Home decor tips: How to grow indoor plants, arrange cushions, set up compost to make a big impact

Best indoor plants: Plants like snake plants or spider plants improve air quality naturally, bringing calmness, beauty and a sense of connection to nature into every corner of your home (Image: Canva)

Want to contribute to a better, greener planet, but don’t know how? Your home itself can be a space of conscious change. Every time you pick a handcrafted cushion instead of a synthetic one, or grow herbs on your balcony instead of buying plastic-packed greens, you’re already making a difference. It’s a slow, thoughtful way of living that benefits both you and the planet.

The beauty of mindful living is how gentle, yet transformative, it feels. According to Gunjan Goel, Director, Goel Ganga Developments, choosing natural, handmade or vintage items reduces waste, cuts carbon emissions, and supports local craftsmanship. “Plus it also adds to the aesthetics. Using mirrors to bounce sunlight instead of artificial lights, or composting your kitchen scraps, offer everyday comfort while shaping a sustainable future,” says Goel.

Each thoughtful detail in your home threads together into a quieter but more impactful way of living.

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Goel shares 10 simple ways to turn your home into an eco-friendly peaceful haven:

• Grow your own herbs: Fresh herbs in your kitchen or balcony pots are easy to grow and help you cut down on store-bought, plastic-packed ones, while adding greenery to your space.

• Compost kitchen scraps: A tiny composter can turn your vegetable peels, coffee grounds and eggshells into rich, nutrient-packed soil, perfect for balcony gardens or gifting to fellow plant lovers.

• Pick natural fabrics: Switch to cotton, linen or handwoven textiles for cushions, throws and curtains. They last longer, feel cosier, and reduce the synthetic waste ending up in landfills.

• Choose vintage décor: Adding vintage mirrors, lamps or tables gives your space a unique story, while reducing demand for fast furniture and keeping older items out of landfills.

• Place indoor plants: Plants like snake plants or spider plants improve air quality naturally, bringing calmness, beauty and a sense of connection to nature into every corner of your home.

• Use mirrors wisely: Mirrors help bounce natural light around the room, thus reducing daytime electricity use and brightening darker spots without extra lamps.

• Swap to bamboo decor: Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing renewable resources. Swap plastic wind chimes, baskets or mats for bamboo alternatives that are biodegradable and naturally beautiful.

• Install solar lights: Fairy lights powered by solar energy add a magical glow to balconies or gardens, while cutting down on your electricity bill and reducing energy consumption.

• Buy local craftsmanship: Support local artisans by choosing handcrafted home items. These often last longer and add warmth and character, while also strengthening local communities and economies.

• Declutter your space: Before tossing things out, see if they can be repurposed or donated. Thoughtful decluttering reduces waste and keeps your home minimal, yet full of purpose and meaning.