10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable

One of the resolutions I made this year (and last year if I am being honest) was to make my home more sustainable. At the end of my pregnancy and especially those first few weeks when my daughter was home, I kind of gave up on sustainable living. We were using all sorts of plastics, eating out, not paying attention to energy usage, etc. However, we recently recommitted to our original goal of living more sustainably. Below are 10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable based on what we’ve done so far. Feel free to email or message me on Instagram with the ways you keep your home eco-friendly.

1. Stop Buying Bottled Water

More than 2/3 of plastic bottles are not recycled. However, the waste created by bottled water isn’t even the worst impact it has on the environment. According to Peter Gleick, author of Bottled and Sold, bottled water requires 2000 times the amount of energy as tap water. There have also been studies showing bottled water to be nothing but glorified tap water, so it’s a waste of money and bad for the planet. That’s why one of the 10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable is to stop buying bottled water.

2. Exchange Paper Towels for Dish Towels

Reducing our paper towel usage is something we are still working on. Sure, it’s easier to grab for a paper towel than a dish cloth when there’s a mess. However, manufacturing paper towels consumes a lot of trees, water, energy and fuel. And most of them are sold at the store wrapped in plastic. Also a bad idea for the environment. So try exchanging your paper towel usage for a few reusable dish towels instead.

3. Revisit Your Cleaning Supplies

There are many reasons to revisit your cleaning supplies. For instance, many cleaning solutions contain harmful chemicals that affect you, your family and the environment. One step toward more sustainable living would be to find eco-friendly cleaning products. Honest just released a “Clean Vibes” kit made from naturally derived ingredients that comes with reusable cleaning bottles.

Looking for a cheaper option? You could also try making your own cleaning solutions at home. Simple ingredients such as baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar are very effective cleaners.

4. Switch to Loose Leaf Tea

Did you know there is actually plastic in most tea bags that cannot decompose? Most tea bags are 25% plastic. If you are a tea drinker, consider switching to a loose leaf tea. Or if you enjoy a good cup of coffee, try exchanging your k-cups for loose coffee grounds. Changing how you consume caffeine could really make a difference in the sustainability of your home over time.

5. Make Food Yourself

Instead of ripping open a box of cookies mix, take the time to make your baked goods from scratch. They taste better homemade anyway. Worried about not having the time to bake? One of my famous time-savers is making large batches of cookie dough that I roll into balls and freeze for later. Seriously can save you in a pinch.

Just consider all the things you could make at home from scratch rather than purchasing them at the store. Bread, pasta, chips, stir fry…. the options are endless. Besides, cooking is such a calming activity and a fun one to do with family. So it’s a win-win for you and the environment.

6. Buy Vintage

It’s nice to buy new. I understand that feeling. You want something no one else has had, and I get it. However, one of the 10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable would be to buy vintage. Search garage sales or Facebook market place and do a little DIY on your furniture. Try shopping at your local thrift store or consignment sale. You might be surprised what you will find.

7. Grow Indoor Plants

Indoor plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they can enhance your health as well. A study done by NASA showed that house plants can remove 87% of toxins in the air within 24 hours. That’s pretty impressive! Studies have also shown that indoor plants improve mood and concentration, so if you work from home this sustainability tip is especially important for you!

8. Go on a Walk

If you are like me and grew up in a small town, then taking a walk might be a easy way to make your home and life more sustainable. If you can walk to the grocery store or down the street to a friends house rather than drive, you will save energy and reduce harmful emissions from your car. You will also improve your health by moving that body and getting fresh air. If you can, just leave the car at home and go for a walk.

9. Be Mindful of Your Purchases

Something I am trying to do this year is to be mindful of my purchases. Sure, Amazon is convenient, but how much energy are my weekly (okay, sometimes daily) package deliveries consuming? Think about where you are making purchases and why. Are you buying items from sustainable or eco-friendly sources and companies? Simply being mindful of how we spend our money and where is an easy way to make our homes more sustainable.

10. Remember the Impact You Have

Warning, I might get a little bit sappy with this last point.

You might be wondering… why is sustainability important? Well, we only have one planet. The first command God gave was to tend to the earth, to care for it. What a blessing it is that we live on such a beautiful planet. The best time to live sustainably and take care of the environment was yesterday, but the second best time is today. We can make a difference in the health of the environment. Just making one small change can create a powerful ripple effect. So let’s do our part to tend to the home we were given.

Okay, sappiness over. Thank you for indulging me.

More sustainable home solutions listed below:

And for even more ideas, check out: https://borealabode.com/sustainable-home

I hope you will enjoyed the 10 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable. Remember, what you do matters. We can make a difference one step at a time. For more hygge living inspiration, check out the posts below.

Why You Should Make Hygge Living a Priority This Year
28 Things I Have Learned in 28 Years
8 Reasons You Should Keep a Journal
5 Reasons You Should Wake Up Early in the Morning

As always, if you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message me on Instagram. Follow @bestillandhygge on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and subscribe below for new content every week.

Love Always,