Home is where we can relax, forget out troubles and be ourselves. When creating a comfortable home environment for our loved ones and ourselves, it is very easy to incorporate sustainable, cost-effective decor ideas that can help reduce carbon footprint and waste. Here are five eco-friendly home decorating tips that we would like to recommend to you:
đ± Use Nature: Consider decorating your apartment with houseplants such as monstera, ferns and pileas plants. Houseplants are less expensive and more eco-friendly compared to most manmade decorations; they can help increase oxygen and purify your home, adding a fresh and natural fragrant to the indoors.
đSecond-Hand Sourcing: Furniture is the number one least-recycled item in a household, as a shocking 9.8 million tonnes of furniture is thrown away annually in countries like the United States (2017 US EPA report). Second-hand sourcing can directly help reduce furniture waste, and is perfect for those who enjoy vintage or retro aesthetics. You can easily find sturdy antique furnitures in thrift shops, estate sales and flea markets; many of these are in good conditions and sold at a reasonable price.
đBuy Better But Less: Instead of constantly replacing and repurchasing unsustainable furnitures, it may be worth investing in a number of quality pieces that can potentially last for generations. These quality pieces are more expensive due to their better materials and designs, which helps enhance their durability. This approach is budget-conscious in the long term, and can help prevent us from overbuying. It is perfect for those who prefer a more simplistic or minimalist home interior design.
â»ïž Choose Eco-Friendly Materials:
Avoid Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Repainting an old room is an affordable way to give your house a breath of fresh air. Choose low-VOC/no VOC paints, because VOCs are harmful chemical pigments that can release toxic emissions into the air you will be breathing! The production of âgreenâ paints also generates less industrial waste.
Flooring: Carpets are usually less long-lasting than eco-friendly materials such as real wood, and will require full replacement every 8-10 years.
Thermal Curtains: Thermal curtains can help prevent cool air from escaping your apartment in the summer, hence reducing your air conditioner power consumption alongside your energy bills!
For more information, click here!
đRedecorating & Repurposing: Before purchasing new furnitures, aim to redesign your apartment by shifting pre-existing pieces around, to maximise your available space. Donate unwanted furnitures if theyâre still in a reasonably good condition; perhaps a simple change of scenery can already be a massive upgrade!
Article written by: Mioie Kwok