Be Eco-Friendly When Downsizing
More and more, I’m being asked by my clients for more eco-friendly product options in home decor. Here I’ll go into a few more details on how to lower your carbon footprint when decorating your home.
Buy Local
Making purchases from local craftspeople and business makes sense on many levels. You’re supporting people in your own backyard, obtaining things you might not find in big box stores that are unique and make your home feel curated and collected. Local business owners will appreciate your support of their businesses while you contribute to lowering gas emissions and other environmental damage.
Purchase Items that are Made of Already Recycled, Recyclable or Sustainable Materials
There are so many choices of sustainable materials on the market today such as cork, bamboo, hardwood, or linoleum when it comes to flooring. The same is true for furniture made of natural materials such as wicker, rattan, bamboo and sustainable wood. Fabrics for sheets, bedding and clothing can be easily purchased in hemp and cotton. Glassware can be found made of recycled glass and other materials. Wooden spoons and utensils are functional and good for the environment. Other items we find in nature are often free and bring warmth to our homes like tree or plant sprigs in a vase, seashells or tumbled glass or rocks in a bowl and all add visual interest and texture to a room. Fresh flowers from your local grocery store look beautiful on a table, bureau, buffet or coffee table.
Recycle Older Pieces into Something New & Improved
It’s always tempting to run out and make a purchase of an item you saw and think will be the perfect addition to your space. Many times that’s the case, however, I also encourage clients to look at items that might serve a different use than what they are intended for. For example I have a lovely blue and white ginger jar near my fireplace hearth. I’ve filled it with toilet paper to cut down on the space I’d need to house this item in one of the few closets I have.
I’ve also recycled a wedding dress of my grandmothers and repurposed it as a naming/Christening gown for each of my three children. Making quilts from old concert t-shirts or loved but no longer usable clothing and they’re not only beautiful but tell a story.
If you love the bones of a furniture piece that you’ve had for years or was returned to you, restoring it may be worth the time, effort and money. Get an estimate before delving into reupholstering or repairing a vintage piece. It could be cost prohibitive, but perhaps someone with these skills would be willing to buy it and repair it themselves. Slipcovered upholstery makes so much sense (depending on your age and stage in life) as the covers are easily washed and therefore look better and make the furniture piece last longer.
Plant a Seed and Watch Your Indoor Garden Grow
Plants automatically improve the air quality of your home and they make excellent additions in empty corners of a room, coffee table, bookcase or window sill. It’s such an easy way to bring something beautiful into your space and can be practical too. I love buying herbs like Basil, Mint and Rosemary and keeping them on my kitchen windowsill. They look great and make every dish you cook with real herbs taste that much better.
Invest in Key Pieces
Sometimes, it’s difficult to justify a costly piece of furniture like a sofa, or dining room table and chairs. However, if these are items you will use every day it’s wise to make the investment in a quality piece that will last a longtime. Buying and repurchasing lower quality items or appliances is a waste of your time and money. Purchasing higher quality materials in the end saves you as well as the environment. For me, it’s two Nourmak rugs that I love and have had for years. I don’t ever anticipate not liking or using them in the future.
Use Eco-Friendly Decor Products
Painting a room is such an easy fix and gives such a great bang for your buck. Ideally, you can choose paints and finishes which contain extremely low or zero levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Low VOC paints have more water in them, making them less harmful than high-VOC paints which contain petroleum-based solvents and can emit harmful gasses. Your local paint store can help you choose these eco-friendly paint options.
Take Advantage of Resale Furniture and Decor Items or Make a Donation
It’s no secret I love a great buy on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Habitat for Humanity, consignment stores and thrift stores. I love them all! Antique malls are another favorite and I’ve also been getting more into estate sales and auction websites to find unique pieces at a fraction of the cost while doing good for the environment as well. Win-win-win! Some of these are also great places to donate items as well as many non-profit organizations will pick up items from your home.
So there, you have it – some easy to do ways to bring more character to your home and do it all with a smaller carbon footprint. I’d love to see some of your upcycled, restored or thrifted items in your home. I hope you enjoyed some of the photos shared with you from my home . . . to yours.
If you’d like a question answered for a design dilemma you have, please send me an email at nmichaels@nancymichaelsinteriors.com and I’ll respond to you. It may also be featured in an upcoming blog or social media post.
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