Michelle Ogundehin on how to create a sustainable home

If you've been looking to make your home more eco-friendly, you've come to the right place.

We caught up with iconic interiors consultant, author and Interior Design Masters star Michelle Ogundehin to find out all of her sustainable living tips.

More eco-friendly decor ideas...

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Read on to discover Michelle's tips for reducing your home's carbon footprint.

Michelle Ogundehin’s tips for a sustainable home

Surround yourself with elemental materials

Choose materials like marble, granite, wood, glass and cotton for your home, as these will only ever contribute to your wellbeing. But, as well as being natural in origin, these materials need to be tactile. As physical sensory beings, we need to surround ourselves with surfaces that stimulate.

20 stylish marble and stone kitchen ideas for a cool and sophisticated space

Avoid plastics, vinyl or synthetics wherever you can

Natural cork decorative wall tiles, from £10, Portuguese Treasures/ Etsy

Try to steer clear of synthetic materials where possible, from nylon carpets and polyester fabrics to formaldehyde exuding MDF. They all contain chemicals which you do not want in your happy healthy, soon to be non-toxic home.

Cork board decor ideas for sustainable interiors

More Interior Design Masters...

Boring but important: do your draught-proofing

How to draught-proof your windows and doors — Draught-proof your windows and doors to keep the heat in

There’s no point installing solar panels, roof insulation or underfloor heating if all that lovely heat and energy is whistling straight out through leaky windows and doors. Seal them up and save money!

How to draught-proof your windows and doors

When adding insulation, ask your builder to look into environmentally friendly options

Formerly purple, with uneven floors and a leak in the ceiling, ‘the dining room was extremely dark when we first bought the house,’ Lynn says, ‘so we painted it white. Now, light enters the large patio doors and bounces off the walls to create a bright space. We also had to get a new roof and insulation, but it made the whole ground floor so much warmer’ — Lynn's home was formerly purple, with uneven floors and a leak in the ceiling. ‘The dining room was extremely dark when we first bought the house, so we painted it white. Now, light enters the large patio doors and bounces off the walls to create a bright space. We also had to get a new roof and insulation, but it made the whole ground floor so much warmer’

Materials like hempcrete, cork, sheep’s wool, cellulose (from shredded paper) or wood wool. All non-irritant, safe to handle and completely recyclable.

Conservatory temperature control: how to keep yours cool in summer and warm in winter

Add thermostats in every room

Smart thermostats: what are they and are they worth investing in? — Add smart thermostats to control heating in each room

You can then control which rooms are heated according to who’s at home. It’s easy to turn the temperature down with home tech and one degree lower could see you make savings of up to £75/year according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Wash at a max temperature of 30 degrees

The little pantry provides much-needed storage space in the kitchen. ‘It used to have everything just thrown in there, until we put in the little cupboards, re-did the shelving and changed the light fitting,’ Sharon says. ‘The wooden worktop was covered by ugly vinyl plastic, which we peeled off.’ The little curtain hides the washing machine — Create a sustainable utility room

Your clothes will be just as clean, and you’ll save even more money by using less energy.

How to remove tough stains naturally and avoid harsh chemicals

Choose natural lime-based paints

Annie Sloan Outdoor Living Table In Old White And Graphite Chalk Paint With Tallulah Stencil Pattern Chairs In Old White And Florenceplaster Effect Wall In Scandinavian Pink Lifestyle Port (1) — Outdoor Living Table In Old White And Graphite Chalk Paint With Tallulah Stencil Pattern Chairs In Old White And Florence. Plaster Effect Wall In Scandinavian Pink, all Annie Sloan

Did you know that most paints are 37% plastic? And a major cause of global microplastic pollution? Choose natural lime-based paints so you and your home can breathe more easily. Lime-based paints also naturally inhibit bacteria and mould. Ask for lime-based plaster wherever possible too when you’re renovating.

Where to buy eco-friendly paints

Feeling inspired to help the planet? Here's how to make your own cleaning products: 5 eco-friendly recipes.

Thea JeffreysDigital Writer

Thea Jeffreys is the Digital Writer on YourHomeStyle.uk, and is passionate about all things home décor. When she’s not scouring the internet for budget-friendly homeware finds, you’ll find her writing about the latest interior trends and handy upcycling tricks.

Michelle Ogundehin on how to create a sustainable home

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