Transform Your Home into a Sustainable Haven

More and more homes are being built in a sustainable manner and those homeowners who didn’t join the green movement right from the beginning are now starting to make a positive change. Turning your home into a sustainable place doesn’t have to be exhausting and stressful, and all you need to know are the basic principles of green renovations and the ways to include eco-friendly décor into your home. Adopting a new decorating state of mind is the best way to stay positive during the process, but you can also insist on trends and modern ideas, such as reducing the carbon footprint and spreading the knowledge about the benefits of going green. That is one more reason to think about making a few changes in your home, so here are some tips on how to do it properly.

Recycle and reuse

We all have a ton of furniture in our attic and garage, and this can be the perfect start in learning how to reuse and repair old furniture, which is especially great as the retro and vintage furniture is now a part of every modern interior trend. With a coat of paint for the wood, some interesting materials and a few tools, you too can create the most amazing pieces that will look better than anything you could find in a store. By giving the things you already own a new purpose, you’re also saving a lot of money you’d otherwise spend on buying new pieces of furniture.

Apart from that, you need to separate your trash, start recycling and even create a recycling station to help you with the organisation. The basic paper and plastic bins are something you’ve probably already seen, but there are more options, and soon enough you’ll get used to this simple process. Some recycling centres even buy cans and plastic bottles which is always a good addition to the family budget.

Eco-friendly upgrades

You’ll have to make some changes in your home and improve it in order to create the sustainable flow throughout the entire living space. For starters, make sure everything you buy from now on is sustainable and once you make a few initial purchases, you’ll be able to scout for the new items like a professional. Start with going through your house and seeing what has to be improved, repaired or replaced. Remember that you won’t have to sacrifice your interior aesthetics, because you can find eco-friendly products that look the same as the ones that aren’t sustainable. New and trendy barn doors are the perfect example of how to introduce wood into your home and make it stylish and welcoming.

Apart from that, see how to incorporate different types of sustainable materials into every part of the house – from jute rugs, glass tables and stone features to the marble in your kitchen and bathroom. The same goes for hunting décor, which is a much easier task because you can follow trends or create your own personal style consisting of green elements only.

Think about everything

You really need to pay attention to different areas in your home, but also think ahead and consider the bigger picture. When it comes to your heating and cooling system – the main consumers of power and energy – you need to find a way to cut down the electricity bills. With all the devices in your home that could be turned off, these appliances are constantly working so you need to focus on reducing their usage. By repairing or changing your windows, you’ll be able to save money and energy in an energy-efficient way. What many people don’t have a habit of doing is turning off the appliance they’re not using at the moment. This simple hack can save you a lot of money and you need to start with some small appliances and then move onto bigger ones you don’t actually use that often. To be more sustainable when it comes to appliances, look for the Energy Star label if you ever have to buy something new. These appliances have low water and energy consumption, and although they cost more, they are a great investment in the long run.

Besides that, by simply changing your regular bulbs to LED ones, you’ll not only save energy, but also quite a lot of money. Although it seems that LED bulbs are more expensive, they’re actually more durable than the regular ones so you’ll be investing in the future. Some types can even last up to ten years which is one more reason to make this small, but important change as soon as possible.

Completely altering your lifestyle is never easy, but once you start seeing positive changes, you’ll start searching for new ones. The most important advice is to create a home you’ll enjoy living in and sharing with your family, and everything else will be much easier to do.

About the author: Emma B. Joyce is blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She got hooked on home accessories and decorations during her traveling and now cannot stop searching for new inspiration.