Style your home the eco-friendly way

Everyone likes to do their bit for the environment, but recycling your tins of beans and re-using those plastic bags hardly makes you an eco-warrior. Many people think to that to become truly environmentally-friendly means sacrificing style, but this could not be further from the truth.

Take once ugly prototypes of the future, hybrid cars, as an example. Those boxes on wheels are now the stylish fashion statements seen gliding around our streets at a fraction of the cost of their gas-guzzling counterparts.

The same goes for your home; you know that coffee table you saw abandoned in a skip yesterday? Well it's OK to go grab it and make it the focal point of your living room. Vintage furniture is all the rage and with a bit of tender loving care you can recycle someone else's unwanted furniture, turning it into whatever your imagination will allow.

So, if you want to go fashionably green and save some money in the process, here are some tips on how to style your home, the eco-friendly way:

• You could be forgiven for blasting the heating out of every radiator as the cold winter nights draw in, but losing this heat through windows, doors and attics is as bad for the environment as it is your pocket. Use curtains made out of recycled or natural material like hemp to cut out the draft whilst making your house look more cosy and inviting.

• If you can afford it, replace your windows and get your house double-glazed. It may be a large outlay initially, but the money you will save on your energy bills in years to come will more than make up for it. The same goes for loft insulation, which can be a cheaper and easier way to retain some of the energy you use.

• Once your home's insulation is ship-shape you can turn down the central heating safe in the knowledge that your house won't immediately become an ice palace. And if things do become a little chilly later on in the evening, why not invest in a set of sofa sleeping bags? Available in a range of bright colours you could get a personalised one for each member of the family, meaning you'll all stay nice and snug when watching your favourite film or TV show.

• A wood burner is another great way of saving on your heating bill, in addition to giving your home that rustic, welcoming feel. Firewood is cheap and if you live rurally you can even make a day of it and go and collect some for free yourself. It really doesn't get any better than sitting in front of a roaring fire with your family, and you'll certainly not tire of the compliments it will attract from guests.

• Redecorating is a great way of breathing life into your home and now you can do it with the environment in mind. Get the man of the house to put up some new wallpaper with a difference: it's made from a plant. Arrowroot wallpaper is handcrafted and made from a fast growing and renewable source. Not only is it eco-friendly, it looks great, with its earthy tones and durability.

Of course environmentally-friendly style does not have to be confined to your home, what about that monstrosity sat on your drive? A hybrid like the Honda CR-Z is the ultimate style statement and a much better alternative to your current money-haemorrhaging automobile.

A revolution in modern design, the CR-Z is perfect for negotiating crowded city centres or making your way through busy supermarket car parks. It is elegant both inside and out whilst still being extremely reliable and safe; the CR-Z has received a five star Euro NCAP safety rating.

It is beautiful to look at and drive, but Honda could not be accused of favouring style over substance. A combined fuel economy of 56.4 mpg and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km allows the vehicle to be environmentally-friendly, excellent value for money and a chic addition to your garage.  

Being green doesn't mean you have to compromise on style, and whether it's a new décor that you want, or a new car, you can juggle being on-trend and eco-friendly all at once.

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