Renting doesn't mean you have to live with whatever the last tenant left behind. Start with the things you own and the room you sleep in.
1. Swap your rug
Choose jute, sisal or wool on a natural backing instead of polyester or nylon. It's the biggest soft surface in most rooms.
2. Reupholster one chair
Cover a thrifted chair or headboard in tomato leather, a PU-free, biodegradable alternative to PU and PVC leatherette.
3. Build your desk from straw board
A desk or bookshelf in AgriBioPanel has zero added formaldehyde, and it moves with you.
4. Oil a second-hand table
Sand a thrift-store table and finish it with a food-grade plant oil instead of varnish.
5. Ask about one wall
Many landlords are fine with a neutral natural paint, especially one with no smell. Start with your bedroom wall.
6. Add natural acoustic panels
Straw or wool panels make a shared flat or home studio calmer, without polyester foam.
7. Open the windows
The US EPA notes that indoor levels of many VOCs are higher than outdoors. Ventilate every day, and especially after bringing in anything new.
Tell us about your room and budget, and we'll send a small-swaps list with prices.
Tell us about your home. We'll suggest the right materials and send a quote, free.