Decorating a home is no easy task – there are various factors to consider to make the best out of your space and budget. Plus, in the past couple of years, there seems to be one more important aspect to bear in mind when shopping for furniture – eco-friendliness. And even though people have been talking about sustainability in Scandinavian design for several years now, it seems that all that talk is starting to turn into action worldwide.
One way to reduce your negative impact on the environment when decorating your home is by using house furnishings made from reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood is actually recycled wood that has been repurposed and used to make unique pieces of furniture. The best thing about home furnishings made from reclaimed wood (besides the fact that they are a greener alternative) is their rustic and unique look. If you are looking for advice and ideas on which pieces of wooden furniture to add to your living room to make it more homey, here are some suggestions.
Contents
A Coffee Table
Wooden home furnishings definitely look warmer than metal or glass ones. And when decorating a living room, we all strive to create a more cozy and homey look. A coffee table made from reclaimed wood will be sturdy and durable, while at the same time not as heavy as glass, marble or a metal table. Plus, you will be able to easily move the coffee table between different rooms in your home if you need to. If it looks too plain for your taste, you can always decorate it with an eye-catching and colourful table runner. What looks even better with wooden home furnishings are green plants. Just pick your favourite type of plant and whether you choose to place the pot on the coffee table or next to the sofa, I can guarantee that it will look great with the appeal of your reclaimed wood coffee table.
A Side Table
The coffee table is practical and conveniently placed in front of the sofa, but what about adding a side table which will be placed next to the armchair? It doesn’t even have to be made from the same wood as the coffee table. Not everything has to fully match, however, take into account all wooden house furnishings items that you have in the living room and make sure that they go well together and that there is some colour harmony. Reclaimed wood has sort of an unfinished rustic look, so a side table can be decorated with a simple candle. But you also don’t need to feel obligated to place a decoration on every piece of furniture you have. You can leave them as they are, with enough room for you to put down your favourite book after you have finished reading it while enjoying a nice cup of coffee.
A Sideboard
You don’t have to buy a sideboard if you don’t have the room for it, however, it is the perfect addition if you have a spacious living room. And if you have set your heart on a specific model, know that you can also place it in your hallway or even in the bedroom. Repurposing your home furnishing items can save you a lot of money and time spent shopping. Sideboards offer extra storage room and are great for reducing the visual clutter in your home.
A Bookshelf
Even with Kindle and e-books, bookshelves still aren’t a thing of the past. If you still keep your favourite books you can proudly display them on a practical wooden bookshelf that I hope will never go out of style. Bookshelves are one of those pieces of home fixtures that were initially intended for one use but can easily be repurposed. Even if you no longer buy books and have fully switched to using Kindle, those shelves won’t stay empty. Just add a few framed photos, candles, vases or your favourite jewellery box and you will create a shelf full of fond memories. If you feel that bookshelves with drawers look too bulky for your small living room, you can always go for ones with open shelves. Placing an open shelved bookcase on a bright-coloured wall can make the room look bigger.
A TV Unit
All sofas and armchairs are usually placed facing the TV unit, so if you regularly watch TV this is one of the pieces of furniture that you will be looking at the most. And as such, it is preferable to be in colour and design you’ll enjoy looking at. What’s not to like in a unique piece made from wood in warm colours? You can add a lampshade, a vase, or a framed photo of your loved ones in order to make your TV unit even more enjoyable to look at.