Reduce, reuse and redecorate
If like me, you care about your footprint on this planet, we know that we have to make sustainable choices in every aspect of our lives. That includes how we choose to decorate and furnish our homes, or business premises.
We’ve all heard the phrase “Reduce, reuse and recycle”. I think we have become used to applying this mantra to certain areas of our lives, like packaging for example, but it can be a powerful phrase to keep in mind whenever we feel the urge or need to consume, buy, create, or redecorate!
I absolutely understand the desire to make our surroundings beautiful and comfortable. We can express ourselves, our tastes, our personalities in our interiors. We can create different moods from one room to another. But tastes change, circumstances change, even the way in which we need parts of our homes to function can change. And lets face it, your walls and furnishings could do with a little facelift now and then.
So, how can we redecorate in a way that treads lightly on our planet? You can start by asking yourself some questions. Let’s break it down by considering each of these words in the context of what you would like to do with your decor…
REDUCE:
Do I need a new sofa/light fitting/rug?
Can I fix the old thing to give it a new lease of life?
Can I find what I need second-hand instead of buying new?
REUSE:
Can I reuse the coffee table/curtains/thing?
Could the curtain fabric be used to make cushions or lampshades?
If I paint the coffee table, will it look better/be the right colour?
RECYCLE:
I’ve fallen out of love and I just want to see the back of this old chair/mirror/chest of drawers!
Do you know someone else who might appreciate it?
Gift/donate/sell the thing.
As a last resort, how can I dispose of this thing responsibly?
Often it only takes a bit of imagination to revamp your old furnishings. There are so many positives to this approach:
It’s kinder to the planet
It has less impact on your wallet
It provides self satisfaction