As people tighten their purse strings during these unpredictable economic times, the trend of ‘green is the new black’ is not only a fashion statement but also a welcome lifestyle – where it’s becoming trendy to invest in second-hand sales and upcycle household furniture. With countless benefits including creating original designs as well as making huge savings on pre-loved items, why wouldn’t you want to embrace green living!
However, there’s a common misconception that the idea of repurposing goods can be time-consuming – but once you know the basics, it’s simple to apply this approach to a plethora of other eco-friendly design concepts. Get ready to go green, with these fun and easy environmental tips:
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A lick of paint. Many people think that giving the home a makeover can be costly – in terms of money, time as well as the environment. However, there are several eco-friendly paints available that are low – or no – VOC. Emitting very low fumes and odours, these paints are also friendly to your bank balance!
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Glass jars. With kilner jarsall the rage (from preserving jam to using as photo frames), there’s been an influx in popularity when it comes to glass. Save your jars of pasta sauce or fruit, and paint the lids to create personalised storage containers. Alternatively, get inventive and try out some vintage lighting –and make it a talking point in your house today.
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Bookcase. A bookcase is for books – right? Not exactly. A bit of sanding here and a coat of paint there, and you’ve got yourself a china cabinet – proving a handy storage space for all your crockery. And for a touch of genius, why not transform an unwanted doll’s cabinet into a spice rack? DIY really is just “child’s play”!
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Keep it natural. Be inspired by your environment – from collecting seashells from the beach to picking up pine cones on your woodland walk, these are great design features for any home. You can also glue these to furnishings such as a coffee table, and expand your natural accessories to stones and even driftwood.
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Potted plants. Not only do they look great, they’re great for air flow. Your beloved house plants act as natural air filters, simply by absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen into your surroundings – you can breathe easy knowing this handy tip!
Are you already thinking about how you can revamp your rooms with some stylish shades courtesy of Johnstone’s Paints? Remember – inspiration can literally be on your front door, whether it’s a mason glass jar you’ve put in your recycling bin or some old bed linen that you could repurpose into curtains. We hope we’ve brought out your creative side, and we look forward to seeing your second-hand style!