Words by Jade McKenzie – The Property Styling Co.
When looking for ways to be more eco-conscious at home, remember that style and sustainability can co-exist. Here are a few simple ways to go green at home.
Pollution free paint
One of the most affordable ways to give your home an instant new look is with a fresh coat of paint. However, what we don’t usually consider is the harmful chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be found in paints and release toxic emissions into the atmosphere for years after they’ve coated your walls. The Pure Performance Range by Taubmans is one of the many now available that contains a low VOC and odour formula for maximum indoor air quality.
Furniture you can feel good about
Have you thought about reinventing old furniture and sourcing pieces made from recycled/reclaimed materials? Rattan furniture and pendants are another firm favourite of mine. Rattan grows year-round and provides an alternative to logging. It’s a sustainable material that is harvested by hand and is one way to restore the decreasing population of trees. It turns out my parents were onto something with all their rattan furniture and bamboo wall art in the ’80s!
Bring the outdoors in
Introducing indoor plants to your living space will not only bring colour and beauty to your home but they’ll improve the air quality and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. You can also look at placing your plants in baskets made from sustainable fibres such as jute, seagrass and recycled PET. As an extremely negligent plant owner, I can recommend peace lilies and yuccas as they are ridiculously hard to kill.
