To be honest, home decor makes me a little giddy with excitement!
I love choosing the right coffee table, the perfect rugs to go with the cushions, the correct candle style to enhance the ‘vibe’ and which wall hanging goes where.
Imagine if our homewares obsession, could respect and support people and the planet too.
By choosing to fill your home with handcrafted, sustainable and furniture and homewares you can add even more meaning to your living space.
Image via Armadillo & Co
West Elm
The Brooklyn born home giant now have stores right across the US and Australia, which is great, because furniture is an investment and something I personally prefer to see in person before making the commitment. What makes West Elm special is their ever-growing range of sustainable furniture and homewares, made from FSC certified, recycled, and sustainably sourced timber. They’re also growing their artisan-made and fair trade range of furniture and home accessories.
Armadillo and Co
I always love hearing of companies which were founded from friendship and a lack in the market. If you can’t find something you need, make it yourself! Armadillo & Co uphold traditional rug weaving traditions to produce quality rugs which are made fair-trade, with eco materials from start to finish. Their products range from table tops to rugs, entrance mats to runners. Their excellent online shopping filter system even enables you to shop by fiber, colour, size, and suitability (e.g. sunlight levels and usage).
Eco Chic
When it comes to eco homewares Eco Chic has it all. If you can’t find something you need, their interior designers source it for you. Eco Chic understand that eco products are not simply about the impact on the environment, but must be socially and economically sustainable too. What I love about Eco Chic is that even though their products are made from renewable, non-toxic, and recyclable resources, they also donate to four other organisations and have a CO2 neutral website. In an Eco Chic home, you would find yourself lounging on CFC free foam couches, dining on recycled timber, and cuddling up with mohair throws.
Totem Road
Eco furniture: the backbone of an eco-home. Totem Road are big on sustainability, but also respect the fact that eco furniture shouldn’t be a compromise: style matters. Their timeless pieces are inspired by Scandinavian design but aren’t stylised so they take over the room. They blend in with your current aesthetics and enhance your personal style. Totem Road fills your bedroom, dining room, and living room with consciously created solid oak furniture, minus the sacrifice of the environment and exploitation of communities.
The Dharma Door
Finding the right eco product for your home can be a lengthy task. Thankfully, The Dharma Door have done the work for us! Founder and head designer, Shannon, travelled the world to find different homewares of quality and contemporary design with, of course, ethics and sustainability in mind. Along their travels, Dharma Door sort out the most skilled artisans who use top quality raw materials. As an endorsed Fair Trader of Australia, Dharma Door’s products respect their makers, and are one of a kind. With all this considered, it’s impossible not to fall in love with their jute rugs and baskets, or luxurious wall hangings which bring texture and feeling your home.
Once Was Lost
“We believe in handmade”. When you reach their online store, these are the words you’ll find, and I bet you won’t be able to leave. Once was Lost’s collection releases soft and serene vibes through their ethically crafted traveller throws, scarves, bracelets and cushions; handmade through every single step of the making process in Ethiopia and Spain. Homewares made with so much thought and time can only bring goodness to your home, and as Freedom Partners of the International Justice Mission, pure goodness is exactly what Once was Lost bring to the world and their global community.
Bohome and Roam
Bohome and Roam walk the walk when it comes to eco homewares. This 1 year old New Zealand brand (who ships internationally!) connects the planet, people, body, and soul to bring us a platform of various products made all over the world. Bohome and Roam never grow old. Their offerings grow continuously as founder, Aimee, roams the earth searching to collaborate with multiple fair-trade artisans. Not just a brand, Bohome and Roam encourage change and have stirred a contagious ‘eco-movement’ to better our buying practices, preserve our planet, and ultimately change the way the western world consumes. Bohome and Roam are the home of little knick-knacks great for gift ideas, scarfs and throws, cushions and purses, and everything in between.
Enrou
Enrou, meaning “en route” or “on the way”, was founded out of the desire for passionate and creative people to find meaning in their work. Their online store provides a breakdown of how many hours it took to create a product, along with the story behind the maker. Enrou is all about people and ensuring that everyone, everywhere, can use their talents and skills in a way that fulfils them. Purchasing an Erou product doesn’t just affect the maker, but their whole community. Health education, women’s empowerment programs, and financial coaching are just a few of the initiatives Erou offer their artisan’s communities. Along with all sorts of home goods, you’ll find jewellery and accessories; made with love.
