Materials: It’s all about sourcing items made from renewable fabrics—±think cotton, wool, and linen. These materials are low maintenance in the best way; they are grown using sustainable farming practices and without chemical inputs. Whether you’re upgrading the throw blanket on a new bed or need some place mats for outdoor dining this season, check the label to look out for: Life Cycle: Ultimately, you want furniture and decorative accents that are built to last. Consider whether what you’re buying is reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable. Materials like wood, glass, and ceramic tick the boxes and look good doing it. For larger items (like mattresses), look for 20-plus-year warranties that the company stands by. Avocado Mattresses, for example, have a 25-year warranty and are made with biodegradable and recyclable materials. As a final check, always ask yourself: Am I riding a trend wave, or is this something I can see in my living space for the next 10 years? There’s nothing worse (and more wasteful) than designing your home in the style of the moment, only to change it in six months. Think Avocado Green Mattress, not rotating water bed.
