Going green has never looked so good. More homeowners than ever are looking to decorate their interior with gorgeous, but eco-friendly furniture. However, it does not stop there. By adopting new environmentally conscious habits, you can help make this world a cleaner, safer place for future generations. If you are looking to help save the planet and have a beautiful sustainable home, then take our advice–you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Fix what can be fixed
It is not uncommon for furniture to eventually start showing signs of wear and tear. This is usually when people decide to switch up their old furniture set for a new one. Additionally, it does not even have to be old–people throw out their furniture simply because it is outdated or it does not go with their newly renovated flooring or walls.
It may seem easier to just simply throw everything out and buy new pieces, but consider not contributing to your local landfill, and consider renewing your old furniture. Reupholster your old chairs, repaint your kitchen cabinets, refurbish that old dining table or hutch to give it a fresh look. Make fixing what is fixable in your new mindset. There is no need to throw out solid wooden furniture when you can have it repolished or even painted over to fit your aesthetic better.
Think outside the box
Another great way to put your old furniture to use is, of course, some DIY work. Repurposing or upcycling is an amazing idea for sustainable décor, and it can be a fun activity for the whole family. Paint over that antique sewing machine table and use it as a coffee table, or put it in an empty corner of your home and place a lamp or a vase of flowers on it.
You can even add a mirror to it and create a unique vanity for your bedroom. There are countless creative DIY projects you can do on different pieces of furniture; from making shelves out of old chairs to making kitchen islands from dresses. All you need is some willpower and a great imagination.
Buy furniture that’s long-lasting
In order to avoid the vicious cycle of throwing away and buying furniture, make sure that the pieces you get are good quality and multi-purpose. That way you ensure that you will not have to buy new furniture every couple of years. Getting cheap dining chairs from Ikea does sound nice in theory, but in the long run, it might be better to get hand-crafted Amish dining chairs, made from solid wood, that you will have for the rest of your life. This type of good-quality furniture can be passed on for generations, if treated with proper care. And the best part? The classic design never goes out of style.
Image: Try to buy locally
Ordering things online has become the new norm. Nevertheless, if you want to keep it green, find local shops and craftsmen to buy your furniture from. Not only does that give you the opportunity to see the pieces first-hand, but it also saves on transportation. Oftentimes your online order travels thousands of miles until it reaches your doorstep, which is a lot of jet fuel, if you think about it. This way, you make sure that the furniture you buy is what you are really looking for (you will not be sending it back for a different model), you avoid scams, and you contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Sell or give away your old furniture
If you are giving your living room or kitchen a makeover, and you have decided to replace your old furniture, consider giving away or selling some salvageable pieces. Just because you cannot find use of it does not mean that somebody else will not want it for themselves. Have a yard sale, or sell it online. You can even ask your friends or neighbors if they would have any use of it. By doing this, there is less junk in the landfill and you can make a couple of dollars.
Image: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
Use eco-friendly materials
Always look for furniture made out of natural sturdy materials. Not only do they have a certain charm, but they are long-lasting, environmentally-friendly and easy to care for. Look for metal, wood, bamboo, jute or wool when buying your furniture. These materials can be recycled, reused and repurposed easily. Not just that, but they also age gracefully. When natural materials do show certain signs of wear and tear, it just adds to their charm, instead of looking dull or shabby.
Having eco-friendly furniture does not mean you will have to compromise on aesthetics. Beautiful hand-crafted furniture never goes out of fashion and is easy to style. Always look to recycle and repurpose, shop locally, from seasoned craftsmen you will surely get your money’s worth.
