A few years ago I moved into a fixer-upper with rooms that needed to be redecorated. Not only did I want the home to look nice, but my family was already committed to living sustainably and minimizing our environmental impact in everything we did.

 Amy Kartheiser Design

As it turns out, though, changing your home decor involves a lot of waste and consumption. I remember throwing away rolls of unused wallpaper, projects that didn’t work out, and old paint—all things that would have been hard to recycle or repurpose.

Check out your local thrift shops.

Thrift shops are a great place to find unique and affordable items. You can also find vintage pieces at thrift stores, which can help you create an eco-friendly home decor theme.

Second-hand stores are not all the same—some are more eco-friendly than others. Some second-hand stores sell used furniture and other items that have been donated by their previous owners. Other second-hand stores purchase new items that are still in good condition and then resell them at a lower price than retail stores would sell for.

These types of second-hand shops may have better resale values, but they don’t necessarily make the effort to be green in their practices or sourcing policies like their competitors do.”

Look for vintage pieces.

One of the best ways to change your home decor in an eco-friendly way is by looking for vintage pieces. A lot of times, people throw out their old furniture because they don’t want it anymore or because it’s been broken. But that doesn’t mean that these items have lost their value! Instead, look at them as a way to bring some new life into your home decor while also keeping things green and sustainable.

Vintage furniture is often well-made, unique and beautiful—and it can be very affordable! Not only that but it can be used in multiple ways throughout your home: you can use an old dresser as a desk or nightstand; you can use an old chair as extra seating, or you could even create something entirely new from two separate pieces of furniture. The possibilities are endless!

Shop at a company that values sustainability.

It is helpful to shop at a company that values sustainability. When you buy products from companies that value sustainability, you’re contributing to a better world for everyone.

 Courtesy of Amy Kartheiser Designs

Look for companies that use sustainable materials, fair trade practices, recycled materials and non-GMO materials that come from renewable energy sources.

Recycle what you already have.

If you’re truly dedicated to a low-impact decorating style, consider recycling what you already have. This means reusing items you have purchased, received as gifts, or inherited from family members. It also means reusing items you have received as hand-me-downs and freebies.

If there’s something in your home that is no longer useful to you but still has some life in it—perhaps it’s an old vase or a piece of furniture—consider giving it new life as part of an eco-friendly home decor project!

It’s important to note that not all materials are suitable for reuse projects. For example, wood should be used only with caution because many kinds of wood can’t be painted over due to their high oil content.

Similarly, some metal pieces may contain lead or mercury which can leach into food if they come into contact with food products like spices or herbs during cooking prep work (this is especially true for larger pots and pans).

Reduce the amount of material in home decor and accents.

Reduce the amount of material in your home decor and accents.

It’s simple, really: less is more. When it comes to changing your home decor, less is more when it comes to both the materials and the actual items within a given space. This method also applies to materials used in making your home interior look its best—whether you’re trying out a new colour scheme or working with light fixtures for the first time, consider using as few items as possible to achieve an overall good look.

The same applies when shopping for new furniture or appliances; if something seems too big or bulky on its own, keep searching until you find something that fits well with the rest of what’s already around it.

Invest in quality fabrics for furniture and accessories if possible.

If you are considering purchasing new furniture or accessories for your home, the first thing you should consider is the quality of the fabric. You can find high-quality fabrics in many different places. From local shops to reputable online stores, there are many outlets where you can get beautifully made products with good fabric choices.

If you’re buying from a local shop or store, pay attention to what kind of customer service they offer and also how long they have been in business. This will give you an idea of whether or not they value customer satisfaction over anything else – which is important if something goes wrong (and it will). If possible, try to meet with someone face-to-face before making any final decisions about what items would work best for your space and lifestyle needs.

Don’t ignore the details of your current home decor.

  • Don’t be afraid to use what you already have. Although every item in your home is an investment and should be taken care of, don’t abandon the items that are already in place. If it works for you, keep it!
  • Don’t be afraid to make changes. If one thing doesn’t work for a room or an area of your home, consider changing out the piece instead of scrapping everything and starting over from scratch. You don’t have to throw away things that aren’t working—just try something new!
  • Don’t be afraid to mix and match. When creating new decor options for any space in your house, don’t limit yourself by using only one type of material or style (e.g., modern) throughout the entire space; instead, try combining different styles together on one wall or surface area so that each section feels like its own unique world within itself without being too overwhelming overall (this will help prevent visual clutter). This gives more creative options when creating unique spaces within each room so they feel more personalized – plus it saves money!

Use sustainable and fair trade products whenever possible to help create a world with less waste and more equality.

There are many ways to make eco-friendly changes in your home. You can buy sustainable and fair trade products whenever possible. These products have less impact on the environment because they’re made by workers who are paid a living wage, they use less packaging, and they’re made with recycled materials.

There are many reasons why buying these types of products is important:

  • Sustainability: It reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which helps preserve natural resources for future generations.
  • Fair Trade: It ensures that everyone involved in making these goods is treated fairly and compensated for their efforts at a livable rate. This means people aren’t exploited for their labour or forced into poverty just so someone else can make more profits off their work—which often happens when corporations get involved in production processes overseas (especially when those industries aren’t well regulated).

A Little Bit of Research Can Go a Long Way in Making Environmentally Friendly Decisions!

Before you go out and purchase a new item, do your research and see what the options are. A little bit of research can go a long way in making environmentally friendly decisions! It is important to research and understand the options before you choose one. If you take the time to research, then it will help you make a good decision.

Conclusion

We hope we’ve given you some new ideas about how to think about sustainable home decor. The good news is that this message doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom! As we mentioned earlier, it can actually be very empowering to make these choices. Once you get into the groove of things, you’ll start seeing little ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint without having to overhaul your entire life.

We believe this is the best way to make lasting changes in your habits: start small with one or two things that feel doable, then let those sprout into something bigger as time goes on and your habits become more ingrained. Perhaps one day, you’ll even inspire friends and family members who visit your gorgeous (and eco-friendly!) home!

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Home Hacks,

Last Update: February 9, 2023