Whether you live in an apartment or a mansion, your home has the potential to be an eco oasis. I should know – I’ve created one for myself! When Steve and I married and moved in to our apartment, I was determined to find creative ways to reduce our impact. All while making our home inviting, warm and down to earth. I think I’ve achieved that goal, considering how many compliments I’ve gotten on my couch alone. If you’re ready for a sneak peak at my apartment, and looking for some inspo for your own space, here’s how to create a sustainable home, room by room. And not just with furniture – but mindset shifts too!
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How to Create a Sustainable Home: Room by Room
What is considered a sustainable home?
A sustainable home is one that is curated thoughtfully, with the environment in mind. This can look like many things: Using energy-efficient appliances, switching to renewables, incorporating sustainable furniture, and making zero waste swaps.
Do you have do all of these things to have an eco home? No. And it certainly doesn’t happen overnight. But taking steps towards your eco home goals, big or small, makes an impact.
Personally, I think a sustainable home is founded on a combination of physical items and mindset shifts. Because you can’t exactly buy better food storage habits to reduce food waste, or purchase your way out of water waste.
Also, yes, a home can literally be built sustainably too! For example, if you hire a sustainable contractor, they may try to utilize recycled materials in the design of the home, utilize renewable energy, etc.
But if you live in an apartment like me? Here are some renter-specific ways you can have an eco-friendly home. Also, be sure to download my free plastic-free home checklist!
Sustainability, room by room
To help illustrate how to have a sustainable home, I’m breaking it down room by room. Using my own home!
Reminder: This is to inspire you – not pressure you to do exactly what I do. I’m just sharing what works for me, as well as a few additional options you can consider.
Living room
Our living room is the first thing you encounter in our apartment, so it’s important to me that there’s a welcoming, warm vibe to it. I love changing up the decorations to mirror the seasons.
Here’s how we’ve created a sustainable space:
- We invested in a sustainable couch made from recycled materials. It’s also fully repairable (you can buy replacement parts for filler and fabric)! Read my full Sabai Design review here.
- Our entertainment center was taken from my bedroom (when I lived home with my parents).
- The coffee table and shoe rack were from small businesses on Etsy.
- All the paintings on the wall were made by me! I used supplies I already owned as much as possible. Embroidery hoops were purchased from small businesses.
- Our curtains are made from sustainably sourced linen (full April Notes review here).
- A lot of energy tends to be used in the living room (thanks to things like TV, Xbox, etc.), so consider switching to renewable energy. You can do this even if you live in apartment by sourcing your energy from community solar or wind farms.
- We use Better Battery Co batteries for our remotes. They have a take-back program and will properly recycle the batteries at the end of their life.
Kitchen & Dining Room
The kitchen is one of the most wasteful rooms of the home, mostly due to food waste and disposables.
Here’s how we keep it as sustainable as possible:
- Shopping at the farmers market for seasonal, local produce. And I get it as plastic-free as I can using reusable produce bags.
- Hitting up refilleries whenever possible, or opting for paper/cardboard/glass over plastic packaging.
- Cooking at home more. Making meals from scratch whenever possible using fresh, whole foods. And baking! I have so many recipes on my blog worth checking out like artisan bread, blueberry muffins, strawberry loaf cake, biscuits, banana bread and more.
- Eating our leftovers! Storing our food in glass snapware and Caraway ceramic storage containers. And finding creative ways to reduce food waste.
- Choosing Caraway pans and pots to avoid Teflon. Also love my cast iron pan and Dutch oven. Full Caraway review here.
- Avoiding plastic cooking utensils in favor of wood and silicone. Thrifting for any kitchen gadgets and appliances before buying new.
- Cleaning dishes with a wooden dish brush whose head can be composted/replaced, and a dish soap bar. To clean the sink, I use baking soda and a wooden scrubber!
- Compost food scraps! We keep our scraps in a countertop compost pail, but also freeze any scraps we can’t fit inside it.
- Using a bamboo drying rack instead of a plastic one. I like to keep a cloth towel underneath it to catch dripping water.
- Using cloth napkins and un-paper towels for a paper-free kitchen. I also hang two towels on the oven: One for drying your hands (solid color), another for drying dishes (fun patterns).
- Getting an eco-friendly table and chairs (mine is from Inside Weather – full review here). But you can also find some amazing deals at thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace!
Bathroom
The bathroom is the second most wasteful room in my opinion, due to all the products used and water waste.
- Using shampoo and conditioner bars. Including body soap bars! I love getting them from Lush, Ecoroots, or even my local farmers market.
- Investing in a reusable safety razor. I use bar soap and shave in the shower, but there are many zero waste shaving cream options.
- Using reusable period underwear if you menstruate.
- Investing in organic cotton bath towels (I got mine from Pact but unfortunately they don’t sell them anymore).
- Not overdoing it on skincare products. I used to have terrible adult acne until switching to Proven – it was the only thing that worked (not even a dermatologist could help me). So I only use four products on my face every day/night – my customized Proven skincare routine, and Ecoroots every balm moisturizer (the only one that doesn’t break me out).
- Using hand towels instead of paper towels (yes, I’ve seen people use paper towels in their personal bathrooms before).
- Be mindful of water waste here. Shut the water while brushing your teeth and catch water in a bucket as it warms in the shower.
- Creating a zero waste dental routine that works for you (including PFA-free floss!)
- Switching to Who Gives a Crap toilet paper which arrives on my doorstep plastic-free (no film wrap!). We love the bamboo rolls because they’re extra soft and durable. Full Who Gives a Crap review here. Use code GREENIFY15 for $15 off your first order with a minimum purchase of $47.
- Installing a Tushy bidet which has cut down on the amount of toilet paper we use (and saved me $$ in the process)! Full Tushy review here. Use promo code GREENIFYME for 10% off!
- To clean the bathroom, I use Blueland toilet cleaning tablets, non-toxic cleaners, and my DIY tub scrub recipe. And a plastic-free toilet brush too!
Bedroom
Yes, even the bedroom can have sustainable upgrades! It’s all about being intentional with your furniture, bedding and wardrobe.
Here’s how to keep your sanctuary eco:
- Switching to a sustainable mattress (and bed frame). We invested in Avocado Mattress and haven’t looked back since. I have subtle scoliosis and I find it’s been wonderful for my back.
- Using Bedthreads for linen bedsheets. Linen, when not combined with synthetic fabric, is fully compostable at the end of its life. Also, the whole flax plant is used to make it, resulting in minimal to no waste during the manufacturing process. Full Bedthreads review here!
- Curating a sustainable wardrobe. Mending or taking clothes that need extra TLC to a tailor or shoe cobbler. Shopping my closet first. Caring for the clothes I have by following the wash/dry instructions on the clothing labels.
- Choosing wooden furniture over plastic pieces. The way I see it, wooden furniture can always be sanded and refurbished, whereas cheap plastic furniture cannot. You can find some really great pieces on Facebook marketplace, Etsy, or one of these eco furniture companies.
- For books, consider thrifting them or checking them out from your local public library.
- For intimacy, consider using Loveability condoms made from natural latex with minimal packaging. Ideal for sensitive skin and free of toxic ingredients.
Laundry room
We have a laundry room in our apartment and it is truly a blessing. But you won’t catch me lugging a bulky plastic jug of laundry detergent!
How I keep the laundry room eco:
- Choose energy star and high-efficiency (HE) washers and dryers. Use cold water and air dry whenever possible.
- Choose sustainable laundry detergent options, like Clean Cult, Dirty Labs, Dropps or Blueland.
- Avoid fabric softener and laundry sheets, instead opting for wool dryer balls. You can even add a few drops of essential oils to them to help your linens smell nicer.
- A stain stick to remove pesky stains. To brighten clothes, a natural alternative to bleach.
- I use this space to also store my favorite zero waste cleaning products.
Office space
I love working in my office space to write blog posts and freelance articles. It helps me stay on track and feel productive!
- Choose an energy star certified laptop. Even better if it’s refurbished. And make sure to repair it/replace the battery before buying a whole new one when something goes wrong!
- Choose a wooden desk (mine was found on Etsy, but you can also check Facebook marketplace), or one of these eco furniture companies.
- I’ve been using a secondhand office chair my uncle gave me for a while, but now it’s peeling and needs to be replaced. I looked into repairing it, but because it’s pleather, it wouldn’t be worth it. I just ordered another from Etsy that should last a while (fingers crossed) without pleather (aka, plastic).
- I use upcycled glass yogurt jars to house my small office supplies like pins, paperclips and clips.
- I opt for notebooks made from recycled and/or compostable materials. Also, I mean to invest in a refilable fountain pen soon!
- All my office decor was gifted or thrifted! I highly suggest doing the same (or making it yourself).
What are some ways you’re keeping your home sustainable? Share them in the comments!
Want all this information in one place? Grab my free plastic-free home checklist!
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