7 Eco-Friendly Decorating Ideas For Your Home

Eco-friendly decorating focuses on choosing sustainable materials that are renewable, recycled, or made with a low environmental impact. These types of materials include natural linens, cotton, and hemp.

Also, consider buying from brands that support artisans and use regulated materials. For example, Ocelot Market carries handmade products from global artisans using a wide range of sustainable and organic materials.

1. Recycled or Upcycled Items

Upcycling is a creative process that involves transforming a piece of waste into something new with greater value. This could be as simple as stitching together old t-shirts to create a quilt, repainting dingy furniture with a fresh coat of paint, or crafting unique home goods from materials like glass jars or even rocks.

Upcycled items not only look great, but they’re also environmentally friendly. Unlike recycling, which takes raw materials and transforms them into new products, upcycling keeps waste out of landfills and reduces the need for more raw material.

However, there are some limitations to upcycling: items that are too damaged or broken, for example, cannot be upcycled. It’s important to recognize these limits before starting an upcycling project and make sure to seek out the most sustainable options available.

The Instagram hashtag #upcycling is filled with inspiring posts of everything from converting a discarded jar to an adorable pencil cup to transforming a glass bottle into a flower vase. It’s not only a great way to recycle, but upcycling is a fun hobby that can save you money and time while creating a unique addition to your home. This is also a great activity to get kids involved in, as they’ll have a blast turning that empty milk carton into a funky pen holder or painting that old rock into a unique bookend.

2. Bamboo

Bamboo is a natural air purifier that eliminates harmful chemicals from your home’s atmosphere. It is also a natural insulator, which keeps your house at a comfortable temperature. Known for their luck and good energy, lucky bamboo plants are an excellent addition to any room and complement bamboo floors beautifully. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, these greenery-filled accents also solidify your home’s commitment to sustainability. They require very little water or sunlight to grow and are pest-resistant.

3. Cork

Cork might be most famous for wine stoppers and pinboards, but this versatile natural material also boasts a myriad of sustainable benefits. Derived from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), it is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. Cork is also hypoallergenic, insulating and fire retardant. Cork is naturally anti-microbial and contains suberin, a waxy substance that is a great natural odor-absorber.

Cork trees are also a great carbon sink, sequestering up to five times more CO2 than the same tree left unattended. Additionally, the harvesting of cork does not damage or compromise the tree. In fact, it is estimated that a single cork oak tree can be harvested every nine years without killing the tree, ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Eco-friendly home decor is not only environmentally responsible but also aesthetically pleasing. Using recycled or repurposed items makes your living space look unique and sophisticated. Moreover, eco-friendly home décor is often much more affordable than purchasing new products.

If you want to take your eco-friendly lifestyle a step further, consider switching your regular party decorations for an organic alternative. You can use repurposed wood, bamboo, recycled glass and other eco-friendly materials for your next event. Just make sure you purchase from a fair trade brand that puts the craftsman and their communities first.

4. Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood adds character and charm to any home. Whether used as flooring or furniture, it is a crowd-pleaser that gives an otherwise ordinary room a one-of-a-kind look. It also reduces the demand for new wood, which helps to preserve forests and protect wildlife habitats from excessive logging.

Repurposed lumber comes from old homes, barns, factories, warehouses and other structures slated for demolition or renovation. It may be cut to size and treated with chemicals or left in its natural state for a rustic effect. It can also be stained or painted to match a specific design aesthetic. Repurposed wood is gaining popularity in the world of interior design and furniture craftsmanship because it is more durable and sustainable than new timber products.

Repurposed wood can be incorporated into almost any construction project. It is an excellent choice for wall paneling, especially since it can be matched with a lighter non-VOC paint color to create a stunning contrast. It can also be shaped into beams or made into doors and trim. Many homeowners and designers incorporate salvaged wood elements into their indoor and outdoor landscaping as well.

5. Repurposed Glass

Glass is a versatile material that can be recycled endlessly. It reduces air and water pollution, conserves natural resources, and uses less energy than producing new glass. From drinking glasses to jars of pickles, you likely have glass items in your home that can be recycled. However, not all types of glass can be put in your recycling bin. Other types of glass, ceramics or pottery, like plate and bowls, tea cups, mugs, mirrors, window panes, broken glass and flower vases cannot be recycled in your home bin. Gently used glass, ceramics and pottery can be donated to charitable organizations or thrift shops for reuse.

Artistic masters such as South Korean glass artist Park Seon-min use repurposed glass to create works of art that tell stories of environmental consciousness. More functionally, gardeners turn repurposed glass into mulch that retains moisture, suppresses weed growth and reflects sunlight in plants.

6. Plants

Adding plants to your decor not only looks good, but is great for the environment and for you. Studies have shown that we feel calmer around plants and that they improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide levels, removing pollutants like benzene and nitrogen, and releasing oxygen. They also reduce stress and improve focus.

Avoid harmful chemicals that are found in conventional wallpaper and paints by choosing eco-friendly options that use natural adhesives or are made from cellulose, such as grasscloth. These natural products are biodegradable and don’t release toxic fumes. Conventional paints can contain high VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels, which can pollute the air and irritate your eyes, nose, or throat and lead to respiratory issues. Look for low or zero VOC paints, and choose stains that are free from fungicides and biocides.

When shopping for eco-friendly home decor, opt for locally sourced items, which reduce the need for long-distance transportation. You can also find many sustainable decor items that are made from natural materials, including rugs that are made from jute, seagrass, bamboo and recycled plastics. You can even get a cute planter from a recycled book or an indoor compost bin that doubles as decor.

7. Natural Candles

As long as you steer clear of paraffin candles (made from petroleum) and opt for ones made from natural ingredients, such as soy or beeswax, they’re an eco-friendly choice that won’t release harmful toxins into the air. You’ll also find that these types of candles tend to burn more evenly than traditional wax, so you won’t have to deal with the black smoke and discoloration that can occur with some candles.

Another way to make sure you’re choosing a non-toxic candle is to look for one that doesn’t contain any artificial fragrances or boosters. These can lead to skin, eye, and nose irritations for some people. If you’re going to go with a scented candle, opt for those that use essential oils, instead.

Lastly, try to choose candles that have been crafted locally rather than from a factory halfway across the world. This will lower their carbon footprint and allow you to have more transparency about the ingredients used. Slow North, for example, makes some incredible, organic jar candles with a focus on sustainability and a commitment to using only natural ingredients. Their Teakwood & Tobacco scent is a standout, offering a woody, earthy aroma that enhances your space in more ways than one.