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With environmental issues like climate change becoming increasingly more pressing, we all must do our part to live more sustainably. But where do you start? Here’s a comprehensive guide with some simple steps to begin living a greener life today.
Fast Homeware Habits
We all want our homes to look and feel beautiful, but fast homeware habits can create a lot of waste in the form of furniture and decor that quickly goes out of style.
Hammonds recently surveyed 2,000 Brits on their homeware habits and found that trends come and go in the blink of an eye. For example, Cottage Core was the big interior trend of 2021 – but Hammonds found monthly searches have decreased by 45% since then.
New trends, like Danish Pastel, have entered the interiors seen and increased by 1015% year on year. The younger generation appears to be the most likely to buy into new homeware trends, with one-third feeling a need to keep up with trend changes.
Fortunately, it’s possible to follow trends without creating too much waste. If you spot a new trend you like, try to buy items second-hand or rent them instead of purchasing new ones.
Start Living Greener Today
Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to sustainable living. The Hammonds survey also revealed how people dispose of unwanted home items – 9% said they would rather bin than recycle on the flip side, 46% said they donate, 14% said recycle, and 13% said repurpose or gift it.
Donating or reselling furniture is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint while still getting used out of something you no longer need. If you’re not sure how to recycle something in your home, like electricals, check out your local authority’s website or ask a neighbour.
You could even purchase second-hand furniture to save money and give old pieces a new lease of life! There are plenty of online marketplaces dedicated to buying and selling preloved furniture – like eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace.
Browse through these second-hand sites before hitting the shops with a whole new interior design in mind. You could even shop your own home and compile items from each room that suit the trend. Or, try upcycling some items in your home to give them a fresh new look.
Living sustainably doesn’t have to be difficult
Small changes like swapping fast fashion habits for thrifting or buying second-hand furniture instead of brand new can make all the difference. Keep up with trends without leaving behind a large environmental footprint by renting or buying second-hand items – every little bit helps!
So let’s take steps towards making our lives greener today by reducing our consumption levels and disposing of responsibly.