Sustainability is one of today’s strongest trends and there is no doubt that a home can be both beautiful, inspiring and environmentally friendly. We shared our best tips for a sustainable lifestyle with Skanska Nya hem – for you, your home and your environment.

Preserve instead of replace

The hottest trend of them all is simple. In short, think twice before renovating the kitchen or replacing the couch and instead, do as much as possible with what you already have. Try changing the fabric of the couch instead of buying new – it’s often more gratifying.

Be picky when choosing materials

If you are going to decorate your home in a sustainable way, it is important to think an extra time about the materials of which the furniture or interior design are made. Wool, linen and solid wood are materials that only grow more beautiful over time.

Handmade 

Ceramics, porcelain figures or textiles – a great tip to make your home personal is to decorate with handmade items. Do it yourself or buy from your local artists.

Buy used 

Making bargains on a flea market or auction is fun – and it’s also a real sport! In recent years, it has become easier than ever with auction sites like Bukowskis.se, Lauritz.com or Auktionsverket.se. Or why not go around your neighborhood to look for local antique and second hand stores?

Turn to nature 

There are many gold grains out in nature that we can decorate our home with. For example, a branch along with two leather straps may become a clothes’ rack. Nice, practical and easy to make!

Less plastic at home 

There are several reasons why it is good to have a plastic-free home. First, you get rid of poisons, but it’s also a pleasure to replace plastic products with more durable materials like wood, fabric or glass. Begin in the kitchen and replace all the plastic products that are heated, such as food boxes. Remember to submit as much as possible to recycling. 

Extend the life of textiles

The textile industry is one the dirtiest there is; the fourth largest source of environmental emissions. Therefore, it is good to think about one’s clothing and textile consumption. The best you can do? Use garments until they are worn out. 

Leave the car at home

Research shows that a large part of textiles’ environmental footprints are generated when we take the car to buy them. Plan your purchases and try to leave your car at home. Often e-commerce is a more eco-friendly alternative than driving to the store. 

Scale down – less is more!

Trend experts agree – less is the new black. Buy less and focus on fewer, well-chosen things that are special just for you and that you will enjoy today, tomorrow and for many days to come.

A collaboration with Skanska Nya Hem

I’ve learned so much these past four years with Make it last, and feel like I’ve sort of figured out ‘the art of building a wardrobe that lasts over time’ by now. For me, this means to only invest in things I truly feel comfortable in. I rarely buy newly-produced but when I do, high quality and timeless design are musts, and every addition I bring home must fit in with the rest of my wardrobe. I have actually fewer garments now than ever, yet getting dressed has never felt more easy or fun.

Another thing I have in mind when I shop these days is to only search for garments that I think I would still like to wear when I’m eighty – things that I’m unlikely to get tired of. And speaking of: I bought my first pre-owned Céline coat (which in fashion would now be an ‘Old Céline’ coat) last winter. It was this beautiful double-breasted version in ecru sheepskin that made me think of an ice-skating scene out of Anna Karenina. It’s romantic yet contemporary – which is always the case when Phoebe Philo holds the pen.

I think it’s hard to find this kind of design elsewhere, and so when another Céline coat poped up on Vestiaire Collective last April – this one a salt-and-pepper in different shades of beige and brown – I didn’t think twice. It’s perfect from autumn, mid winter and early spring. And I got another one just a month ago: a cropped navy peacoat-inspired jacket with a minimalist silk peplum that looks like a ducktail from the back (in a good way!).

What these three coats have in common is that they are timeless and work with literary everything in my wardrobe. I can’t wait to be eighty and wear them even then. And if I would ever grow tired of them, I can always sell them and get some of the money back – that’s why they’re such great investments.

Which one’s your favorite?

Kicks won my heart over a few months back when I learned that you can return your old cosmetic waste – such as nail polish, perfume, hairspray and hair color – for recycling at most of their stores. Now they’ve just launched Skin Treat – a new vegan beauty brand with a distinct botanical philosophy that I was very happy to try out last week.

Skin Treat has created a highly effective series of body care made with potent organic ingredients from plant-based sources. They focus on tangible results and visible effects, delivering innovative formulas that are 100% vegan-friendly. The price is very agreeable too, I must say, and the recipes are optimized to be as natural as possible, whilst still fulfilling the high requirements for efficiency, quality and skin-friendliness. All products are paraben and sulphate free, and contain gentle yet effective cleansing agents.

The scent for the ‘Weightless Care’ series is perfect – I’d call it soapy chamomile meets fresh laundry – and in every way better than any perfume I’ve ever tried. My favorite product is the Replenishing Boost Body Butter Light – a smooth, buttery formula made with 97% natural content, like organic avocado oil and cocoa butter, and active naturals like guarana and açai. The lotion is light and makes the skin glow!

#skinntreat.com #kicks.se

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In collaboration with Skin Treat.