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Are you looking for thrifty ways to create a cosy home? Are you ready to channel your inner eco-warrior and master the art of planet-friendly DIY? Roll up your sleeves and turn your home into a sustainable haven with these seven crafty money-saving activities.
1. Whip up some eco-friendly artwork
It’s time to create some gorgeous, planet-friendly prints using beautiful blooms and natural fabrics!
This eco printing class is a great way to make affordable, sustainable artwork that won’t break the bank. A big win – all the materials are kind to the earth! If you’re keen to go green, this is a great start. Using petals as paints, you’ll transfer the colour to the fabric, creating beautiful wall-worthy prints that are ready for a frame – planet friendly gallery wall, here we come!
How does it help the earth?
Eco textile dyes are planet and vegan-friendly. The patterns you create come from nature with nothing mass-produced or chemical-based involved. You’ll simply transfer a beautiful colour from petals to the fabric. In this particular class, the flowers and foliage used come from biowaste, which means it’s about as eco-friendly as it gets!
2. Create some perfect plant pots
Whether you’ve got an expertly curated urban jungle or a solo spider plant on the corner of your windowsill, choosing a pretty pot for them to live in is half the fun as a plant parent!
Ditch the plastic and opt instead to give old vases and containers a fabulously fresh look using chalk paint, create miniature homes using decoupage covered tins and jars, and master the art of macrame so you can hang your hoya with pride!
How does it help the earth?
Transforming tired old pots, vases and tins into something new and beautiful not only helps to cut down on waste, it’s also super budget friendly! Although macrame traditionally uses specialist cord to make plant hangers, recycled t-shirt yarn works just as well, making it a great sustainable alternative.
3. Decorate with foraged treasures
What’s seasonal, zero waste, and completely free? Decorating with nature, of course! The natural world is full of goodies that will make your home sing, and can be found everywhere from beautiful sun drenched coastlines and beaches to shady woods and forests – get your shoes on and get ready to forage!
Add interest to shelves and mantle pieces in the colder months with garlands and wreaths made from foraged greenery, dried seed heads and found feathers, and fill tall glass jars with pinecones, shells and rocks. In the summer, experiment with dried flower bouquets for a seasonal sustainable option that stands the test of time.
How does it help the earth?
Using things from the natural world to adorn your home means you can ditch the manufactured shop-bought ornaments and go completely zero-waste. Dried flower bouquets are far more environmentally friendly than fresh, cut flowers, as they’ll look as beautiful in six months time as they do on the day you tie them (no need to buy a new bunch every week)!
4. Create earth friendly candles
Melting and pouring our way to sweet smelling success! We think candles are a must-have at home, whether you’re creating a super cosy atmosphere in the winter or filling the house with fresh fragrance in the summer – and making your own soy candles isn’t only better for the environment than x, it also gives you the chance to turn off, tune in and bliss out!
How does it help the earth?
Shop bought candles are often made from paraffin wax, which release chemical nasties into the air when they’re burnt – no good for the planet, and definitely no good for you! Soy wax is completely natural, vegan and non-toxic, making it the perfect choice if you’re an earth loving interior fan looking to add a cosy touch to your home.
5. Pamper your perennials
Prepare your secateurs, we’re going to freshen up our space with some fabulous green friends! Whether you’re a growing pro or your green thumb needs a little cultivating, having plants in your home is great for your physical and mental health – and it’s bang on trend!
Getting your plants to thrive can be surprisingly easy once you master a few essential care techniques, and building your collection of new green friends doesn't have to break the bank. A class in keeping houseplants will teach you everything you need to know about making sure your greenery glows with health, and mastering the art of propagation – which will help you double your plant pals for free!
How does it help the earth?
Nurturing (or propagating from) the plants you’ve already got is one of the easiest ways to fill your home with budget-friendly joy. It’s more sustainable than buying lots of new plants which are often flown in from overseas, wrapped in lots of plastic. Swap cuttings with friends to boost your collection sustainably! As well as being beautiful and rewarding to care for, houseplants also work hard to remove toxins from the air and reduce humidity. Great for your home, great for the planet and great for you!
6. Get cosy with old cardigans
From cool summer evenings to freezing winter afternoons in front of the fire, blankets, throws and cushions are the ultimate way to transform your sofa into a cosy haven. Whether you’re a knitting fan who loves a chunky neutral cable or a keen crocheter who prefers jewel toned clashing colours, turning old knitwear into new soft furnishings is going to save your pennies and the environment at the same time!
Turning tired old knits into something that will keep your toes toasty is super easy as well as being budget friendly; learning a few basic stitching skills at a sewing class will set you off on your repurposing journey in no time!
How does it help the earth?
Repurposing old, unloved clothing and giving it a new home saves it from going to landfill, and it also means you won’t have to buy anything new – which saves on resources and reduces emissions. It’s also better if you’re on a budget – it’s a win-win-win!
7. Give tired furniture a refresh
Reduce, reuse, recycle! When it comes to sustainable decor, furniture hacks are where it’s at – from coffee tables made from pallets and old bed slats used as picture shelves, to wooden crates turned into bookcases, it’s never been easier to get inspired and make something from nothing!
If it sounds tricky, don’t be put off – a good woodwork or upcycling class will help you develop the DIY skills you need to transform your trash into treasure and become a recycling hero!
How does it help the earth?
What could be more planet friendly than furnishing your pad with items rescued from the rubbish? You’ll have some unique, cost effective furniture, and the earth will have slightly less waste – everyone’s a winner!
