Sustainable ways to decorate your home

Buying something nice for your house can sometimes feel necessary – candles, coffee table books, some nice new cushions for the new season, maybe some warm bedding – but are we aware of just how wasteful we’re often being when we shop for our homes?

We’ve conducted a study to reveal Brits’ home décor buying habits, from how often they’re buying homeware to whether they adhere to trends, and how aware they are of sustainability when shopping for homeware. We’ll also share some tips from professionals on how to avoid investing in fast homeware, and the best types of flooring and homeware to buy in for style and longevity.

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How often are Brits buying new homeware?

We surveyed Brits from across the UK to determine how often they find themselves buying homeware, and found that at least 15% of the population shop for new items every couple of months - and 10% shop for new homeware at least once a week! This group was mostly made up of 35-44-year-olds. Meanwhile, of those who shopped for homeware every month, there were 3.5 times more homeowners than renters.

Top 5 home décor items Brits update the most often

The top décor items that Brits were updating most frequently were:

Decorative features (frames, pots, coffee table books, etc) – 36%
Soft furnishings (blankets, cushions, etc) – 28%
Bedding – 25%
Wallpaper/wall colour – 19%
Plants – 18%

Decorative features like plants, books, blankets, and photo frames are the most items to be bought monthly – but how often do we really need to be updating our homes? Let’s take a look at how sustainably conscious Brits are when they’re shopping.

How aware are Brits about shopping for homeware sustainably?

Only 28% of Brits we surveyed said that they consider sustainability when shopping for homewares, the largest proportion (41%) of which were in the Gen Z age group of 18-24. This age group are renowned for being more environmentally focused and aware of the constraints that their buying habits have on the planet, as shown by their awareness and rejection of fast fashion. In contrast, those aged 65+ are the least environmentally aware. However, 18-24-year-olds are also the most likely to jump onto new interior trends.

Finally, 25-34-year-olds are the most aware (28%) of how to be sustainable when shopping for homewares.

But do you know of sustainable ways to decorate your home?

Tapi Tips: Flooring that will stand the test of time

One of the best ways to decorate sustainably is to choose flooring and wallpaper/wall colours that will stand the test of time.

Picking classic shades and colours that you can build on over the years means that you can change up your style as often as you want without being wasteful. For example, opting for a durable oak effect laminate or a hard-wearing vinyl is a great way to create a neutral base that you can updated with rugs and furnishings.

Carpet is another classic choice for your home that also has the added benefit of helping you keep the heat in, and if you have any leftover, you can easily upcycle your offcuts. Some carpets are made from wool that is sourced in your country too, making them great eco-friendly floorings. Keeping the heat in is another strong benefit of carpets, which can save you money from wasting energy required to heat your home.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, take a look at our collection of different types of carpets online, then head to your nearest Tapi store to get a quote. And for even more lifestyle insights and inspiration, visit our Ideas Hub.

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