Choosing Sustainable home decor
In today’s world, it is more important than ever to pay attention to the products we bring into our homes and the impact -good or bad- that they have in our homes and on the environment.
Choosing sustainable home decor is not just a trend—it's a tangible way we can make a difference with our dollars. It's a way to live with intention and make a positive impact on the environment and our communities. It is also a beautiful way to create a space that reflects your values and may even inspire your guests too! This blog post will highlight the importance of sustainable choices in home decor and how they can help you create a beautiful, eco-friendly living space.
Why Sustainable Home Decor Matters
1. Environmental Impact
Making a difference in the environment: The production of conventional decor items often leads to significant environmental damage. Over the last few decades, we have been inundated by cheaply made products that end up in the landfill at staggering rates, creating a “throw away culture”. By choosing sustainable home decor, you are making a difference with your dollars by supporting products made from renewable, recycled, or responsibly sourced materials. This helps reduce waste and lowers your carbon footprint. Hooray!
2. Support for Ethical Practices
Making a difference in others' lives: Many sustainable products are created by artisans and brands that prioritize fair labor practices and are often fair trade certified. By purchasing these items, you’re supporting ethical treatment and dignified working conditions that support workers and communities all over the world.
3. Healthier Indoor Environments
Making a difference in our home environments: Another benefit of choosing sustainable home decor is that it can improve indoor air quality. Sustainable products tend to use all natural materials and non-toxic finishes, so there is a significant reduction in chemicals off-gassing in your home. This is especially important for families and individuals sensitive to chemicals commonly found in traditional decor that leach into the air (yuck!).
Shelf Love Co. products are ranked Gold, Silver, or Bronze based on their transparency in the production of their goods and their commitment to use clean and non-toxic materials.
Bonus Benefits of Choosing Sustainable Home Decor
But wait - there's more! Here are are even more benefits of choosing sustainable home decor:
+ Conscious Consumption: By being mindful of what you buy, you can make informed decisions that align with your values. Opting for eco-friendly materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled glass, minimizes the impact on the planet.
+ Long-Lasting Quality: Sustainable products are often designed to last. Investing in high-quality sustainable home decor means you won’t have to replace items frequently, reducing waste over time.
+ Inspiration for Others: When you showcase sustainable home decor, you inspire friends and family to consider eco-friendly options in their own spaces. Your choices can spark conversations about sustainability and encourage others to think critically about their consumption habits. You trend-setter you!
Top 10 Sustainable Home Decor Products
Now that we’ve explored the importance of sustainable home decor, let’s move on to our top 10 products that stand out as examples in the sustainable home decor world. Each of these products embodies the principles of sustainability, offering style without compromising on ethics.
1. Dried Star Pod
These striking Dried Star Pods show there’s no artist quite like nature! Dramatic as they are sculptural, Star Pods look beautiful on a shelf, tabletop, or on a stack of books on your desk. No two Star Pods are the same, just the way nature created them.
Fun fact: These spiky beauties are larger than you may think! Each Dried Star Pod ranges in size from 6-11" tall, 6-9" long and 6-9" wide.
2. Bubble Tealight Holder
This modern and sleek tealight candle holder is made of 100% sandstone, hand carved by skilled artisan partners in Bali, Indonesia. It is a great shelf, table, or desk accessory to add cool, calming vibes to your space. The candle holder has a natural stone finish.
The artisan partners in Bali craft these unique pieces from locally sourced, sustainable materials, while being fairly compensated with living wages and provided dignified working conditions.
3. Kisasa Woven Basket
This beautiful woven basket is a staple in our homes! Each is handmade by skilled women artisans in Uganda in an ethical, fair trade environment. Made with 100% sustainable materials, this medium sized basket is a great catch-all, plant basket or statement piece on your shelf.
The sustainable materials used in this piece are all natural raffia and banana fibers with non-toxic natural dyes.
4. Recycled Glass Vases
This set of three mini vases feature a fun variety of unique domed designs. Perfect for fresh-cut flowers, growing small bulbs, or displaying dried grasses, these vases bring a touch of nature into any space.
Each 100% recycled glass vase is made by the talented artisans at LSA International who are trained in the art of mouthblown glass. This set of three mini glass vases is packaged with great care in recycled and recyclable packaging printed with organic ink.
5. Tunisian Clay Bead Garland
This gorgeous clay bead garland is handmade by skilled women potters of Sejnane in Tunisia. The clay beads are wood-fired and assembled by hand. Each one is unique and the clay is marked by the fire. Hang these clay beads on the wall, coil in a bowl or add a rustic touch to a shelf.
The 100% sustainable materials used to create these decorative beads are clay and natural twine.
6. Dried Lavender
Dried lavender adds a delicate touch to your home decor. Add a small bundle to a bud vase or combine several bundles together to create a charming statement piece. Native to the Mediterranean and known for its fragrant, calming scent, lavender is a member of the mint family and was first used by the Romans to scent their baths, beds, clothes and even hair.
The lavender is grown on a family ranch in the Pacific Northwest.
7. Rattan Woven Fan
Add some warm, natural texture to your home with this handmade fan. Hand woven in Bali, Indonesia with care and attention to every detail. This fan can be hung on a wall or placed on a shelf to add a layer of beautiful texture.
Made from 100% rattan - highly sustainable and fast growing palm leaves found in Bali.
Village Thrive follows Fair Trade practices and strives to provide stable income opportunities for artisan partners and their families in Bali.
Slow Decorating
The term "slow decorating" is becoming more widely recognized in our society as a way to combat mass produced, toxic and low quality decor and furniture. "Slow decorating" is taking a pause before impulse buying home decor and taking the time to make thoughtful, intentional decisions about the items we choose to bring into our homes.
We believe in this movement whole heartedly - so much so that it led to our inspiration in creating Shelf Love Collective. The Collective is made up of curated artisan-made home goods that put sustainability first - for both people and the planet. We wanted to make it easy for shoppers to find beautiful home decor that reflects their values. Learn more about our artisan and brand partners.
8. Andhera Picture Frame
This beautiful black picture frame is hand carved from sustainable animal horn inlaid with brass accents. The Andhera picture frame is crafted by artisan partners in India.
Matr Boomie partners with women’s groups, minorities, people with special needs, and isolated rural communities to empower artisans through dignified, sustainable employment.
9. Leya Sculpture
Leya is handcrafted from raffia twine in a circular form and hung on a black metal frame by skilled artisan partners in Indonesia. This decorative sculpture symbolizes wholeness and adds an earthy touch to your tabletop or shelves. Use as a stand-alone piece or combine different sizes for added dimension.
Jitana goes to the world's most remote villages to discover beautiful goods and to create a stream of income for those artisans. Each home good is made with sustainable locally sourced materials.
10. Totem Candlestick Holder
These cognac colored hand-turned totem candle holders are expertly crafted by South African artisans that have been in family woodworking businesses for generations. These beautiful and unique pieces can be displayed as both single pieces and groups to add a bit of romantic, contemporary flair to your shelf, table, or any space at all.
These candlestick holders are made of sustainable pine, natural dyes and water based varnish.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Sustainable Home Decor
Sustainable home decor is more than just a trend—it's a movement towards a healthier planet and a more ethical way of living. By choosing products that align with your values, you not only enhance your home but also contribute to a brighter future for our environment and communities. As you consider your decor choices, remember that each small step can lead to significant change.
For those new to Shelf Love Collective, it is our mission to discover and lift up the home decor brands that do good for people and the planet. Each Shelf Love Co. product has been carefully chosen and vetted to be 100% sustainable and ethical. Read about the Shelf Love Guarantee.
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