Singaporebrides | Home & Travel
July 2021
How To Furnish A Low-Key, Sustainable Home For Beginners
Want to help save the earth but don’t know where to begin? If you’re planning for your new home, there’s no better way to start! There are low-cost and simple ways to have a sustainable home without being overwhelmed.
Moving into a brand new home is so exciting, since it’s likely your first big-ticket purchase ever, and you can have some fun designing and decorating it to reflect your personal style. These days, there are so many different kinds of decorations and accessories you can buy to adorn your home, but there are some things you may want to think about, especially if being green and environmentally friendly are priorities to you.
Many people end up buying cheap furniture that has a shorter lifespan, which has a detrimental impact not only on their finances, since they probably need to buy again in five years’ time, but also on the environment. Buy not only for style but for the investment and longevity. Here are some ideas to help you in your home decorating journey to keep things sustainable at home.
1. Non-Toxic Paints
Be sure to choose a paint that is low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or zero VOC. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) leave behind non-biodegradable and non-recyclable chemical waste. VOC have also been shown to negatively affect human health in various ways, irritating the airways and eyes, and even threatening the nervous system. Eco-friendly paints contain none to little amount of VOC. These paints are easily available and affordable.
Image from Unsplash/@contentpixie
2. Mix Old And New
Invest in sustainably made, new pieces that you want to keep for decades if you have the budget and desire to do so. If you have budget concerns, buy less but buy better. You can also find amazing refurbished and used furniture in vintage stores or on shopping platforms with pre-loved items. While you can buy a new bed frame, you can get more creative by searching for a secondhand study desk. A hand-me-down from an elderly relative could be an incredible statement piece and go really well with more modern styles. Upcycling and repurposing never goes out of style!
3. Soy Candles
More people are using candles to scent their homes, especially since they spend more time in them nowadays. Candles are great for ambiance and relaxing, but to keep things non-toxic and eco-friendly, opt for high-quality soy candles. Higher quality soy candles won’t emit harmful toxins, and they will also last longer than conventional candles, meaning they’ll also save you from buying new candles often. A lot of cheap candles contain the same harmful VOCs as standard paints, so always pick candles made from natural materials like soy, and scented with essentials oils to avoid those toxins.
Image from Unsplash/@prudenceearl
4. Houseplants
Another popular hobby that has risen from the COVID-19 pandemic is gardening. Houseplants breathe in carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen. They also soak up a lot of harmful toxins and pollutants, purifying the air, so living plants are an excellent way to keep things green in your space. You can ask your friends and family members for cuttings of their own herbs and plants to grow your own affordably. If you’re buying them brand new, ask for low-water plants such as the snake plant, the ZZ plant and succulents. The less resources required to keep them alive, the better!
5. Organic, Natural Materials
When buying your towels and linens, try to get items made with natural fibres, preferably organic as well. Some of the most eco-friendly fibres are bamboo or hemp. These may cost a bit more than other synthetic products, but they will also most likely last longer, so you won’t have to buy new ones anytime soon. There are now many bedding, curtain and loungewear companies that offer products made from organic and sustainable materials, such as jute, hemp, organic cotton and linen. You can even look for recycled or reclaimed materials as well.
Details of a rug made from recycled plastic bottles from Claire Gaudion by Momo Rugs
Tat Ming Group
Tat Ming Group, founded in 1981 as “Tat Ming Wallpaper”, has developed from a local business in Hong Kong into an international company, with more than 15 showrooms and offices located in Hong Kong, Macau, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Group’s business covers a wide range of products: wallpaper, digital print wallcovering, fabrics, flooring, carpets, furniture and other decorative materials.
Attaching great importance to environment protection, Tat Ming Group insists on providing harmless and eco friendly home décor materials to customers. The Group puts strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and always gives first priority to human health and environment protection. All Tat Ming products hold several environmental certifications, bringing green elements into interior space. CEO of Tat Ming Group, Alex Yue said, “Our prestige engineering, craftsmanship, eco-friendliness, as well as antimicrobial quality make us stand out. We are committed to providing environmentally-safe home décor materials to our customers. Environmental sustainability, the health and wellbeing of our stakeholders, staff, and customers, have always been our priorities.”
Zala Denim rug by Claire Gaudion for Momo Rugs
Claire Gaudion for Momo Rugs GIVEAWAY!
Claire Gaudion by Momo Rugs is the latest addition to Tat Ming Flooring’s popular line of interior flooring offerings. All Momo rugs are made from 100% repurposed plastic bottles. Designed by Claire Gaudion, an artisan textile design company, and created in collaboration with Momo Rugs, a passionate rug wholesaler based in the Netherlands, the rugs feel as soft as wool, are fade resistant, hard wearing and washable. The Polyester (PET) recycled plastic bottle rugs come in subtle shades of denim, slate, flax, taupe, grey, fern, sand, midnight, spice, and natural. Prices start from SGD $400/sqm.
In an effort to share their love for the environment, Tat Ming Group is giving away a Zala Denim rug by Claire Gaudion for Momo Rugs (170cm x 240cm), worth $1073, to one lucky SingaporeBrides reader! Follow us on Instagram at @singaporebridesweddings and look out for our giveaway at 12pm today.
Credits: Featured image from Seven Heaven.
All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates!