With a huge 94% of Brits saying that buying eco-friendly home products is important to them1, it’s clear that the nation is looking to make conscious efforts to live more sustainably.
With this in mind, leading carpet and flooring retailer, Tapi, has revealed six eco-friendly decorating ideas for your home this summer, to support the nation in moving towards a sustainability-first mindset.
Once a new carpet has been fitted, you’ll likely have leftover cuts that you may struggle to know what to do with. There are many ways to re-use them to ensure they don’t go to waste (or a landfill!). Here are just a few ways in which you can re-use smaller cuts of carpet for new needs this summer:
Re-Use Your Leftover Carpet
- Send to animal rescue shelters, who can use them for mats/bedding
- Rug (depending on the size of the leftover carpet, of course!)
- Cat scratching post
- Car mats
- Furniture coasters (lay under your furniture to prevent carpet indentation)
- Doormats
- Knee protection for gardening
- Outdoor exercise mat
Incorporate Houseplants
Bring the outside in with a gorgeous selection of houseplants! Houseplants create a sense of calm in your home; they’re also one of the best ways to create an eco-friendly home space as they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and help purify the air. Some plants (including boston ferns, peace lilies, rubber plants, and bamboo palms) even remove formaldehyde and other toxins from the air, helping towards an even greener space.
Choose the Right Flooring
There are plenty of naturally sourced flooring options for you to choose from; wool blend carpets, engineered wood floors and VOC free products will assist you in reducing your carbon footprint. Carpet is a great flooring choice to help reduce energy bills, as it naturally adds an extra layer of insulation. Natural flooring, such as real or engineered wood, are good options too, as they are made with a smaller amount of harmful chemicals.
Repurpose and Upcycle Existing Furniture
Using and upcycling items you already have instead of buying new materials is a brilliant way of being more sustainable. You can upcycle old furniture such as chairs and sofas with new fabric, or paint existing furniture such as bookshelves or drawers to help breathe new life into them.
Choosing the Right Decorations
When making efforts to become more sustainable, you also need to consider the decorations you use. Candles are one of the most popular decorations Brits have in their homes, but many candles contain harmful VOCs or are made with paraffin wax which emit harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Instead, choose candles made with natural ingredients like soy or beeswax.
Flowers are also a popular decoration in our homes; and keeping fresh flowers in the home isn’t a viable option for many Brits. Instead, opt for dried flowers (you can even do this at home) as these last much longer and prevent you from throwing out your fresh flowers once they’ve begun to wilt.
Finally, when it comes to fabrics in your home, such as bed linen or cushion covers, opt for natural materials rather than synthetic, including cotton, wool, or bamboo fibers. These materials will not only last longer but are also biodegradable, whereas synthetic materials are not.
Buy Second Hand
It goes without saying, but one of the most effective ways of building an eco-friendly home is to buy pre-loved home furniture and decorations, instead of buying new. Check your local charity shops or head online to find some pre-loved items – there are many bargains to be had! And don’t be put off if it isn’t quite your style, as you can always upcycle and repurpose items to fit your home decor.
Commenting on the study, Johanna Constantinou, Brand and Communications Director at Tapi, says: “Many Brits are looking for ways to live a more sustainable life, and our homes are the best place to start making changes that will last a lifetime. With summer in full swing, we wanted to reveal how to make a conscious effort to make our homes more sustainable and hope these tips will help Brits in their eco-friendly journey!”
