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If your home is feeling a little drab, you’re not alone. Whether you’ve recently moved in or you’re redecorating after living in the same abode for a while, there are some small things you can do that make a big difference.

Read on for our top tips on how to elevate your home and make all your friends jealous!

Add some statement lighting

Each year, around 2 million people in the UK develop seasonal affective disorder. One way to counteract this is with bright lighting. If a lightbox seems a little extreme, why not look into some statement lighting instead?

Statement lighting will immediately grab the attention of any house guests and can be a real conversation starter. You’ll just need to carefully think about what sort of lighting goes best with the room. For example, if you’re looking for a centrepiece, you might want to choose a glamorous chandelier. If you’re wanting to create a cosy, relaxed space, a standing lamp might be a better option.  

Add wall art

Wall art can be the perfect addition to your home to add a vibrant and cosy feel. Be sure to pick the correct style wall art to suit your homes style, and the main choices would be the colour of the wall art and the frame type. Many modern houses choose to use canvas prints which can also come with an additional floating frame to add another level of style. Browse a great selection and get inspired at Printivart, who offer a wide range of wall art in a variety of colours and styles. 


Secondly, the right colours must be chosen to tie in with your current décor. Look at the colour scheme of your home and pick a piece of wall art with some main colours that are the same. If you’re opting to also have a floating frame, this can also come in a variety of colours; the most popular being black or white. This colour should also tie in with your home décor style!

Re-vamp your furniture

We’re not saying you need to throw away all your furniture and replace it with a new suite. But adding some new pieces into your scheme can make all the difference. Whether that’s a statement chair, some new scatter cushions or even a statement rug!

If you’re looking to save money during a cost of living crisis, you don’t need to buy these items new. Some of the best finds can be sourced from second-hand shops or bought online.  You can even give upcycling a go if you’re handy with a paintbrush – it’s a great way to create something unique on a budget.

Add plants

If you’re looking for an affordable way to add a little bit of pizzazz to your space, consider some plants.

Houseplants have a range of benefits. From improving your mood, reducing stress and increasing your productivity levels when you work from home to refining the air quality in your room. But they also look fantastic.

As long as you remember to water them and occasionally give them a new lease of life in a fresh pot, they’re an affordable way to add texture and character to your home.

Increase natural light

It might not always be practical to add new windows or glass doors to bring in more light. But there are a few things you can do to maximise the natural light you do have. For example, by simply removing heavy drapes or blinds from your windows, you can increase the natural light that comes into the room. The same goes for furniture – by moving any pieces blocking the windows, you’ll be surprised at the difference it can make.

Sounds and fragrances

Finally, scents and sounds are important when it comes to creating the perfect ambience. Generating a sense of immersion and stimulation, scents and sounds will pull the whole room together and keep things cosy.  

The bottom line is that the opportunities are endless if you want to elevate your home décor on a budget. The real question is: what will you do first?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unfortunately, all the celebrating can add up to a lot of waste. Americans toss nearly 3 billion pounds of trash over the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a little forethought and planning, you can reduce your carbon footprint and still enjoy a very merry season. Make this season truly green with the following tips for sustainable holiday practices. 

Buy Less 

Instantly green up your holidays by taming your shopping list. When it comes to fashion, shop your closet first. You almost certainly have many lovely things in there that you’ve forgotten about.  

As for gifts, buying less isn’t meant to be a Scroogeian order. Gift waste is a real problem. Gift returns result in some 5 billion pounds of extra stuff ending up in the landfill each year. Letting gifts gather dust — or worse, throwing them away unused — is not in the spirit of the holidays. Passing along a gift to someone who will actually use and appreciate it is thoughtful, practical, and kind to the planet.  

Many of the people you’re buying for might be relieved to shop less as well. Suss out friends and relatives and see if they’re open to a different form of celebration, such as Secret Santa or a pets-only gifts exchange, or maybe kill two birds with one stone by holding a holiday baking session with the whole gang. Create precious memories and delicious homemade gifts in one fell swoop! Yet another option to reduce gift waste is to offer your friends and family experience gifts rather than physical ones. A show, concert or visit to a museum can be much more memorable than another non-recyclable trinket. 

Wrapping paper is one of the biggest culprits of holiday waste. It is often not recyclable due to containing metallic elements. But even plain paper wrapping often ends up in the trash, with over 2 million pounds of the stuff finding its way into the landfill each year. An eco-friendlier option is reusable cloth bags. Or get creative and use glossy magazine pages, fabric or other reusables like mason jars or cookie tins. Old-school plain brown paper tied with string and a sprig of greenery is yet another beautiful, seasonal, and sustainable idea. 

As for cards, the 1.3 billion greeting cards that go through the mail each year generate a huge amount of carbon emissions. If your holiday card list is full of people you don’t really know anymore, it’s worth taking a hard look at it and sending electronic greetings instead. For physical cards, seek out 100% recycled and 100% recyclable materials. 

When it comes to decor, it can be tempting to buy new every year. Resist the urge. Also resist the urge to buy plastic. Instead, use natural decorations, perhaps even clipped from your own back yard. If you do go with artificial, save and reuse next year. Alternatively, you might host a decor swap with friends. At the very least, find a reputable place to recycle unwanted decorations. For example, many hardware stores and grocery stores offer Christmas light recycling at this time of year. 

Buy Smarter 

You may want a different outfit for every party, but that doesn’t mean the whole thing has to be brand new. Fast fashion is a terribly polluting industry, and Americans throw away over 80 lbs. of clothes every year. Consider renting, shopping consignment, or swapping with friends or family members instead. Also, keep in mind that one quality little black dress is extremely versatile when paired with different accessories like a cute scarf or statement jewelry. 

In the gift category, discard the idea that you must buy new, from-the-store presents for everyone on your list. Get creative, literally, and consider handmaking some of your gifts this year. This goes for decorating too. There are tons of tutorials out there for making elegant DIY garlands, wreaths, and table decor, as well as thoughtful, personal gifts.  

Next, rather than getting a cut tree, consider a potted one that can be planted in the spring. Or skip the indoor tree altogether and decorate outside with edible ornaments for our feathered friends, giving them the gift of sustenance to last through the winter. 

When shopping for anything, always begin with consignment and thrift stores. They are a treasure trove when it comes to scoring holiday-themed decor, clothes, and sometimes even gifts, all at a fraction of the cost of new! 

Sustainable consumption is essential for our future. It takes a change in mindset, but once you get into it, doing things the eco-friendly way becomes a fun challenge that the whole family can enjoy! 

Author’s Bio:  Sue Seabury is passionate about sharing tips on greening up your life. She is a regular contributor to The Pearl Source blog.