FROM THE EDITOR
One of the few benefits of the recent lockdown has been the environmental impact. With planes grounded, cars left on drives and increasing numbers of people working from home rather than commuting, there has been a huge reduction in carbon emissions. Of course, there’s no guarantee this trend won’t be reversed over the coming months, but I like to think we’re all beginning to question the choices we make a little bit more.
In a similarly unexpected way, lockdown has forced us all to be more creative and eco-friendly when it comes to our homes, too. Whether you’ve been shopping your home (since real shops were out of bounds) and trying out items you own in another room, upcycling a piece of furniture, or even turning pallets into garden sofas, we’re realising the benefits of opting for sustainable choices to update our interiors.
It therefore couldn’t be more timely for us to be sharing this special eco issue of Real Homes, something we’d actually planned long before lockdown became a reality. Whether sustainability is already second nature to you or you’re thinking about investing in more eco-friendly options for the first time, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite ideas to inspire you. What’s been so heartening while creating this issue is discovering how much easier it is to find sustainable homewares than it was just a few years ago. From colourful rugs made from recycled plastic (page 21) and stylish eco buys (page 23) to the companies making sure sustainability is a focus of their business (page 45), it’s clear to see there are plenty of options available, whatever the scale of project or budget.
The homes inside this issue are packed with eco ideas, too. Our cover star, Caroline Briggs, shows how using reclaimed materials in your renovation project can be both sustainable and stylish (page 24), while Jason Orme has turned a dated 1960s property into an energy-efficient home thanks to a series of eco measures (page 72). If you want to take similar steps in your own project, turn to page 81 for our in-depth guide, then explore how to bag a secondhand bargain you’ll love on page 84.
I really hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as the Real Homes team has enjoyed putting it together.