Eco-Friendly Furniture

Sustainable design by Mazzali

With Global Warming and the environment on everyone’s mind of late, people are trying to find more ways to be “green”. Sustainable living seems to be a growing trend, and can be applied to nearly every aspect of our lives. Don’t keep the tap running while you’re brushing your teeth, use energy-saving light bulbs – do everything you can to reduce your carbon footprint. It seems like advice is all around us, and many manufacturers are making it easy to choose green by releasing new, innovative and eco-friendly products seemingly every day. Making better choices to help the environment is getting easier than ever.

Eco friendly choices for the home

But did you know that you could be eco-friendly while purchasing furniture as well? Manufacturing furniture can produce a lot of waste, and too often, good wood gets thrown away. This is a huge waste of resources and places a strain on the environment. Make sure the company you’re buying furniture from uses reclaimed or locally-sourced wood to make sure you aren’t part of this environmentally wasteful cycle.

Look to local craftspeople

Local craftspeople are more likely to use locally sourced wood, so look around your area and ask to see if they use reclaimed wood, and all-natural materials. It may be a little pricier, but it’s far better for the environment and really, for you, in the long run.

Second hand

Another option is to buy second-hand furniture. Antique stores are a great place for this, as they often have beautiful, grand old pieces that would dress up any home. However, the prices can be a bit steep, so if you’re looking to create a more eco-friendly home on a budget, there are other options.

Try scouting local auctions, garage sales or charity stores for second-hand furniture at reasonable prices. Alternatively, you could check websites like Craigslist or Gumtree for people wanting to sell or trade their furniture. Similarly, there are “freecycle” groups that match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who are looking for them. This is a good way to get furniture, amongst other items. Check Freecycle.org to see if there are any active groups in your area. Freecycle operates all around the world, and in many different areas and regions, so even if you live in a quiet residential area like Vale, there is sure to be a Freecycling group for you.

Sarah Paige is an environmentally conscious interior decorator currently residing in Vale, Western Australia.