7 eco-friendly home decor ideas

If you’re reading this, you probably share our mission to make your home more eco-friendly. From switching energy providers, using non-toxic cleaning products, to actually checking the label before putting something in the recycling— having an eco-friendly home doesn’t stop here. It’s important to consider how our decor choices impact our carbon footprint too.

Though the decorating world doesn't match the fashion industry's environmental impact—which accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions—today, people are updating their interiors more frequently than ever before. That's why it's so important to make smart, informed decisions. As pioneers in the eco-friendly decorating field, from using non-toxic materials to re-using our paint where possible, here are some of our top eco-friendly home decor ideas.

Eco-friendly decor idea: choose low VOC paint

Did you know that the global decorating industry produced 9.8 billion gallons of paint last year, yet only 30% of that was water-based and low VOC? An acronym for volatile organic compounds, low VOC paint means low in the chemical nasties that give off that pungent paint smell. You know the one. Those VOCs are the reason a fresh coat of paint can make us feel a little queasy or give you a bit of headache. There's no getting away from it in a newly painted room. That is - unless you use Lick paint. Because our paint is both water-based and low-VOC, not only is it less harmful to the environment, but it's also less harmful to you—not to mention your pets! It's decorating without the headache.

From our paint to our decorating supplies, we aim to make recycling our products as easy as using them is. What's more, is that for every tin of paint we sell, the equivalent of two plastic bottles is removed from our oceans. To date, that's more than 390,000 plastic bottles!

Eco-friendly decor idea: choose eco-friendly wallpaper

But it doesn't stop with paint. Though globally, we don't use nearly as much wallpaper as we do paint, since the turn of the millennium, an area the size of India has been lost to deforestation at the hands of the global paper industry. Wallpaper is a part of that. Our wallpaper supplies are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable. So, if you fancy a new, unique wallpaper to upgrade your space, know that we make designs that hang about on your wall, not the planet.

Eco-friendly decor idea: embrace biophilic design

The decor trend that looks good and does good too. Not only is biophilic design linked to reduced stress and increased creativity, but the inclusion of indoor plants in your home also has lots of health benefits. They act as air filters, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, as we all know, but they also remove harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Some plants can increase humidity, especially in bathrooms, which helps to soothe respiratory issues. As if you needed another reason to buy more house plants.

Eco-friendly decor idea: go vintage or upcycle

Second-hand used to be a dirty word, but now homeowners proudly display their charity shop finds and eBay treasures. And when it comes to the environment, second-hand is always best. Or even better, upcycle what you've already got. Wondering what to do with leftover paint? Upcycling is the answer. Or give existing materials a new lease of life. You only need to spend five minutes on Pinterest to find 10,000+ ways you can re-use a wooden palette. Wood or fabric off-cuts can be transformed into open-shelving or a new pair of cushions—with a little (or a lot) of help from a few Youtube tutorials.

Eco-friendly decor idea: opt for eco-friendly materials

Whilst interior trends don't change as rapidly as fashions do, their production still takes an enormous toll on the environment. That's why, if you are buying new, choose brands that use recycled or recyclable materials. The Japandi interior trend champions this philosophy, preferring organic fabrics like linen and jute; and natural materials like wood, wicker and rattan.

From nature-inspired colour schemes to eco-friendly materials, here are 8 ways to make your home look and feel more Japandi. There are some incredible pioneering companies making rugs out of recycled plastic bottles and chairs out of recycled wood. And, if they're not recycled, make sure they're recyclable.

Eco-friendly decor idea: go plastic-free

Going plastic-free is not only good for the planet, it looks good too. Turn your plastic-free storage into a design statement with open shelving in your kitchen. Today, there are lots of plastic-free packaging websites where you can get all your household essentials delivered straight to your door, without the unnecessary supermarket plastic packaging.

Eco-friendly decor idea: switch up your products

The list is seemingly endless when it comes to eco-friendly home decor ideas, but one less visual change is to switch up your products—little things like opting for soy or beeswax candles over paraffin. Made from refined petroleum, paraffin-based candles can emit harmful and potentially carcinogenic chemicals.

So, if you like a bit of candlelight to set the mood, go natural. Or what about switching to a more energy-efficient lightbulb? The latter will give you the same look for a fraction of the energy consumption.

So if you're looking for ways to make an environmental change, why not try some of these 7 eco-friendly home decor ideas or to find out more about how we aim to make a difference through decorating, take a look at our Sustainability Mission.