Ethical home decor: Tips for decorating your house while supporting the planet

Kate Simmons — In hard financial times, many people are so desperate to keep their home decor costs down that they simply buy the cheapest possible decorations and furniture without considering the ethical costs. While picking up a chair for a few dollars in IKEA mightn't seem like bad karma, it is important in bad times as much as good to ensure the choices you make are good for the environment and fair to producers home and abroad.

Here are some tips on how to make sure your home is furnished both stylishly and ethically.

Which wood matters

Deforestation isn't just bad for the planet in general, but it is also responsible for the loss of homes and livelihoods for many of the world's poor. If possible, see if any wood or wooden materials you buy are sourced from ethical companies. There are many furniture manufacturers who take their wood from sustainably managed forests which cut down trees in a managed way and plant new trees to ensure a future for the planet.

Respect Native American crafts

While it is against the law to imply that wares were made by Native Americans when they were not, it is not uncommon for even big chains to exploit the artistry of Native Americans. Urban Outfitters were brought into disrepute last year for selling items marketed as Navajo when the items in fact were not linked to the tribe or even in-keeping with Navajo designs.

If you want to bring in inspiration from any of the world's indigenous peoples, buy straight from the source and support the work of indigenous artisans who often live in poverty while creating their beautiful art.

Ensure your home wares are a fair deal for you and for the manufacturer

In the same vein as the notes on Native American wares, make sure if possible that the items you buy if sourced from abroad were sold at a fair price. While it is easy to just buy the cheapest items, remember that if an item is being sold to you for dirt cheap then the person who made the item was probably not given a good price for its manufacture. Fair trade is all about ensuring that producers don’t have to slash their wares in price to below what it takes to keep them going, so try keep that in mind while you shop. There is always affordable furniture to be found that is fair price-wise for both you and its creator.

Look local

The easiest way to ensure items you buy have a low carbon footprint is to buy local, so why not have a look around at local furniture manufactures and see if you can find a bargain there? If produced in a green manner, furniture that has not travelled far will not have so large a carbon footprint as mass-produced items from chain stores.

Reuse and recycle

Vintage furniture is not only in style at the moment but also great if you are ecologically minded. What is the point of buying a new table when there are so many used tables in the world just waiting to be snapped up for a great price? Check out antique stores, ebay, and craigslist to see if you can find affordable furniture that you’ll love.

 

About the Author

This is a guest post by Kate Simmons, freelance writer and blogger on topics related to DIY, home improvement and interior design.