How to Make Your Home Sustainable

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME SUSTAINABLE

The one misconception about sustainable home decor is that doing up a sustainable home will almost leave you broke. In 2015, when I decided to start leading a sustainable life, it was difficult to find brands that aligned with my philosophy. But today, with all the awareness, leading a sustainable lifestyle has become not only affordable but also incredibly stylish. Most of the times, you don’t even need to buy anything new but recycle old or used products. While it is true that most new sustainable home decor products come with a hefty price tag, let me share with you a few ways you can make your home sustainable without burning hole in your pocket:

1. Stop using one time use plastic bags:

You can begin by replacing plastic bags with grocery bags that are made up of natural materials. Imagine the reduction in the plastic waste just by switching to a natural fibre bag.

2. Go for bottles made up of glass or any other non toxic material

Replace your plastic bottles with glass or bottles made up of metal. This is a very small step, but it is a great habit to start with.

3. Choose glass, clay, wood or stone for serve ware and cutlery

While choosing a serve ware or cutlery, you could choose from a variety of options ranging from wood, stone, clay, glass, steel, marble or granite.

4. Use Natural fabric

One of the simplest ways to make your home more sustainable is by using natural fabric for upholstery and bedding. Cotton, linen, wool, silk, jute are some options.

5. Natural or Home made Cleaning Agents

There are a few options in the Indian market today when it comes to natural cleaning agents. However, there are many ways to formulate natural cleaning supplies at home. Soapnuts, which are the dried fruit of the Ritha tree, is an excellent cleaning agent. It is natural, eco-friendly, cheap, and reusable.

6. Beauty Supplies or Grooming supplies

While choosing beauty or grooming supplies, it is best to opt for natural skincare or makeup brands that use recyclable or eco-friendly packaging. You can also whip up natural products at home and store in jars. When it comes to grooming, you can opt for traditional shaving kits, bamboo brushes and natural loofas.

7. USE MUSLIN CLOTHES OR CLOTH BAGS TO STORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Instead of using plastic zip packs or plastic containers, you can use a muslin cloth or natural fabric bags to store your fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh for a long time.

8.Style bamboo and jute baskets

You can replace plastic laundry bags with bamboo or jute baskets. These baskets are mostly handmade and support local artisans. Check Okhaistore for beautiful baskets

9. Gardening

If you love fresh flowers or want to start eating organic, gardening is a beneficial skill. Fresh flowers can make even the dullest of space alive, but if you are not happy purchasing them at a hefty price every 2 to 3 days, you can opt to grow your own flowers at home.

10. Recycle or use vintage items

A simple way to add more sustainable items at home is to recycle old doors or windows. Quaint things have a charm of their own and can significantly add a personality to your space. The same holds true for vintage items like a record player, rotary telephones, cameras etc. (If you want to read about the best place for buying vintage items in Mumbai, visit this market)

Bonus: Skip paper for digital products

This is a tough one for me because I love the feel of paper and pen. Still, wherever possible, I try to use digital versions of publications. Yes, electronics have their problems of pollution, and their manufacturing involves overexploitation of natural resources. Still, presently, I am tackling the issue of wastage and paper manufacturing that consists of cutting down trees and pollution caused by paper industries.

Do you want to share any tips on making your home sustainable? Please share in the comment section.