Okay, we’re talking interior design today! Just like fast fashion, fast furniture is also a problem – ugh. These pieces don’t have the longevity they’re meant to and due to this short lifespan, they generate a ton of waste. But we should still love our spaces and be able to explore creatively expressing ourselves in our homes. So, to save you money and to help you avoid contributing to fast furniture I’ve got some sustainable home tips to share!
Use these sustainable home tips to help prevent wastefulness when curating your space.
Everyone wants their home to be both a reflection of themselves and a haven. Yet, many people feel the need to rush and go full speed ahead without a clear vision. This can lead to collecting pieces that won’t last long in your home which is, let’s face it, a waste of your money and not great for the planet.
But I’m here to tell you it’s possible to curate your home without overconsuming or buying poor-quality pieces. Below, I’ve listed some practical sustainable home tips to help you create the vibe you want in your home without being wasteful.
Embrace minimalism, even if that's not your style
First and foremost I recommend that you take the principles of minimalism and set them in motion. You don’t need to keep your home minimal, but minimalists only let things in their space that spark joy. So, trust the process and enjoy the ride of finding these things that spark joy enough to keep in your space. Let things trickle in instead of trying to get everything in one fail swoop.
Don't buy placeholder items
Along with embracing minimalism, don’t buy placeholder items! Resist the urge to get something because you have a space that needs to be filled or you have a function that needs to be met. Getting something with the intention of getting rid of it later is so wasteful, so just let it be! Be patient and the appropriate thing will come your way eventually.
Focus on what works and what doesn't
Before trying to just throw things at a wall to see what sticks, take a step back. Taking time to focus on what works and what doesn’t is a helpful way to fine-tune the things in your space without overbuying or overconsuming. Look at your space and ask yourself what you like. Maybe you love a piece of art, but then you realize your throw pillows don’t match the color scheme in that artwork. Boom! Now you know what it is that is keeping you from loving your space and know what to target and work around. This brings intention and intention allows your actions to be directional instead of wasteful!
Be non-committal
Shop around and don’t let something that doesn’t give you a visceral reaction into your space. This goes for trendy items too, these don’t have longevity and aren’t, in my opinion, worth investing in for yourself and the planet. Plus, a huge reason many fall into the trap of supporting unethical businesses is because of the desire to get something right away. So, be non-committal and only accept what you 100% love when finding pieces, the style you want to express, and curating your space.
Make a list
One of the most simple yet powerful sustainable home tips is to just make a darn list! That could be a list of feelings, things you want to get, inspiration, what have you – anything that keeping track of can help you practice mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness in this way makes it far easier to stick to a design plan! As such, you won’t stray into overconsumption territory as readily because you won’t be impulse buying thanks to your clear vision you have in mind for your space.
Focus on function
Now this isn’t to say that everything in your home has to have a function, but your home does and should work for you! If it doesn’t, your home will quickly become a camp for junk. Do better for yourself and don’t let clutter accumulate by focusing on function. Figure out how you use your space and what you need to go about your day effortlessly and, again, be intentional when making choices about what pieces make sense for you.
Try to make use of what you have
Before letting go of something (because this can come with regret later on) try to figure out what about it isn’t working first. Maybe it needs a new spot to fully shine. Maybe it needs a little gussying up before you can appreciate it. If all else fails try to rehome the item before trashing to give it new life. Whatever you land on though, try to make use of what you have by getting creative with design and problem solving. This is a great little- to no-cost option that saves things from landfill while also letting you play with your space.
Thrift stores should be your best friend
This is a standard tip when talking about doing anything sustainable and yet I’m still going to harp on it for a bit here! Thrifting and shopping second-hand is a great way to add personality to your space without contributing directly to fast furniture and keeps more things out of the landfill. Check out thrift stores, antique shops, marketplace, buy-nothing groups, garage sales – any option that is second-hand is great.
Shop small if buying new
I love thrifting, but you can’t always find everything you may want when thrifting. So, if that’s the case, shop small instead. Whether that means going to a local business or visiting pop-up events with local artists and vendors, shopping small is the best option for buying new. The items you’ll find this way will have better craftsmanship than something that is mass-produced, so it’s better for the planet. Plus, you’ll be directly supporting your community, and let’s be real, shopping small is a great way to get unique pieces with a lot of personality!
Ambiance can go farther than things
The last of these sustainable home tips is to use ambiance to your advantage. Using things like lighting, texture, and color schemes to curate a specific ambiance has a higher success rate at creating a space you’ll enjoy and want to be in than the number of items that space has. Seriously, ambiance can go much farther than things. After all, interior design is all about making your home feel cozy and peaceful – ambiance can accomplish that.
It's possible to curate a home you want to be in without overconsuming.
I hope with these sustainable home tips you’ll be able to curate the space you want and not overconsume. You should want to be in your home and enjoy your space, so don’t fall victim to fast furniture and stay true to your vision. Enjoy the process, don’t accept less than amazing, and give yourself time to create the home you want.