unusual to shop for stylish decor at the local flea market. But what’s great about sourcing your furnishings and accessories secondhand is that you can easily get your hands on truly one-of-a-kind items.
When it comes to thrifting, never leave a stone unturned. At any thrift store out there, you’ll be able to find vintage curtains, cute trinkets, aesthetic knick-knacks that would look stunning mixed with your other decor, shabby chic accents, flower vases, candleholders, etc. The list can just go on and on.
#2 Use nature for wall decor
By this, I don’t mean plucking flowers or defacing the gifts of nature just to get good wall decor. I’m talking about taking things that other people would consider disposable and trash. You can upcycle those. A few examples include fallen branches, leaves that came off the trees, pebbles, etc.
You can go on a mission to find reclaimed wood too, and turn it into multi-paneled wall art. You can have your favorite designs imprinted on it.
#3 Splash some color with non-toxic paint
Decorating with eco-friendliness mind involves being a meticulous person whenever you’re choosing or purchasing anything to glam up your home. This includes paint. Non-toxic paint, at that.
The past year has really been about encouraging people to play with colors — not just stick to neutral shades forever. Bold colors to match wall decor are great, and they add a sense of personality to an, otherwise unassuming room.
Non-toxic paint is usually made from natural ingredients like vegetable oil, plant dye, and water.
#4 Reclaimed wood furnishings
Reclaimed wood in its natural and rustic state would look charming, but so is furnished reclaimed wood. You can have both. Whether it’s for kitchen cabinets, couches, coffee and dinner tables. Reclaimed wood furniture gives your home that organic flair. You can do your part to combat deforestation by purchasing wooden furniture from sustainable forests.
#5 Invest in some candles
You have plenty of opportunities to light candles — not just during Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or any other holiday you can think of. Candles, contrary to popular belief, are both practical and fashionable. Infused with scent, they can be therapeutic for some people.
If you can’t afford solar panels, this is a good solution. Twice or maybe once a week, you can keep your lights off even at night and just light candles around the house. They’d make great centerpieces at dinner tables, or make a moment in the bath feel like you’re in a spa.
And as usual, be aware of the ingredients included in the candles you buy. Avoid the ones that contain VOCs and toxic scents. Opt for candles made from natural materials like soy or beeswax, fragranced with natural plant oils.
Decorating with the Environment in Mind
It’s very refreshing to know that many people across the world are being more environmentally-conscious. And being eco-friendly helps you contribute to a sustainable environment and save you money.
You don’t have to be an engineer or an expert mechanic to help the environment. In simple ways like decorating your home with eco-friendly materials, you really can.