Just because it’s recycled doesn’t mean your home’s accessories will be lacking in svelte design and chic glamour. In this day and age, swapping just a few decorations for eco-friendly alternatives goes a long way to keeping carbon output to a minimum.
So, as well as car sharing to work and recycling your household waste, we’ve selected a few products that you could opt for and save the planet at the same time. Here are a few inspirations to get you started…
Via Channel 4
Revamp your Furniture
Pick up any interiors and lifestyle magazine in the last 12 months and you’ll be greeted by an abundance of easy DIY guides, five-step how-tos and stupendous upcycling projects that will put even the newest furniture designers’ ideas to shame.
But it’s not just a craze on paper! Channel 4 recently aired Kirstie’s Fill Your House For Free, which documented various homeowners revamping their interiors on a minimal budget.
Via Nutshell Paints
Got a piece of wooden furniture that’s seen better days? Strip its paint, sand it, and repaint it. Stockists such as Nutshell Paints offer solvent and emission-free paints that give your wood a fab finish without damaging the environment.
If you don’t mind a bit of legwork/car work, you can always take a gander on networks such as Freecycle and Preloved for old furniture to test your revamping skills on.
Chalkboards and Whiteboards
You may think that you’ve done your good deed of the day when you swap plain paper for recycled, but how could you go greener than that? Scrap it altogether! Making time-sensitive notes will only be binned the next day, so why not invest in a chalkboard or whiteboard to make a note of quick messages? It’s cheaper in the long run, and is kinder to the environment too. Plus, a cute-style chalkboard is bound to look lovely on your kitchen wall.
Recycled Materials
Via Traidcraft
Thanks to advancements in technology, you won’t even notice the difference between recycled and ‘raw material’ products by the cost or quality. There are a number of specialist retailers who offer recycled glassware for even the most exquisite occasion.
Although this isn’t something you can do ‘from home’, i.e. hand-making your own glassware is not advisable, separating your used jars for council collection will go a long way.
Who knows, you might even see your used pickle jar again in the form of a gorgeous wine glass!
