Revamping, salvaging, reclaiming, or repurposing. Whatever it's called, we love it. But for the sake of today's blog, let's stick with calling it simply upcycling. Take a seat, and let us fill you in on how you can use our furniture layout app to breathe new life into your old furniture. Upcycling is a sustainable and affordable way to take old pieces of furniture and give them a new lease on life. With a bit of imagination and our virtual furniture staging app, you could have your home looking somewhere between the gilded age and mid-century modern in just a few easy steps and a couple of dollar bills – no matter the amount of your creative potential.

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/refab_six/" target="_blank">@refab_six</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/refab_six/" target="_blank"></a>Max McMurco, a British designer and veteran upcycler, explains in his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Upcycling-Max-McMurdo-ebook/dp/B01L0SIZ8O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MASE9HJZIECW&amp;keywords=upcycling+max&amp;qid=1654621412&amp;sprefix=upcycling+max%2Caps%2C125&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Upcycling</a>, “The key part of the word 'upcycling' is UP – unlike recycling, which takes a material backwards in the chain to its original properties. Upcycling adds value to the item through clever design to make it more financially, aesthetically, and emotionally desirable.” At DecorMatters, we are big fans of this new craze because it allows you to incorporate Budget-friendly furniture pieces in your <a href="https://decormatters.com/bathroom-design-app">bathroom</a>, <a href="https://decormatters.com/kitchen-design-app">kitchen</a>, living room, <a href="https://decormatters.com/bedroom-design-app">bedroom</a>, and any other room in your home. So let's run through some of our team's favorite tips to upcycle.

Keep an Eye Out for Solid, Sturdy Wood in Your Hunt

When thrifting in a store or rummaging through grandma's shed for a chest of drawers, a mantlepiece, or any other budget-friendly furniture pieces, for example, you want to make sure that it's sturdy and quality. 

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/easyontheeyes_customfurniture/" target="_blank">@</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/easyontheeyes_customfurniture/" target="_blank">easyontheeyes_customfurniture</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/easyontheeyes_customfurniture/" target="_blank"></a>How do you do that? Check its weight, and move the piece around (or back and forth) to see if any details come apart. Is the wood thick, or when you knock it, does it sound hollow? These can be alarming signs of cheap lumber.Don't feel like you have to buy pieces with real wood, too. You can also pick out pieces that use plywood. Just ensure that it is high-grade plywood like birch or maple. Birch will look amber, whereas maple will look much, much whiter.

Don’t Ignore an Old Piece Because It’s Showing Its Age

Don’t neglect an old piece of wood because it has a few dings. It may be just a diamond in disguise. You can use our furniture layout app to do some virtual furniture staging to get bedroom furniture ideas, design ideas for the living room, office and more! 

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oakeydesignandco/" target="_blank">@</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/oakeydesignandco/" target="_blank">oakeydesignandco</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/oakeydesignandco/" target="_blank"></a>You can clean a dirty piece by following the steps right <a href="https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/floor-and-surface-cleaning/clean-and-polish-wood.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Then, you can fill in holes, scratches, or in some cases, substantial missing chunks by using epoxy wood filler.

When upcycling, get in touch with your inner child and bring all the imagination you have to the table! No pun intended. Open up your mind to the possibilities!&nbsp;Once you’ve upcycled your old piece of furniture, you can use our furniture arrangement app to design the perfect room layout. 

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prettypocketprojects/" target="_blank">@prettypocketprojects</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prettypocketprojects/" target="_blank"></a>You can use old ladders to display plants, or a washing machine drum can be transformed into a mini herb garden kept in your backyard. Swap legs on one piece of furniture and pop it on another to see if it gives it a new look! The sky is the limit.

Salvaged Wood Can Make Excellent Staple Mark Pieces for Your Home

One very imaginative but effective way to use old crates is to create a hallway or bedside table on your upcycling journey is to <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/post/how-to-give-a-space-a-longer-shelf-life" target="_blank">place some plants</a> below or stack some books to give it a modern feel.

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vintagefurniturefinds/" target="_blank">@vintagefurniturefinds</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vintagefurniturefinds/" target="_blank"></a>And if you have some old pieces of wood laying around from previous renovations, follow the same procedure with varnish or paint, but buy some wall brackets from a DIY retailer and use them as shelves! Hang pot plans or, again, stack some books, to add a modern flare.

Liven up&nbsp;Budget-friendly Furniture Pieces With a Stencil

Yeah, paint is excellent, but have you ever tried a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=furniture+stencil&amp;crid=2255JSEHR7CFP&amp;sprefix=furniture+stencil%2Caps%2C132&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_1" target="_blank">stencil</a>? Using a stencil to liven up a piece of furniture gives it a full-blown makeover. You can even use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=furniture+decals&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss" target="_blank">decals</a> to add a further touch of uniqueness to your work.&nbsp;Add flare to any room with some creativity, old furniture and a reliable <a href="https://decormatters.com/room-layout-planner-app">room layout planner app</a>.

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gracies_houseuk/" target="_blank">@gracies_houseuk</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/gracies_houseuk/" target="_blank"></a>Just ensure you protect the wood underneath with varnish, which we will touch on now!

Add A Top Coat To Ensure Protection For Your Budget-Friendly Furniture Pieces

Maybe you're not too new to the painting world, and that's okay, but here's one thing you MUST keep in mind.After giving it a new life, you need to ensure you love and protect it adequately after the hard work you've put into giving it a new life. 

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mylittlemakeovers/" target="_blank">@mylittlemakeovers</a>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mylittlemakeovers/" target="_blank"></a>All in all, upcycling can be a unique way to refresh your home on a budget, all while being kind to mother earth and saving a couple of bucks. Learn more tips and tricks on how to revamp your home with our&nbsp;<a href="https://decormatters.com/">DecorMatters&nbsp;app</a>.

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Take a seat, and let us fill you in. Upcycling is a sustainable and affordable way to take old pieces of furniture and give them a new lease on life. With a bit of imagination, you could have your home looking somewhere between the gilded age and mid-century modern in just a few easy steps and a couple of dollar bills – no matter the amount of your creative potential. 

Upcycling: Give Your Old Furniture a New Lease on Life With Our Furniture Layout App

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Material choices and construction methods are among the most important elements in defining the sustainability of a space.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">The brief of this office/co-working space was using only biodegradable, reused, or upcycling-based materials, with a <a href="https://dfordesign.style/blog/how-circular-design-can-shape-more-sustainable-interiors" target="_blank">circular design approach</a>. Let’s explore!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Material choices in this project are guided by circular principles.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
The flooring is an heirloom of how the space looked before the renovation. Both the terrazzo and the wooden flooring were already in place and an irregularly shaped plank was added to connect the two, turning a damaged edge into an element of interest.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
Solid poplar wood is used for several elements in the design, such as furniture and the suspended ceiling.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Keeping with a circular design approach, some elements of the space (such as the radiators and lighting) were sourced from a platform of products and materials available for reuse. To match them to the style of the space, the light fixtures have been encased in a wool felt covering – a creative idea that shows how second-hand pieces shouldn’t be seen as a limit to aesthetic choices.

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All materials employed in this project have been listed in a public “material passport” to contribute to the circular flow and facilitate future reuse.

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<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.urselmann-interior.de/" target="_blank">Urselmann Interior</a> – Ph. Magdalena Gruber

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Material Palette

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">All the new materials selected for this space embody the project’s care for sustainability.
Honext – a paper waste-based material – is used for the wall cladding. Kitchen cabinets are made with Really – a solid material made out of textile waste. And acoustic panels are made with Troldtekt, a wood+cement composite that’s Cradle-to-Cradle Gold certified.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Furniture selection also follows the same principles. Stools are made of Neolign®, a composite material that reuses wood chips from industrial wood processing waste. And office chairs are designed for easy disassembly and material reuse.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">redit: <a href="https://www.urselmann-interior.de/" target="_blank">Urselmann Interior</a> – Ph. Magdalena Gruber

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Construction Methods

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">For a circular flow of materials to actually happen, it’s important to build so that material recuperation will be possible at a later stage.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">In this project, solid wood pieces are assembled avoiding the use of glue, making them easily demountable. Smartly, the wall cladding is fixed in place with Velcro, resistant yet easy to undo!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.urselmann-interior.de/" target="_blank">Urselmann Interior</a> – Ph. Magdalena Gruber
 
Designing interiors for the circular economy involves every aspect of a project. From material and furniture selection to building methods it all starts considering the project at hand as only one of the lives of the materials in use. A fundamental mindset shift but also a fascinating challenge!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/DforDesignstyle/" target="_blank">Silvia</a> from <a href="https://dfordesign.style/" target="_blank">DforDesign</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Meet The Author

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Silvia is an interior designer and content creator who resides in Switzerland. For her, interior design is way more than aesthetics. That's why she says that she's on a mission to make interiors good for wellbeing and our planet.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Both on clients' projects and on the blog, her work focuses on:

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Biophilic Design: wellbeing-centered interiors that take inspiration from nature.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Sustainable Design: products &amp; materials that are mindful of the environment and support the development of a circular economy.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Check out her <a href="https://dfordesign.style/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/DforDesignstyle/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/DforDesignStyle/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

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The brief of this office/co-working space was using only biodegradable, reused, or upcycling-based materials, with a circular design approach.

Sustainable Interiors: A Co-working Space Designed for Circularity

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After almost one and a half years in my Berlin apartment, the time has come for some changes. For quite a while there’s been a small but significant pain point in my living room. The seating options were limited, especially for gatherings and parties. Also, the layout of the sofa and lounge chair and stools was more or less ok. But I was not fully convinced all this time. Moreover, I dearly love my vintage leather sofa by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer – but it is not the comfiest place to binge-watch a Netflix series. And then <a href="https://vetsak.com/collections/sofa" target="_blank">vetsak</a> appeared in my life.

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Vetsak is a German-South African furniture maker and their highlight product is their <a href="https://vetsak.com/collections/sofa" target="_blank">modular sofa system</a>. Almost endless possibilities of combinations, different materials, textures, and colors to choose from – however, it didn’t take me too long to find the perfect solution for my living room pain point. I had something pretty precise in my head and with Vetsak I turned this idea into reality. I’ve opted for a kind of lounge sofa made of two modules and two backrests in chunky yet soft corduroy in sand color.

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With the arrival of the sofa, a few changes had to be made to free up the space. The advantage of modular sofas is that they come in boxes – so my sofa for example came in about six larger boxes and a few smaller ones. Quite handy! And the building up was pretty quick and efficient – with the help of three friends though.

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I have cleared the corner next to the window in the living room as I wanted to create a cozy TV nook. The Vetsak sofa is now facing the TV and sitting right under the window to enjoy sky views while lying on the super cozy sofa. Additionally, I decided to place the vintage leather sofa opposite of the vetsak sofa – like this the room has a much more social vibe for gatherings as people can sit opposite of each other and chat, drink, and eat.

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A few other bits and pieces had to be moved, and the large Philodendron Selloum got even a little lift to use more of the room’s height and create a green canopy over the vetsak sofa. I am so in love with the new design of the living room and can’t wait to host the next party – which will be my birthday bash in about two weeks. And then the vetsak sofa will not only be a great TV lounge, but also a perfect seating option for my guests. I will show you.

What do you think of the new living room design and the vetsak sofa? Let me know!

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This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/igorjosif/" target="_blank">Igor</a> from <a href="https://happyinteriorblog.com/" target="_blank">Happy Interior Blog</a>.

Meet The Author

With a strong passion for interior design, home décor, travel, and plants, Igor wanted to share happiness with readers here in a digital home, the Happy Interior Blog. This blog focuses on interior design and decoration ideas for happy homes, it showcases the beauty of our world and the inspiration brought back home through travels, and it highlights to beauty and beneficial power of houseplants.

Happy Interior Blog is an international blog about interior design, styling, decoration, plants, and travel&nbsp;that has gained high appraisal and was awarded ‘Best International Blog’ in 2014. And the mission remains the same: Happy Interior Blog is the place to share happiness through interiors, travels, and plants. Welcome aboard!

Check out his <a href="https://happyinteriorblog.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/igorjosif/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/igorjosif/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

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After almost one and a half years in my Berlin apartment, the time has come for some changes. For quite a while there’s been a small but significant pain point in my living room.

Living Room Makeover

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">If you live in a small house, you know how difficult it can be to do up. You’ll be limited by the space that you have, and expansions might be out of the question. Figuring out how to improve your home’s visual appeal while working around this can be difficult.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">It doesn’t have to be complicated, however. It could be as simple as comparing a few specific home improvements, many of which can be perfect for a small home. Some can be more than worth the effort.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h3-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">1. Lighten The Floors

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">There are more than a few tips and tricks to make a room feel bigger, with mirrors being one of the more obvious. You could also consider lightening the floors. Brighter colors make rooms feel larger than they are, with this being increasingly obvious with lights and walls.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">The same principle <a href="https://www.thisoldhouse.com/flooring/21015810/wood-floors-are-lightening-up" target="_blank">applies to your floors</a>. These reflect natural light better and can also make a room appear warmer and more welcoming. By taking this approach, you’ll not only make the room look bigger but nicer.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">There’s no reason not to take this approach, with there being multiple ways of doing so, including rugs <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/give-your-home-an-eco-friendly-feel" target="_blank">and carpets</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h3-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">2. Install An Electric Fire

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Electric fires have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Alongside being more environmentally friendly, they take up less space than their traditional counterparts. They could be customized to a particular area to make sure they fit perfectly.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">They’re also one of the more affordable options while boasting a few additional benefits. One of the more notable is that they can tie together a room more than you’d expect. You’ll also have more than a few style options to choose from, with <a href="https://britishfires.com/log-effect-electric-fires/" target="_blank">log-effect electric fires</a> being one of the more popular.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h3-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">3. Build Shelves In Awkward Nooks

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">It’s not uncommon to have a few awkward nooks and crannies around the home. These can be difficult to put furniture and similar items in, so they often go unused. You can give them a specific use by building shelves specifically for them. The process is quite easy.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Once you have the measurements of the nook, it’s as simple as putting together some shelves that fit. If you have a few DIY skills and the appropriate tools, you could get this done in a few hours. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, there are a few simple guides online to <a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Put-up-Shelves" target="_blank">help you through the process</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block;"><span style="font: inherit; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">The only costs associated with this could be the materials, making it one of the more affordable options to choose from. And for more cost-conscious home design ideas, be sure to explore our <span style="font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://decormatters.com/">DecorMatters web app</a><span style="font: inherit; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/designandbeyond/" target="_blank">Paul</a> from <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Design &amp; Beyond</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Paul started Design &amp; Beyond back in 2015 as an online space to share his University portfolio and over the years it changed from a portfolio to a blog and a shop.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Throughout the years, Paul has gained experience and learned a lot from the design world. He is passionate about all that he does so follow along on his journey to success!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Check out their <a href="https://designandbeyond.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/designandbeyond/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/Designandbeyond/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

If you live in a small house, you know how difficult it can be to do up. You’ll be limited by the space that you have, and expansions might be out of the question. Figuring out how to improve your home’s visual appeal while working around this can be difficult. It doesn’t have to be complicated, however. It could be as simple as comparing a few specific home improvements, many of which can be perfect for a small home.

3 Affordable Ways To Improve Your Home's Visual Appeal

Apartments are rapidly shrinking in size as affordable, inner-city housing has become in demand worldwide. However, if you’re one of the lucky few who happen to be blessed with even the smallest balcony, you owe it to yourself to make it a personal nook of your own this summer, in the best way possible for you that feels practical and spacious at the same.

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/z_potrzeby_piekna/">@z_potrzeby_piekna</a>

It’s a no-brainer that spending increased time outdoors significantly boosts your general mental health, lowering day-to-day anxieties. By having your personal slice of paradise to soak up some sun and lap up the fresh air, you can spend more time outdoors without even leaving the comfort of your spot!

An area may have a challenging perimeter, but here at DecorMatters, we’re here to give you a few pointers on how to work with the small outdoor space you’ve got and turn it into something you can begin to enjoy as the temperature rises. 

Ask Yourself This Question First and Foremost...

Step one: sit down with yourself and ask point blanc - ‘what do I want from this area?’ 

If you’re an avid reader, maybe you’d like to turn your outdoor space into a cozy reading nook for nighttime books or scouring the internet for your favorite blogs, like this one! 

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📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lkt.home/" target="_blank">@lkt.home</a>

If you like the sound of increasing your hours spent working outside, as opposed to the makeshift office you’ve created in your home, maybe you could use an outdoor working space every once in a while? By changing up our environment halfway through the workday to a more natural and calming one, our work hours can feel less strenuous overall, and any stress that may hit us may feel a little less heavy when we can breathe in the fresh air outside.

Think about what you genuinely want to use this space for, and create a plan. Write down your goals for this project, and brainstorm ways you feel you could make it happen. Scroll through Pinterest or DecorMatters to gain inspiration. 

Make Way for Collapsable, Capsule Furniture

You can blend multiple ideas by having a versatile area that can be a relaxing environment and a productive one by utilizing easily packable furniture that can be stowed away instantly.

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stefyplants/" target="_blank">@stefyplants</a>

For example, install a fold-down table that clips onto your wall if you want to work outside periodically. This way, you can adapt the space for two different moods. You can hide this element once it hits 5 o’clock and make way for a relaxing environment by folding the table away easily against the wall or railing. We’d recommend a classic egg chair to pair, which can provide comfort for both reading and working. 

Hot tip: Have a similar approach to your balcony as an RV. These vans usually house entire families for months and prioritize elements that can be moved around, molded, and collapsed to get many different uses out of such a small space. Treat your small area as such! You can even use the way these automobiles are designed to gain inspiration if you also want to utilize fold-down furniture. 

You can read more <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/post/how-to-embrace-the-outdoors-all-year-round" target="_blank">here</a> about which outdoor furniture to pick this Spring.

Placing elements that bounce the light surrounding you off nearby surfaces opens your mind to feeling like you are in a bigger space than you physically are, quite like an illusion.

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/housebeautiful/" target="_blank">@housebeautiful</a>

By hanging either one large or multiple small mirrors off a wall or railing on your balcony, you’ll open up the space to your subconscious. You can find a beautiful gold frame, vintage mirrors from most weekend vintage markets, or second-hand stores. A classy, mid-century modern mirror can fit into almost any design style or surrounding! 

Personalize Your Space With Your Favorite Colors 

What tones make you feel good? We recommend prioritizing a splash of your favorite colors to make your small space feel more personal. 

If you have the wiggle room to paint a section of your balcony, we’d recommend reading about how your <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/post/paint-is-more-than-just-a-color" target="_blank">paint is more than just a </a>color and what colors can spark certain feelings inside you.

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/arborand.co/" target="_blank">@arborand.co</a>

We’re not saying you have to repaint your entire balcony; we don’t want your landlord emailing the blog complaining! But without painting, you can implement pops of color outside through cushions, a small outdoor rug, or even plant pots! 

Rule of Thumb: In a Small Space, Less Is More! 

Remember to keep simplicity in mind. If we cram too many things into a small area, it creates the opposite effect to your time spent in this space, cluttering your space and making you feel overwhelmed. 

We relate clutter to a feeling of claustrophobia, and we’re aiming to utilize the space and open it up in the best way possible. 

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📸:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/domnamazowszu/" target="_blank">@domnamazowszu</a>

So, keep reminding yourself that less is more in your re-design. Sometimes, the one who says less can bring more to the table. Treat your space as such! 

Stop by <a href="https://www.company.decormatters.com/blog" target="_blank">DecorMatters</a> anytime for more tips on how to bring the outdoors closer to home this spring!

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Apartments are rapidly shrinking in size as affordable, inner-city housing has become in demand worldwide. However, if you’re one of the lucky few who happen to be blessed with even the smallest balcony, you owe it to yourself to make it a personal nook of your own this summer, in the best way possible for you that feels practical and spacious at the same time.

How to Embrace Your Small Outdoor Space

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Side tables are versatile pieces of furniture that find a place in many spaces, from the living room to the bedroom.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
Materials vary from wood to stone, and for this roundup, we’ll focus on either sustainably-sourced materials or waste-based ones.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">So let’s round up 10 interesting examples taken from <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/" target="_blank">SforSustainable</a>, the sustainable interior design platform I curate.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Sustainably Sourced

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Natural materials are not automatically a sustainable choice. What makes the biggest difference is how they’re sourced. Does sourcing respect the balance of the ecosystem? Only in this case, the material will be in line with long-term sustainability.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Product selection:

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://nikari.fi/" target="_blank">Nikari</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Precious Offcuts

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Stone is a precious natural material whose extraction often requires an intensive process. In most cases, working with stone creates offcuts that – despite having smaller and weird shapes – shouldn’t be discarded. In fact, these bits and pieces can become beautiful objects with just a bit of creativity!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.salvatori.it/en/" target="_blank">Salvatori</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.tacchini.it/en/" target="_blank">Tacchini</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="http://www.studiorawmaterial.com/" target="_blank">Studio Raw Material</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Waste-based Materials

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Waste-based materials are one interesting and prolific field in sustainable design. In short, the idea is to find innovative ways to make sense of what has been considered useless so far. Examples go from glass shards, discarded textiles, and rubber to fruit and vegetable peels!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.folkreykjavik.com/" target="_blank">FÓLK</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://home.alusid.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alusid</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.ottanstudio.com/" target="_blank">Ottan</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://slashobjects.com/" target="_blank">Slash Objects</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.charlottekidger.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Kidger</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Credit: <a href="https://www.justynapoplawska.com/" target="_blank">Justyna Poplawska</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Roundup

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">1. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/tacchini-joaquim" target="_blank">Joaquim - by Tacchini</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">2. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/salvatori-rene" target="_blank">René - by Salvatori</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">3. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/ottan-cassie" target="_blank">Cassie - by Ottan</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">4. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/studio-raw-material-astra" target="_blank">Astra - by Studio Raw Material</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">5. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/slash-objects-rubber-cyl" target="_blank">Rubber Cyl - by Slash Objects</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">6. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/nikari-april" target="_blank">April - by Nikari</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">7. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/justyna-poplawska-tinct" target="_blank">Tinct - by Justyna Poplawska</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">8. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/charlotte-kidger-side-table-03" target="_blank">Side Table 03 - by Charlotte Kidger</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">9. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/alusid-block" target="_blank">Block - by Alusid</a>
<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">10. <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/furniture/folk-upcycled" target="_blank">Upcycled - by FÓLK</a>

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
For more sustainable interior products, browse through <a href="https://sforsustainable.style/" target="_blank">SforSustainable</a>!

Side tables are versatile pieces of furniture that find a place in many spaces, from the living room to the bedroom. Materials vary from wood to stone, and for this roundup, we’ll focus on either sustainably-sourced materials or waste-based ones.

Sustainable Roundups: 10 Side Tables for People and the Planet

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Despite what’s happening with the weather outside, patio season is rapidly approaching. It’s taking slightly longer than we would all like, but we see glimpses and know that it is on the way. When that sun shines and shares its warmth, it makes me excited. I cannot wait to get the space power washed, set up the furniture and rugs, and have my weekend cocktails in the glorious daylight. This past week, I was lucky enough to do another collaboration with my favorite home decor store in Canada, HomeSense. I found so many goodies that completed our patio perfectly, setting us up well for hosting our family and friends. It reminded me of this post I did last year on <a href="https://signedsamantha.com/3-ways-to-elevate-your-patio-space/" target="_blank">how to elevate your patio space</a>. While this one is similar, I actually think the combination of the two will make your patio a perfect oasis for the summer. So, here we have it: three finishing touches your patio needs to bring it from meh to WOW.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Your Outdoor Spaces Need Blankets

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">I am ready to say that we must add pillows as the perfect finishing touch for our patio spaces, but I did say that in last year’s post already and it is a given. Do you know what’s not a given?! Having blankets in your patio space for those breezy summer days or chilly nights. I appreciate nothing more than staying warm and as we transition into summer with some questionable weather, let’s make sure we know how to keep ourselves and our guests comfortable: with some cozy blankets.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">High-Quality Melamine and Plastic Dishware

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Glass and ceramic are generally not the best ideas in your outdoor spaces. My husband walks around barefoot in the backyard all of the time. Now, my daughter has learned to do this. Either of these materials getting broken on our paving stones would be a nightmare to try to clean and we want to make sure the little and big bare feet are safe. Not to mention, many of our family and friends have young children so for the safety of all, let’s stick to the melamine and plastic dishware outdoors. The thing is, you should look for some higher quality products. I struggle to drink out of plastic glasses – particularly low-quality glasses. I feel like there is a strange taste happening and it takes away from my cocktail drinking experience. Once we switched to high-quality glasses (that were also dishwasher safe!), I was able to comfortably drink my cocktails. PS – high-quality doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the bank – these were from HomeSense for $3.99 each.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-h2-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Centerpieces on Your Outdoor Coffee Table

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Centerpieces and decor for your outdoor coffee table are next-level bougie as a finishing touch for your outdoor patio space – but it makes a huge difference in the invitingness you’re creating. Before you judge, do you decorate your indoor coffee table?! So why wouldn’t you decorate your outdoor table?! I decided to add even more greenery and tie in the garden around us with a little planter and plant. I also used a serving tray with my dishes as another anchoring piece on the table which made it feel cohesive. If I had everything separate it would have been just ok, but the serving tray collects everything and makes it feel like it’s one piece, not 5 different pieces that are also on the table trying to fit in.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">
I hope these tips have helped you complete your patio space and bring it from a 7/10 to a 100/10! Happy almost summertime weather!!!!

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">This article was written by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/signedsamanthaxo/" target="_blank">Samantha</a> from <a href="https://signedsamantha.com/" target="_blank">Signed Samantha</a>.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Samantha is a working mama who has always looked to find that work/life balance.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">On her website, you’ll find a daily dose of inspiration, coupled with a ton of sarcasm and a few laughs. Signed Samantha is a millennial mom who encompasses all things food, cocktails, entertaining, home decor, easy D.I.Ys, toddler activities, and everything in between.

<span class="_2PHJq public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; text-align: left !important; display: block;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: var(--ricos-custom-p-background-color,unset); font: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;">Check out her <a href="https://signedsamantha.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/signedsamanthaxo/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/signedsamanthaxo/_created/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!

Despite what’s happening with the weather outside, patio season is rapidly approaching. It’s taking slightly longer than we would all like, but we see glimpses and know that it is on the way. When that sun shines and shares its warmth, it makes me excited. I cannot wait to get the space power washed, set up the furniture and rugs, and have my weekend cocktails in the glorious daylight.

Three Finishing Touches Your Patio Needs

Natural raw materials are a timeless trend for updating your home. Exposed wood, stone, marble, leather, terracotta, bamboo, and rattan—natural raw materials never go out of fashion. Whether you’re looking for entire&nbsp;<a href="https://www.decorilla.com/online-decorating/home-interior-design-10-essential-home-remodel-tips-tricks/" target="_blank">home remodeling ideas</a>&nbsp;or some home decor inspirations to spruce up your place, organic textures and earth tones for your interior design palette provide a neutral starting point.&nbsp;

8f44c0_b5378af55d3b409592e295730d967d03~mv2.png

Natural raw materials are a timeless trend for updating your home. Exposed wood, stone, marble, leather, terracotta, bamboo, and rattan—natural raw materials never go out of fashion. Whether you’re looking for entire home remodeling ideas or some home decor inspirations to spruce up your place, organic textures and earth tones for your interior design palette provide a neutral starting point. 