Homebuyers are becoming more and more concerned with sustainability, but they also want to live in beautifully decorated homes. Not a problem! Here are some eco-friendly and unique ideas for you to use when decorating your living room.
Carve Out Some Cardboard Shelves
If you’ve ever found yourself with a mountain of cardboard boxes leftover after a move you’re not alone. Instead of tossing those pieces of cardboard into the dumpster, how about turning them into shelves for your living room? All it takes is a measuring tool, pen or pencil, a cutting mat, knife and some glue to put together a durable, unique shelf that will hold your knick-knacks and photos. A little creativity can go a long way and with some paint and an imagination you can easily make something that would resemble wood.
Build a Book Chair
You’re probably used to sitting in a chair to read a book, but how about sitting in one made of books? By gluing together some old hardbacks, you can either create a backrest or seat for a chair, or even make the entire thing out of them. Make sure they’re sturdy – the thicker, the better! If you’re short on ideas of how you want it to look, sites like Pinterest have tons of examples for you to choose from.
Make a Couch Out of Pallets
This one might be best for outdoor situations, but it can easily be adapted for indoor use. Pallets (the type you’ll usually find in warehouses) actually make great bases for furniture. By stacking pallets on top of and beside each other, you can choose the length and height of your couch or sofa. Simply sand the pallets down, paying close attention to the corners and edges, and paint them the color you’d like your base to be. Screw the pallets firmly together, then lay down some foam or cushions on top that feel comfortable enough to sleep on. Voila! Pallet couch!
Trade in Oak for Bamboo
Dying for gorgeous wood floors but don’t want to cut down a tree to get them? Bamboo and cork floors are viable alternatives. Both cork and bamboo are fast growing and replenishable and look just as good as any standard hardwood floor. Harvesting cork doesn’t even harm the tree it comes from, and the same tree will be ready for harvest again in only a few years.
Make Your Own Rugs
A somewhat quirky idea for those looking for something to do with their old bed sheets or bath towels is to make a rug out of them. All it takes is some cardboard, cut about a half an inch apart, to use as slots to hold strips of sheets or towels, along with some simple weaving and stitching skills to pull them together. It may take a little bit of time if you’re out of practice with your weaving technique, but there are plenty of sites around to show how it’s done.
Crate Your Books
Do you have old milk creates lying around the house? Or maybe you simply know where to find some. With a little fresh paint—or not, if you’re into a more natural look—you can line these up along the wall of your living room and use them for storage and shelving. It’ll help give the room a rustic feel while adding extra slots for pictures of the family.
Turn Old Jars Into New Lights
Even if you don’t have any crates lying around, you’re bound to have some leftover mason or pickle jars. Rather than create problems at the landfill and risking broken glass, repurpose them as covers for your light bulbs. With a little electrical ingenuity and some screws you can fashion a new lamp for your living room or a light to hang over your dining table.
