Why Should I Care?
April is Earth Month, and there is so much work to be done about taking climate action at all levels, but what can we do as individuals to support a better tomorrow? Considering, that on average, every Canadian will generate 720 kg (1,587 lbs.) of waste that goes to landfill, which is equal weight to a full-grown female giraffe it’s the perfect time to think about how you can live more sustainably. If that is making your face look like this 😲 – then you’ve come to the right place! We love bringing fresh ideas to your home, and sometimes that can come with an awful lot of waste, but we are excited to focus on some ideas that are all about being more sustainable in your home. Sometimes that means buying consciously, sometimes it means buying used, and sometimes, it means making something old new again.
Whether you’re just starting out on your sustainability journey, or well into it, we want to get you thinking about the ways your home decorating journey can impact the environment, and how to be more conscious of those decisions.
How to Decorate Sustainably
There’s plenty of things that you can do to make your environmental footprint smaller, but here’s a few things you can add into your shopping habits.
- Thrift: This is such an easy way to get your shopping fix! New doesn’t have to mean brand new, it can mean new to you, and it helps ensure furniture, décor or accessories don’t end up in the trash. We love when you can take an old piece and make it into something totally different (more on that later). Going to the thrift store can be kind of overwhelming, but doing an initial scan of the whole store, then heading back to areas or sections that caught your eye is a good start. We also suggest checking out Instagram and Facebook Marketplace for some shop-from home thrifting, and sometimes you can even find curated feeds that make it even easier to buy beautiful used items.
- Trade – we all learned about the barter system in school, and while we aren’t pioneers anymore, we could take a page out of their books! Not only are there opportunities to host a swap meet with your friends, fam or neighbours (POST COVID ONLY!) and have a fun afternoon hanging out, but you can also check online groups on Facebook for cool swap groups where you can trade equipment for sports, clothing, toys and other items especially the kiddos outgrow quickly, but aren’t trash by any means. Be sure to be safe when meeting with people from the internet, and never ignore your ‘if it’s too good to be true…’ senses! You can save money this way, but also get something to someone who will truly use it!
- Upcycle – Something old can almost always be made new again! We talked all about ideas to upcycle things in your life last month, so hop over to check that post out. Essentially, taking the things you already have and ensuring they can serve a useful (or decorative – that is its own type of use) purpose! The best is when you can take something totally different and turn it into something new, or even when you can extend the life of an old piece by reupholstering it or re-finishing it.
- Think Twice Before You Buy – when you are sitting at home, and doing that late night scroll, and something catches your eye, you have to think – how can I use this in the future? Can I see this serving more than one purpose? Will I be able to fix it if it breaks? How durable is this item? Is it just a trend? Do I really need it? What purpose does it serve? By thinking more critically about what you are choosing to consume