Buy home furnishings that are made to last

Sustainability is a big focus for many of us nowadays. In the fashion industry, for example, more and more companies are recognising the need for a change in attitude.

We can all help reduce the damaging impact of fast fashion by buying less and making more considered choices when we do have to buy.

This is also a great approach to take when it comes to furnishing your home.

While it might be tempting to throw everything out and start from new, this can lead to a lot of waste.

IKEA is one example of a company that is attempting to challenge this.

It’s long been the go-to place for cheap but stylish homeware, selling items on a mass scale. Now it’s trying to tackle waste with a buy-back scheme.

It’s described as such on its website: “With the buy back and resell service, we help you prolong the life of your IKEA furniture. We buy back your used furniture items in return for an IKEA refund card. We then resell your second-hand furniture in our buy back area or online, where it provides a chance for someone else to give it a second life at an affordable price. It also helps us to become more people and planet positive and to transform into a circular company.”

W hen you’re redecorating, keep the idea of reusing and recycling in mind

When you’re redecorating, keep the idea of reusing and recycling in mind. Can you re-upholster or upcycle a piece of furniture, to make it work for what you have in mind? If not, can you sell it on or donate it, so that the items don’t end up going to waste?

Then, once you’ve exhausted other options and find yourself in the stage of buying new furniture, opt for quality pieces that are made to last the ages. This will hopefully mean you won’t have to buy again so soon, reducing your future potential waste.

This approach is great when it comes to sustainability, but what about the impact on your budget?

We all know that the costs of doing up your home can spiral. Sofas, beds, finishing touches – it all quickly adds up. Buying to last might feel like a big investment or initial outlay, but hopefully it’s a purchase that you’ll only have to make once, or very occasionally.

It all comes down to mindset; if sustainability is important to you, it’s possible to totally transform your home while also sticking to greener principles.