Jasmine Hemsley shares her top tips for furnishing your home sustainably.
When it comes to decorating my home sustainably, my first reflex is to thrift for secondhand treasures. Not only are these pieces unique and so exciting (you never know what you might stumble upon!), but it’s also a more eco-friendly option than buying new every time something needs replacing or isn’t “sparking joy” for you anymore. It goes both ways, too: make sure to sell, donate, upcycle or recycle when you’re ready to part with older furniture or objects.
If you’re secondhand shopping online, check out places like local Facebook groups, Spock, Gumtree, Preloved and their Freeloved section, eBay, etc. — you’ll find an abundance of furniture, ornaments and trinkets just waiting for you to give them a loving home while simultaneously taking away the stigma surrounding secondhand and saving these pieces from landfill.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d share some of my favourite real-life shops and markets, as well as online brands that you can head to the next time you fancy a bit of a shop.