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Sustainable Furnishings:
Thoughtful Choices for Your Holiday Home

Setting up your holiday home is a wonderful opportunity to make thoughtful choices that show guests you care about the environment. By carefully selecting furnishings, you can create a space that not only looks great but also supports sustainability. Here are a few key points to consider:

Choosing locally-made items not only supports your community but also reduces transport emissions. Ask suppliers about their manufacturing process—are the products made ethically and free from slave labour?
Opt for natural fibres (e.g., cotton, linen) over synthetic ones (e.g., polyester) for soft furnishings like sheets, cushions, and curtains. Natural materials won’t shed microplastics and are often easier to upcycle. For furniture, consider wood over plastic—wooden items are typically more durable and repairable.
Think about what happens to your furnishings when they reach the end of their useful life. Can they be repaired or repurposed? Natural materials like wood or fibres can break down in the environment, while metal is often recyclable. Plastic, on the other hand, is harder to dispose of sustainably.
Consider second-hand or repurposed items, which often add character to your home while reducing waste.

By making sustainable furnishing choices, you can create a home that not only feels good but does good.

Furnishing items to consider

These small choices can make a big impact on the sustainability of your holiday home!

By choosing natural fibres like cotton, wool, or linen, you help avoid microplastics that are shed during washing. At the end of their life, these materials will break down naturally in the environment, making them a sustainable choice. Consider upcycling old linens into pet bedding, rags, or donating them to textile recycling programs.
A plastic washing basket, when damaged, often becomes waste that's difficult to recycle. On the other hand, a cane basket can be composted, and if it has a metal frame, that can be recycled—making it a more eco-friendly choice.
Plastic coat hangers are prone to break and are difficult to recycle. Wooden coat hangers, however, are not only more durable but can often be repaired, and the wood can break down naturally when discarded.
Metal clothes pegs are longer-lasting and can be recycled at the end of their life. In contrast, plastic pegs often break and become non-recyclable waste, making metal a more sustainable option.
Opting for second-hand or upcycled furniture and décor not only reduces demand for new materials but also supports a circular economy. Refurbished items can bring a unique charm to your space while lowering the environmental impact compared to new manufacturing.
Solid Wood vs. Particleboard/Fibreboard
Solid wood furniture can last longer, is easier to repair, and is biodegradable. In contrast, particleboard often contains harmful chemicals and is difficult to recycle or repair.
Natural Fibres vs. Synthetic
Rugs made from wool, jute, or cotton are biodegradable and shed no harmful microplastics, unlike synthetic materials like polyester or nylon. They’re also easier to clean without releasing microplastics into the water.
Stainless Steel vs. Plastic
Choosing stainless steel or glass over plastic for kitchen utensils and containers ensures durability, reduces plastic waste, and promotes recycling. Stainless steel can last for decades and is infinitely recyclable
Be mindful of plastic items and their long-term impact. When you do need to use plastic, keep an eye out for innovative ways to recycle it. Many local councils provide helpful guides on their websites for recycling hard-to-recycle plastic items. Reducing plastic use where possible and recycling responsibly can make a big difference in sustainability efforts.
When you no longer need certain furnishings or household items, consider rehoming them instead of sending them to landfill. Donating to local charity shops, men’s sheds, or upcycling groups can give these items a second life. Many of these organizations repair, repurpose, or resell items to support community projects. It's a simple way to reduce waste and contribute to a circular economy!