DIY Eco-Friendly Home Decor

Friday, October 9, 2015 1 comments
Save money when decorating your house by upcycling items that might otherwise be thrown out, and instead creating fun and unique, eco-friendly home decor.

Today I'd like to introduce to you another guest author, Danielle Hegedus. Dannielle is a freelance writer based in Atlanta, GA. She currently pursues her passion for interior design by writing about all things home decor for Modernize.com. She graciously offered to write about something that I enjoy because I've always been a bit crafty, and like to be able to reuse and upcycle whenever possible. If, in the process, I end up with some unique, fun, eco-friendly home decor, well, then, all the better. Right?
Take it away, Danielle...
When you hear “eco-friendly home decor” that usually translates into expensive. Not necessarily! At Modernize, we know that with a little creativity and some basic crafting skills, you can create beautiful, unique home decor that is environmentally sustainable and won’t break the bank. Almost anything that you make yourself, either through crafting or upcycling, is going to be preferable to something you would buy new in the store. Your personally crafted home decor will always be superior in terms of creating original decor that complements your style, saves money, and reduces your environmental footprint.
Items from the store are mass produced. So while you may love that quirky owl vase, chances are you’ll walk into more than one friend’s home who also thought it was the greatest find! Additionally, when you consider the cost (beyond your own money) to the environment that it takes to produce new items—the raw materials, the cost of running a factory, and transporting the goods from various production sites until it finally reaches the store where you shop—those new items may not seem so great after all. Read on for ideas on how to create eco-friendly decor for your home.

Craft Smart 

You don’t have to consider yourself a great artist to be a quality crafter. Eco-friendly crafting just requires you to be resourceful—finding uses for already existing items like that jar of loose buttons that you swear you are going to sew back onto your clothes one day, or seeing the potential in natural items like seashells and driftwood that you brought back from your most recent beach vacation. Before you head to a mega store to pick up something like a soap dish or a picture frame, think about how you might make it yourself using items that are sentimental to you (childhood toys, mismatched plates from your first apartment, etc.), or that exist in nature and don’t require harvesting or processing.
We love these eco-friendly hot pads, perfect for enjoying a pot of tea on a crisp day. Fashioned from river pebbles, all you need is glue (a hot glue gun would work best) and a base that is sturdy enough to support the pebbles. An old mousepad is a great option!


Via Lushome
The holidays are a great time to craft your own home decor because since you’ll get to reuse these objects annually, they will add to your family’s unique traditions, and you can save money for other fun items like great food or special presents. For instance, rather than buying a new Christmas tree each year, and ultimately watching the sad rows of them sitting on curbs waiting for trash pick-up on a January morning, create your own unique tree. This tree was created using driftwood, and though you may have to adhere it to the wall each year, you can still display your favorite ornaments on a “tree” that is special to your family, and you save the cost (economic and environmental) of a new tree, not to mention the daily effort of cleaning up all of the pine needles!

Via Liz Marie Blog

Use What You Have 

Why buy something new and standard, when you can repurpose items that you already own to meet the same functional needs and create a truly unexpected design? As an added bonus, you’ll free up storage space by actually using your stuff!
We love this bicycle sink! It conjures up a classic sense of French charm, provides storage for hand towels in the basket, and is a definite conversation piece. Firmly affix the bike’s base (where the seat would normally be) to the counter for a solid-clean look. The bicycle isn’t holding anything up here—you’ll need a counter that is securely anchored to the wall to support the weight of the sink, but it creates a very cool alternative to your basic bathroom cabinet. Utilize floating shelves and a medicine cabinet to store items that you would typically stow under the sink.


Via Buzzfeed 
We are total suckers for vintage suitcases, even though we know they’re not exactly fit-in-the-overhead-compartment practical. It’s easy to justify owning these suitcases, though, if you can make them functional year round. Stack suitcases next to your bed to create a unique nightstand. The suitcases provide great storage space for items that you don’t need to access all of the time, like out-of-season clothes, linens, photo albums, and books. A recycled mirror or tray provides a steady surface on the top for your to place a lamp, a book, and a carafe of water.

Via DIY Ready

Make an Effort to Rid Your Home of Toxic Chemicals 

One of the simplest eco-friendly ways to decorate your home is with plants, but did you know that certain plants can make your home healthier? While you may try your best to avoid toxic cleaning chemicals, the air in your home (and your lungs) is still getting a hearty dose of chemicals from items like carpet glue, wall paint, and plastics. According to Healthline, “In a 2,000 square foot house, bring in 15 to 20 plants in 6-inch pots or larger. Rather than scattering single plants, create group displays in each room for a great look and maximum air quality.” Plants like the peace lily, dracaena, chrysanthemum, and bamboo palm are effective at eliminating dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, chloroform, and more that are commonly found in the home.


Via BRIT + CO

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