Being environmentally-friendly can sometimes cause headaches, especially when it comes to purchasing new items. New items for your home are quite often not only unsustainably sourced but can also be pricey and come from unethical merchandisers. As a self-proclaimed vegan hippie chick and passionate home decorator, I’ve outlined my top tips on how to redecorate your home more sustainably depending on your style.

Vintage Darling

When choosing new décor and furniture to buy for your home, the number one thing you can do to purchase more ethically is buying used goods. If you’re a retro furniture and vintage lover like I am, this tip is easy. If you’re redecorating rather than simply ‘decorating’ meaning, you already have enough furniture to get you by, you just want an upgrade or a do-over then you can get the perfect look by spending more time searching for those one off second-hand farmhouse tables, retro lounges and classic end tables. It gets a little more complicated though if you’re only into the modern look.

Modern minimalism

While it may be a little more difficult to source second-hand modern furniture and décor for your home, the good thing about this look is that it’s perfectly paired with the minimalism trend. Modern décor is often boldly coloured and the furniture is often chunkier than vintage pieces. Think chunky modular lounges, heavy glass table tops and layers upon layers of chunky knit throws and brightly patterned pillows. This all means, that to get the perfect modern look, you won’t have to purchase as much. You mightn’t have much luck scouring vintage markets and antique shops to score your second-hand items but used classified’s should have your covered.

Industrial Elegance

If you’re a fan of the industrial look, chances are, like modern minimalism you won’t have to buy quite as much to get the right look. Search for one of a kind pieces online second-hand and go to markets to find hand-made, recycled and upcycled pieces made by local furniture and décor designers. The good thing about this trend is that one or two pieces may be enough to give your home the industrial look, without giving your home a total make over. The right industrial pieces can be paired with modern and vintage finds as this look is so bold you won’t want to go overboard with a hundred new pieces.

Shabby Chic

The shabby chic look has been in for a long time now and it doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of dying down. The good thing about this is that you won’t have any problem finding second-hand shabby chic finds at your local markets, at online second-hand shops and in antique and vintage stores. If you’ve had your eye out for a particular type of piece for a while now, perhaps the best thing about the shabby chic look is that you can create it yourself. Purchase any unloved wooden furniture items in the right shape and size of your desired piece and give it some love with white chalk paint, be as rough or smooth as you like for your chosen finish. This way you’ve purchased something old and given it a new life. What could be more sustainable than that?