6 Eco-Friendly Ideas to Beautify and Living Up Your Home Sweet Home

“There’s no place like home…” everyone has heard this phrase a million times, but it doesn’t mean it’s true for every home. You may have seen homes you’d rather be in than yours. But, instead of envying that better home or spending months of your savings to go on vacation, why not set your home up to be just as comfy and beautiful? That way, you can live, play and flourish in a home you love, are proud to show off, and can’t wait to come back to every day.

Instead of simply loading up your home with every random piece of furniture seen in ads and catalogs, you should aim for a win-win by personalizing and beautifying your home with eco-friendly options. If you are in doubt that this is possible, read on: 

Buy pre-loved, not pre-used 

For every new bit of furniture or item made, the planet pays a price. You can reduce that price by shopping for pre-loved furniture instead of brand new. I say pre-loved instead of pre-used because pre-loved furniture is typically in a good condition, neat and safe. With pre-used, you could easily end up with furniture that has been used badly used and will need to be refurbished to get it looking presentable and usable. Since we are looking to beautify your home, let’s stick with pre-loved furniture. 

You can find gorgeous vintage furniture and decorations on websites such as Gumtree or eBay. These pieces are also usually available at bargain prices which is another benefit. To ensure you find items that match your taste, style, and vision for your home, be patient in your search. Also, instead of simply throwing your old furniture out on the street, opt for the eco-friendly option of selling it, or donating it to a friend, family or charity.C:\Users\user\Desktop\couch-1835923_640.jpg

Choose eco-friendly furniture

If the idea of buying used furniture doesn’t appeal to you for personal reasons, nothing is stopping you from buying brand new if that’s what it takes to turn your home into your dream haven. But you can still consider the environment by purchasing the only furniture that is made from FSC-certified wood. 

The FSC's 'tick tree' logo on a product indicates that it was crafted from sustainably-sourced wood. Buying these items in its own little way contributes to the fight against deforestation. There are furniture types that are made through other eco-friendly processes, so be sure to ask the seller. 

New eco-friendly furniture can be used to upgrade not just the inside of your home but also the outside. For your outdoor area, you can opt for Modern Patio Furniture, outdoor dining sets, planters, or whatever else you feel your space needs for better comfort and style.

Opt for thermal curtains 

Curtains are great for keeping out excessive heat, light, nosy neighbors, and a host of other unwanted things. Standard curtains are available in a wide range of styles but, sadly, they are limited in their functionality. You can change this when you redecorate by switching your standard curtains for thermal curtains. 

Thermal curtains are available in a wide variety of classy styles, but, most importantly, they can effectively reduce your energy consumption and bills year after year. The best feature of thermal curtains is that they are capable of preventing air from entering or leaving a room. This means depending on the season, you can spend less on heating or cooling. 

If you are attached to your old curtains and would like to still use them, you can purchase thermal curtain lining which you can place underneath regular curtains for the same eco-friendly effect.

Use low-VOC paint

Revamping your home is hardly complete without a fresh paint job. The best thing about a fresh paint job is that it’s an inexpensive way to breathe new life into your home’s aesthetics. But, all paints aren’t made equal. Some paints contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release toxic emissions into the environment years after being painted on. This is harmful to not just the environment but also you and the other inhabitants of your home, due to inhaling the product.

So, beautify and liven up your home with low-VOC paint instead. These paint products will have 'low-VOC' on their label.

Carpets might not be a great idea

Carpets, especially lush ones, make for more comfortable floors. You can also find them in a variety of stylish and classy designs that bring together the look of a room. However, if you want a home with a solid eco-friendly foundation, carpets might not work. This is because a lot of carpets out there are loaded with chemicals and pollutants that release toxins into the home. Also, the manufacturing process of these carpets deals significant damage to our environment. 

On the upside, choosing not to go for carpet saves you money in the long run, because even the toughest carpet gets worn out by its tenth year and will need replacing. Instead, opt for long-lasting and eco-friendly options such as wooden flooring.

Plants on the inside and outside 

Don’t just go green, look green. Potted plants add so much vibrancy and life to a home and give it that fresh aura and lovely scent. There are lots of low-maintenance plants you can get for the inside of your home. You can also get them in colors aside from green. Almost every room can have at least one potted plant, including your bedroom.

Houseplants will take in the carbon dioxide, toxins, and pollutants expelled in your home and convert them into oxygen, thus keeping you healthy with a constant supply of clean air. Leafy plants are also capable of keeping your home cool - thus reducing your use of cooling systems. 

Don’t limit vegetation to the inside of your home as it can also be used to spruce up your outside area. It’s also very affordable depending on the sort of plants you opt for.

Do you like our eco-friendly options? Which have you tried and which have worked for you?