Category: Eco Home

The Lost Art of Slow Decorating: A Better Way to Create a Home That Truly Reflects You
There’s a quiet power in taking your time.

In a world that encourages us to do everything faster — including how we decorate our homes — slow decorating offers something different. Something better.

It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about creating a home that truly feels like you — a space that supports your life, your energy, and your wellbeing.

Slow decorating is the art of making thoughtful decisions over time. And when you allow your home to evolve, instead of rushing to finish it, the results are more personal, more meaningful, and far more satisfying.

Why the Fast-Track Approach Doesn’t Work

These days, it weem to be surrounded by pressure to decorate fast — to get it all “done” and looking Instagram-worthy as soon as we move in. Social media’s endless scroll of perfect rooms certainly adds fuel to this pressure, but the mindset started to creep in long before reels and hashtags.

In the 90s, interior makeover shows, glossy home magazines, and the rise of cheap, mass-produced furniture all started shifting the norm. Fast-forward to today, and we’ve been fully conditioned to expect overnight transformations. Move in, unpack, decorate, and make it Instagram-worthy — all before the dust settles.

The result? We rush. We copy what we see. We make impulse buys that don’t really fit us. And eventually, we’re left with clutter — or worse, a home that looks great on paper but doesn’t feel like us at all.

But most of the time, fast decorating leads to:
- Impulse buys
- Trend-chasing
- Rooms that look good but feel off
- A disconnect between how you live and how your space functions (or doesn’t function)
Even with years of experience, I’ve fallen into the fast-decorating trap. I’ve made choices based on what looked good, only to find they didn’t feel good. And the mistakes have taught me that it’s not about getting it “done” — it’s about getting it right. And that takes time.

So What Is Slow Decorating?

Slow decorating is a more mindful, intentional way of designing your home. It’s rooted in observation, patience, and personal alignment.

It’s about:
- Living in your space before making big changes
- Noticing how your home supports your routines (or doesn’t)
- Letting ideas percolate before spending
- Choosing things that feel right emotionally, energetically, and practically
Slow decorating isn’t necessarily about doing less — although, that can be an outcome. Fundamentally, it’s about doing better, because you’ve taken the time to get it right.

Before Pinterest, before mood boards, this was just how people decorated. Past generations decorated slowly out of necessity. They moved in, used what they had, waited for the right piece to come along (often requiring dedicated saving to afford it), and let their homes evolve over time.

And we still have the option to embrace that rhythm, even in an age of next-day delivery.

Why Slow Decorating Works So Well

The desire to get everything set up the way you want it as quickly as possible is perfectly natural. But the benefits of resisting the temptation to Add-to-Cart are worth it.

When you slow down, here’s what shifts:
- You spend less — and more wisely. No more impulse buys, or filling space for the sake of it. You’re more intentional.
- You make more sustainable choices. Vintage, second-hand, and well-made pieces start to appeal more than fast furniture.
- You avoid clutter. Fewer regrets. Fewer returns. More breathing room.
- You discover your real style. Not the one you think you should have, but the one that actually fits your life.
- You build emotional connection. The pieces you waited for become part of your story.
- You feel more settled. The pressure to get it perfect goes away — and your home starts to support you instead of stress you out.
But What If You Crave Change?

For some of us slowing down can feel frustrating, especially if you’ve got a Spring seasonal personality type. (Learn more about that here.)

Spring energy is fast-moving, creative, full of new ideas. You like change, and are wired for momentum. (I get it — I’m Autumn/Spring myself, and I love a refresh.)

But slow decorating doesn’t have to mean no change. It just means thoughtful change. You can still refresh things by:
- Rearranging your layout
- Swapping, art, soft furnishings and trinkets between rooms
- Restyling shelves or corners
Little tweaks like these can scratch that itch for change, without undoing the bigger vision you’re building over time. They help you evolve your space in ways that feel energising, without needing an overwhelming overhaul.

Ready to Begin?

You don’t need a big plan. Just a shift in how you see your space.

Start noticing how you actually live. Pay attention to the light, to your routines, to what your space is doing for you — or not. Let ideas settle before you act on them.

Let every choice be rooted in what matters , rather than what’s trending.

For sure, you can take inspiration from trends. Just try not to rush into them. When you see something you like, or an idea pops up, let it sit for a while before acting on it.

And if you’re seeing the same thing everywhere, that’s a sure sign that it’s a trend. And what’s hot today will quickly look dated. Will you still love it then? That’s what you want to ponder before you rush out to the shops.

And in the meantime, if something feels “off,” try moving things around instead of buying something new. The pieces that you’ve owned and loved for a long time can add a new touch of joy when you place it in a different spot in your home.

Ultimately, choose based on what matters to you, and ignore what everyone else is doing.

That’s the real magic of slow decorating. And that’s where your home truly starts to feel like home.

Thanks for reading. You might also enjoy:

How Your Home Can Help Heal You.

3 Surprising Reasons Why Your Home Might Feel “Off”
August 9, 2025
Elevate your Home Decor by Embracing Second-Hand September.

Photo by Haley Truong on Unsplash

In a world that’s becoming increasingly conscious of sustainable living, “Second-hand September” marks the perfect time to embrace a “second-hand first” mindset. As an interior designer who values both sustainability and well-being, I’m excited to share with you why you should consider integrating pre-loved items into your home decor.

Let’s dive into all the compelling reasons to embrace the charm of second-hand treasures.

Unique and Timeless Pieces

One of the most exciting aspects of incorporating second-hand items into your home is the opportunity to discover unique and timeless pieces. Antique shops, thrift stores, and online marketplaces are treasure troves for items with character and history. When you choose second-hand pieces that resonate with you throughout your home decor, it will elevate your overall style. Your home will reflect your unique self, rather than your Instagram feed. Generic style statements tell us nothing about the home-makers. None of us is a generic individual, so why would you style your home in a generic manner? Second-hand peices can enhance your home with character and warmth in a way that high street products can only hope to emulate.

Versatility and Creativity

Embracing second-hand items encourages creativity in your home decor. You’ll need to think outside the box to incorporate these pieces seamlessly into your design scheme, fostering a sense of innovation and uniqueness in your interiors. I love to repurpose items, giving them different uses from what they may have been originally designed and produced for. For example, I use vintage glass ash trays as soap dishes, to house cyrstals or even as moisture-barrier for small plants.

I endlessly switch up bookshelves to meet all kinds of storage needs. Vintage and antique cupboards can be used all over your home to add as style flair, while housing towels and linens in your bathroom or landing, pantry goods in your kitchen or dishware in your dining area. You could upcycle a wardrobe to be an entertainment centre that hides the TV when not in use. Even better, turn it into a functional work-from-home space that you can close off at the end of the day.

Reduce Environmental Impact

The purpose of Second-Hand September is to encourage us to make an eco-conscious choice. The production of new furniture and decor items often involves significant resource consumption. Buying second-hand not only gives existing items a second life (keeping them out of landfill), but also reduces demand for fast furniture which generates significant waste and energy consumption. Added to that, you’ll probably be sourcing your second-hand items closer to home – saving on energy consumption in distribution as well as production.

Budget-Friendly Decorating

Shopping second-hand shopping is not only environmentally friendly but also budget-friendly. You can often find high-quality pieces at a fraction of the cost of new items, allowing you to stretch your decorating budget further. Or you can find highly valuable antique pieces that can be handed-down as heirlooms, for a similar price to new furniture. Even better, if you join your local Freecycle or Zero Waste group, you may even find the perfect items for free. If you’re willing to invest your time to research your local resources, you won’t have to invest quite so much money.

Support Local Communities

Most second-hand stores are locally owned and independently operated. Purchasing from them can directly support your community, aligning with the Second-hand Semptember campaign’s spirit. Supporting these kinds of stores is supporting local livelihoods. A great source of second-hand goods is charity or thrift shops, which donate all or part of their profits to providing much needed services within the community. Honestly, charity shops are my all-time favourite resource. When you find what you’re looking for there, the win-win-wins are hands-down better than when you shop anywhere else.

Mindful and Well-Being Focused

As a meditation teacher, I understand the importance of creating a mindful living space. Second-hand pieces often carry an aura of history and positive energy, making them ideal for promoting well-being in your home. That said, I would encourage you to physically and energetically cleanse any second-hand piece that you bring in to your home. Using the principles of space clearing, set the intention to neutralise and release any negative energy that may be attached to the piece. Thank it for being of service to its previous owners. And thank it for the service it is going to provide to you.

When you surround yourself with items that you have chosen and welcomed into your home in a conscious and intentional way, their prescence can help establish a sense of peace and calm in your home.

Storytelling and Connection

Celebrating the “second-hand first” approach isn’t just about saving money or being eco-friendly; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that values uniqueness, sustainability, and well-being. Every second-hand piece also comes with a story. Whether it’s a vintage coffee table or a retro lamp, these items can spark conversations and create a sense of connection with your guests.

During Second-Hand September, these stories take center stage, with a lot of media attention on the topic. If you’re just getting started out on the second-hand journey, please do contintue to embrace it year round. Make it an ongoing practice and decorating your home becomes more meaninful.

By choosing pre-loved items, you not only elevate your home’s aesthetics but also contribute to a brighter and more conscious future for our planet. So, why wait? Start your Second-Hand September treasure hunt today and watch your home come alive with stories, style, and soul.

Thank you for reading. If you want to be notified whenever I post, be sure to subcribe to my newsletter.

You might also like to check out these free resources:

Guide to Budgeting your Home Makeover

Discover your Personal Style

September 4, 2023
Put your Money where your Mindful is.

Vote with your wallet for the future that you want.

Every day, we make choices that either influence a future change in policy or maintain the status quo—and most of us do this unconsciously.

In my opinion, the most effective way each of us can bring about positive reform in politics and economics is to shop more consciously. Vote with your wallet, because, to anyone who’s paying attention, it would appear that most Western governments are in the pockets of big business. Even if they wanted to bring in progressive new policies, fear of the economic impact of big corporations moving their operations elsewhere gets in the way.

As voters, we have a say over who gets to govern our countries and economic policies. But, once the elections are over, much of our political power is suspended until the next occasion to vote arises. In the interim, hundreds of decisions are made that affect our personal and universal health, wealth, and environment.

And voters are left feeling angry, frustrated, and often betrayed.

Despite our seeming lack of power, however, it is possible for us to dictate a change when we vote with our wallets.

This does take a little bit of effort, but its effort we can’t afford to neglect at this stage in the game. We need to equip ourselves with information about ethical and sustainable products. We need to shop around to find them. We may need to cut some products right out of our lives, and pay a more premium price for others.

It definitely requires more effort to shop ethically and sustainably on a tight budget, but it is possible. The internet is littered with resources to help us do that, but here are a few suggestions for what to consider:

>> When it comes to clothing and furniture, look at second-hand options before hitting the high street stores. And for new items, support businesses with a local, eco, and ethical mission.

>> Grow some of your own food—even if it’s just herbs, lettuce, and spring onions on your kitchen window sill, it’s a start. And with some easy successes, it can become addictive and you’ll start exploring what else you can grow in a limited space. You’ll be surprised at the available options to grow on a window sill or balcony, let alone what you can do with a little outdoor space.

>> If it comes in plastic, don’t buy it. Choose an alternative that comes in paper or cardboard. If that’s not an option (and it’s legal in your state to do so—best to check) remove the excess plastic packaging at the store and leave it there. When enough people do this, the stores will begin to put pressure on suppliers to reduce or eliminate plastic packaging. (Also, the extra effort it takes to make this little protest will motivate you to seek out more non-plastic packaged products.)

>> On that topic, get your own re-usable coffee cup and water bottle and stop using disposables (and say no to plastic straws).

>> If you’re a meat-eater, consider taking part in the Meat-Free Monday movement (and also cutting down on dairy consumption). As animal agriculture accounts for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide per year—that represents 51 percent of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions—the single most impactful action each of us can take to positively affect climate change is to cut out animal products altogether. But if that feels too extreme, baby steps do make a meaningful difference. One person going meat free three times a week saves the equivalent of 26.7 days of personal water use and the carbon equivalent of boiling 1165.2 kettles.

>> Check the ingredients on all your usual products and research more ethical and sustainable alternatives where needed. Purely from an environmental perspective (and often with the added bonus of a humane and compassionate perspective too), products we want to avoid purchasing would be fossil-fuel derivatives, anything containing palm oil (check all your processed foods, soaps, shampoos, and detergents), and anything that comes with excessive packaging.

I’m not going to lie to you. Being a conscious consumer takes more time than the more mindless variety. And it’s not always possible to apply our principles in shopping for everything we need. However, when we excercise discernment to the best of our ability—for every single thing we buy—we are exercising a power we often don’t realize we have.

Any movement can begin with one person. A critical mass is reached as more and more individual people get on board. And when enough people shop conscientiously, to the extent that it starts to affect profit margins, producers will look at reform.

I’m a big believer in baby steps, rather than all or nothing. If going all-out (such as becoming vegan overnight) is a stretch too far, then start small. Choose one regular item that you shop and find a more ethical alternative. And when that becomes a habit you’re comfortable with, choose another item.

Build up over time if you have to, but it’s time to stop sticking our heads in the sand. It’s important for all of our survival that we each assess our own shopping habits and begin to make different choices wherever and whenever we can.

First published on Elephant Journal
Image: Guus Baggermans

August 15, 2019
The “Greenest” Way to Detox our Homes.
Household plants do more than adorn our homes—as living, breathing beings themselves, they also inject more life force into our space.

And while faux plants can give the illusion of life, there is no substitute for the real thing (and green thumbs can be learned over time).

As we all learned in school, living plants inhale the carbon dioxide we exhale, and they convert it back into breathable oxygen (mostly during daytime, doing the opposite at night). In so doing, they cleanse the air in our homes making it purer for us to breathe.

But some plants can provide the air in our homes with an even deeper cleanse, removing harmful toxins from our environment. This is important for all of us to be mindful of, but particularly so if we share our homes with children, elderly folks, or anyone with a compromised immune system.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are three areas of indoor air pollution that we should be most concerned about:

Biological indoor air pollutants (dampness and mold)

Chemical pollutants (Three of the most common indoor pollutants are formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.)

Pollutants from indoor combustion of fuels

Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant found in plywood, particle board, paint, adhesives, varnishes, wallpaper, and the smoke from fires. It can aggravate asthma symptoms and is classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.

Benzine is also a human carcinogen present in many of the same products listed above for formaldehyde. It’s also found in flooring such as vinyl and nylon carpets.

Trichlorethylene is carcinogenic to animals, and there is evidence that it may also be linked to kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cardiac diseases in humans. It is found in dyes, soaps, disinfectants, and aerosols.

Unless our homes are newly built or newly renovated with sound ecological products, most of us are probably living with these pollutants in the air we’re breathing. So, in addition to climate change and other ecological concerns, our personal health is another powerful reason why we need to be increasingly mindful of the eco-credentials of everything we bring in to our homes—from our furniture, flooring, and paint to our clothing, personal care products, and food.

With conscious consumerism, we can reduce our exposure to air pollutants.

And the great news is that beautiful, giving plants can also help detoxify our air of these chemical pollutants, as well as counter-acting the increased carbon dioxide from the burning of fuels, and in some cases, even contain the presence of mold.

Of course, the ultimate solution is to avoid exposure to pollutants altogether—but until that is 100 percent possible, it’s good to know we can take remedial steps. The following is a selection of plants that can help us to get started with that:

Aloe Vera is known for its medicinal qualities, particularly for the skin. However, it also filters benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxins from the air. On top of all this, the aloe is also suitable for the bedroom, producing oxygen at night time. Keep in a sunny spot and water regularly during spring and summer, allowing the soil to dry out completely between watering. In winter, water more sparingly, or the roots may rot. (This plant is toxic to cats and dogs, so do keep it out of their reach.)

Areca Palm filters formaldehyde with the added bonus of being a natural humidifier, making it a good option for people with respiratory problems, or for those living in dry climates. It can grow quite tall, so if space is an issue, curb its growth by not potting up to a larger container. Keep in a bright spot, and water regularly during summer and sparingly during winter.

Bamboo Palm is a great choice for filtering formaldehyde, benzene, trichlorethylene, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Keep in a reasonably bright spot, avoiding both direct sunlight and too much shade. It likes moist (but not soaked) soil—water when the top third of the soil has become dry.

Boston Fern is one of the best plants for absorption of formaldehyde; this plant is also a natural humidifier. The soil needs to be kept moist (but not soaked) at all times, and it likes indirect light and to be kept away from heat.

Peace Lily absorbs formaldehyde, benzene, trichlorethylene, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and other toxins. It also absorbs microscopic mold spores making it a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. It’s known for its ability to survive in darker spaces, but does better in a relatively bright spot, without direct sunlight. Water weekly to keep the soil moist and keep out of reach of curious cats—it has the kind of leaves they like to chew on, but it’s toxic to cats and dogs.

Snake Plant, also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, is another great plant to keep in the bedroom, as it converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night, improving the air quality in our room as we sleep. On top of that, it also filters benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and ammonia. Place in direct sunlight, and water sparingly (especially during winter), allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. And keep out of pets’ reach.

Spider Plant is a quick-growing plant that generously spawns lots of baby plants you can gift to friends or pot up for additional air purifying benefits. It filters mold spores, benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and other toxins. It’s also low maintenance, requiring watering about once a fortnight, allowing the soil to dry out completely in between waterings.

These are just a few of our plant options. Check the NASA Clean Air Study for a more comprehensive list of plants that add air detoxification, as well as beauty, to our homes.

An important caveat to make here is not to expect magic results overnight. Our homes don’t exactly replicate scientific laboratories, and a single plant is unlikely to thoroughly purify our home’s air, given all the sources of pollution we have to deal with.

Start with one or two of your favorites, and add to your collection as you develop a greener thumb, aiming to end up with at least one in each room and several plants in your larger spaces.

Keep in mind that natural ventilation is also important, so open the windows regularly!

Here’s to cleaner, greener, and more vital living spaces for all of us.
First published on elephantjournal.com

Image: Unsplash/Annie Spratt
November 14, 2017
Eco-Friendly Décor: Take a Greener Approach to your Home Decorating.

If you’re a fan of interior design, you may have noticed a lot of green gracing the pages of your favorite magazines—it’s the on-trend color for interiors right now.

It’s a nice synchronicity for the urgent need we have to “green” as many aspects of our day-to-day life as we can, in our race to slow down the earth’s rising temperature. As with everything else, it’s important to have eco-friendly décor in mind as we plan the interior design of our homes.

If you’re feeling inspired to introduce the color green into the furniture, walls, or fabrics in your home, how about also making an effort to adopt as eco-friendly an approach to your décor as you possibly can?

Following are some tips to help you green your décor:

Paints:

Solvent-based paints are energy-intensive to produce and can also produce between 10 and 30 tonnes of toxic waste per tonne of paint.

Instead, look for plant and mineral based paints, which usually also have the benefit of being low-VOC. VOCs are volatile organic compounds and have a carcinogenic effect on us. (An interesting and scary fact: Professional painters and decorators have a significantly elevated risk of bladder cancer compared to the general population.)

The other scary VOC fact, which most of us don’t consider once the paint is dry and the fumes have subsided, is that they can be emitted into the air for up to five years—so it’s not only the painter’s health that’s at risk.

Natural paints are initially more expensive, but this is one of those cases where it’s genuinely worth it. Not only is it better for the planet’s health, but it’s also better for the health of those who will live and work in the rooms whose walls have been treated with natural paints.

A Green Furniture Guide:

Choose quality furniture that is sustainably produced. It doesn’t have to be new—clever and patient searching can unearth hidden gems at flea markets, second hand stores, and online. Even if you have to fork out more money for it, choose investment pieces that you will love for years to come.

Cheaply produced furniture will wear out quickly, needing replacement sooner, and is likely to fall out of favor with us much more quickly too. Of course it is more readily replaceable with the latest trendy and affordable items, but that just adds more to the landfill. (Cheaper furniture often also uses toxic materials in its production and can trigger allergic reactions.)

Upcycle what you already have. When we’re redecorating, we’re often looking to change the look and feel of a room. And sometimes the furniture we already have doesn’t fit that new look.

But before deciding to replace it, take a good look at how what you already have might be updated or re-purposed. (Pinterest is awash with inspiration.) Consider moving pieces from one room to another—the same piece of furniture, given a new function (and perhaps a facelift with paint or wallpaper) can look surprisingly “right” in its new location.

Donate what you really don’t want to keep. If we can’t love it anymore, that doesn’t mean somebody else won’t. Ask family and friends if anyone needs what you’re passing on. And if no one in your circle wants it, then donate it to charity or offer it on freecycle.org.

Choose less furniture. Less is more—so why not explore the minimalist movement? We don’t have to be as extreme as those featured in the film, but we can take a look around and reflect on how much of the “stuff” in our homes adds to our lives. Indeed, how much of it detracts valuable time needing to be dusted, polished, and tidied away?

Instead of mindlessly accumulating stuff, let’s adopt an approach of carefully editing and curating our possessions so that our homes are only filled with items that reflect what is of true interest and importance to us.

The more things we have in our homes, the more lost our treasured possessions become in the sea of all our stuff. The fewer we have, the less furniture we need to store them in.

By being more selective, we give our gems the space to shine and the opportunity to grab our attention more frequently (and give our hearts a boost of joy each time). And that will also help us to tap into a feeling of gratitude for what we do have and love.

Soft Furnishings:

Curtains, cushions, bed linen, rugs, and throws can be expensive, especially if we’re looking to create an instant effect in a newly decorated room rather than slowly curate over time. I’m as much a bargain-hunter as the next person, but we do need to be mindful when shopping on a budget for these items.

As with furniture, consider second-hand. Fabric can be washed—and it can be re-purposed if you’re handy with a sewing machine.

And when buying new, look for sustainably-produced, fair trade products. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is a great label to look out for on all textiles. It is the highest standard for organic fibre production in the world, and requires a minimal use of chemicals along the entire production chain, as well as demanding good social conditions for the workers involved in its production.

BetterCotton.org is another good reference source. An initiative of WWF, it was established as an independent organisation in 2009 to encourage producers and suppliers to sign up to a global standard of cotton production that supports better production practices and better livelihoods and working conditions for farmers. A list of current membersis supplied on their website.

A general rule of thumb, when redecorating, is to think long-term.

Think of the long-term implications for the environment and those working in the industries.

Think of the long-term implications for our own health.

And think about the longevity of our new décor scheme!

Avoid being too influenced by current trends (especially with kitchens and bathrooms) and aim for a look that won’t date too quickly. That way, we feel better about investing in quality, sustainably-produced products. It also helps to foster the patience to seek out the perfect pre-loved piece rather than rushing out to buy cheap furniture.

A decorating spree is usually driven by a vision for what we want to create in a space. Let’s incorporate a bigger, greener picture into that vision.

~

First published on elephantjournal.com
Image: Annie Spratt/Unsplash

May 25, 2017

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