Tips on how to refresh your home sustainably

Sustainably is becoming a vital ingredient when planning a new look for the home. We asked Beth and Jon Miller of Leeds-based Fresh Start Living to give us some tips on how to be more eco-friendly.Beth and Jon specialise in redesign, interior design and renovation projects. They say:*Interiors has become a lot more like fashion of late. People want to keep their homes fresh and up to date and with more homeware brands available on the high street and at a lower cost, it’s far easier to do these days.However, we need to look at how we buy and consume interiors products and question whether we should we be moving away from “fast interiors” and think about furnishing and decorating our homes in a more sustainable way.

An old chair reupholstered and given new life

*Buy second hand. There are fantastic charity shops selling beautiful pieces for an absolute bargain. We particularly love Emmaus furniture stores as they always has a good range of stock, from smaller bits and bobs like glassware to larger pieces of furniture like sideboards and wardrobes.You can also buy fantastic pieces for a snip on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and eBay. We recently bought an original G Plan extendable dining table with six chairs for £100 and they are in great condition.

The G-Plan table and chairs that Beth and Jon found on Facebook marketplace

*Upcycle or make. Whether it’s a second-hand bedside table you’ve just bought, an armchair that’s seen better days or a kitchen that could do with bringing back to life, you can always update items in your home with a bit of creative upcycling. This is an alternative to buying new.You can also make your own bespoke pieces, such as light fittings, console tables or a macramé hanging plant pot holder, There are so many courses you can sign up to across Yorkshire that can teach you everything from painting furniture to upholstering an armchair. They usually enable you to learn the skills you need to complete your project at home or you will complete the project during the courseIf it’s something beyond your DIY skills then don’t be scared to hire a professional. They will also be able to help with your ideas and design.

An old chester drawers upcycled into a sink unit by Beth and Jon

*Support local. Buying from British or Yorkshire makers will mean that you get a better quality product and something that is far more unusual and won’t be seen in lots of other homes. Sometimes, it can even mean that you get a genuinely unique piece. That could be a pot that’s been hand thrown in the Dales or a bespoke item from a furniture maker that comes in the size and shape that suits your needs.*For more details on Fresh Start Living visit www.freshstartliving.co.uk