Design + Decor

These Colorful Etsy Rugs Will Transform Your Home into an Abstract Dreamscape

published on June 17, 2022 by Angela Hamilton

It’s definitely no secret that one of my favorite ways to decorate is with creative handmade rugs. I’ve shared my favorite ethically made rugs, wrote a guide on where to find fair trade rugs, interviewed sustainable brands about their rug making process, and umm, lots more. I’ve gone through phases with the types of rugs I adore at the moment, from Mexican rugs to Indian rugs to the Moroccan styles I’m currently loving (love me a nice fluffy rug). And because I think they are the ultimate way to bring color into your home, each and every one of them is a feast for the eyes.

Ready for yet another rug tour? Here we go.

the best colorful handmade etsy rugs

Pink and green Beni Ourain Moroccan rug from Beldihand

Moroccan green checkered rug from Beldihand also available in a gorgeous pink!

Pink cotton woven rug from IndianHomeTextiles

Contemporary large pink, green, and blue Boujaad rug by Babakechrugs.

Wool shaggy dhurrie rug from rugsxboutique

Checkered rugs are so trendy right now. I admit I was over it until I saw my favorite rug makers channel the vibe…

Moroccan berber style yellow checkered rug from IBABArugs

Handwoven boho area rug from Mumotoronto

Striped pink rug from Berberology

Striped pink boho shag rug from Loom + Field

Modern tiled gold/orange rug by MuskanArtHouse

Colorful handmade Azilal runner in pink, red, green, and peach by Floorandfabrics.

Custom, artistic neon beniourain etsy rug by MWovenShop

Have you ever stepped foot inside a home featuring rugs as bold and beautiful as these? I honestly haven’t. When you’re used to scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest half the day, you start to think everyone has the most creative decor. The truth is, most people don’t even know it’s out there! So if you invest in something as special as these artistic rugs, you know you’ll delight anyone who enters your sweet home. 💓

Edited February 2023: I know many of the rugs above have sold out, so I’ve included more favorites via these Etsy shops and more below:

Sustainable Home Decor for Lovers of Maximalist Design

published on May 10, 2022 by Angela Hamilton

Love maximalist design but want to remain committed to becoming a more conscious consumer? Here are a few of my favorite sustainable design and decor destinations for achieving that maximalist, layered look with a relatively low footprint (versus mass-produced, corporate goods). Of course these shouldn’t be a replacement for secondhand sources and local boutiques in your community, but rather a supplement when you’re looking for that perfect piece to round out your collection. Peruse the shops below, then head over to this post to learn more about conscious maximalism in decor!

Palm pillowcases by CloselyKnitCo on Etsy

Etsy

Etsy is my go-to for home decor (and has been since I first discovered them in 2008!) because you can find both handmade and vintage on the platform, offering different ways to shop sustainably. Plus, while it’s always less taxing on the environment to shop locally than ship items from around the world, Etsy does offset its carbon emissions. If you love hunting for higher end vintage pieces, you can also try Chairish.

A few more of my favorite Etsy shops for handmade maximalist decor are Mrs Fishkin, MoiMili, SoLinen (which I mean, is perfect for minimalists too!), and Poppy & Honesty. For vintage, I love to check in on AnnabelMayVintage, SimplyChi, and LittleDogVintage for new-old finds.

Trouva

Have you shopped indie makers on Trouva before? It’s a discovery site and marketplace featuring goodies from boutiques in the UK and EU and globally. They offer carbon neutral worldwide shipping and even complimentary gift wrap, so they really make it easy to choose thoughtful gifts and decor. You can always search Google for your favorite vendors discovered on the platform, and see if any US based retailers offer them, if you are looking for something more local.

A few Trouva vendors that have caught my eye are Projektityyny, Casa Cubista, and Society of Wanderers. If you’re looking for a US based platform that works in a similar way, you might try Garmentory.

Pillows by Archive New York

Wall baskets by Kazi as seen in @emmyraver‘s home in @archdigest

Made Trade

If you’re a die-hard maximalist that is obsessed with all things bold, it’s easy to discount Made Trade. They are an ethical marketplace featuring tons of my favorite sustainable brands, but I have to admit that as a brand they lean toward the more common minimalist angle when it comes to conscious consumerism. That said, they offer some amazing maximalist vendors like Zuahaza, Kazi, and Archive New York. Like Etsy and Trouva, it takes some digging, but you can certainly find the pops of color and pattern you’re looking for, sustainably!

St Frank textiles and decor

st frank

On the higher end of this roundup, maximalist design site St Frank is such a beautiful destination for artisan-made home goods with a sustainable focus. They have an extensive collection of ethically-sourced goods for every one of your home and lifestyle needs–from wallpaper to textiles to housewares and artwork. It’s truly a one-stop shop and the bold prints and patterns they feature are ripe for layering and adding texture to your home.

Another shot by our member and home decor shop we’ve featured, Archive New York.

our blog

We first started obsessing over conscious maximalism in this trend report. From there, we posted a few shopping roundups that are perfect for helping you curate a maximalist home with intention. Our favorites:

We also share them in our directory and in our boutique.

A Colorful Holiday Table with Terraklay + Giveaway

published on December 15, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

Remember those fun Furoshiki style wrapped gifts we shared last month? The fabric used was actually artisan made, hand-dyed napkins from eco club member and ethical brand TerraKlay, based out of Chicago. I love that the napkins can be both the gift itself, and the package–they’re that pretty. Of course, I wanted to show them off in their intended state, as reusable napkins, to adorn a colorful holiday table. They offers sets of Geetha Shibori Dyed Cotton Napkin in six colors, four of which we used below. Read on to see how our colorful tablescape turned out, and enter to win a set of TerraKlay napkins for your own table over on our Instagram later today.

The striking table runner we used is actually two-sided! It’s the Chechi Runner in Pink, another entertaining essential that comes in seven hues.

I’ve used these jute placemats for pretty much every dinner I’ve thrown (and photographed) in the last five years. They are from fair trade decor brand Will + Atlas, and truly fit any vibe I’m going for, such as this more formal Friendsgiving spread. TerraKlay offers a similar design made of upcycled banana fibers.

The green glasses are a vintage set from Etsy that I scooped up earlier this year, and I got the vase at Goodwill.

Back to the napkins. The Shibori dyed patterns on them are really lovely, and I noticed right away how much more beautiful they look in-person versus photos (though I tried to capture as best I could!). TerraKlay’s textiles and decor are made by people, not factories, in India, who have been working in their craft for generations. They also partner with young adults to support their vocational education. Learn more about their team and founder Manvee Vaid here.

Pro tip: Tie scrap ribbon from your holiday gift wrapping around your napkins for cute bow “rings” that make each place setting look like a present!

This eucalyptus was dried up and on its way out, but it still made for a pretty table garland in a pinch. Next time I’ll add some candles into the mix.

The shop offers other artisan homewares like mugs, tea towels, throw blankets, and cookware.

If you’re looking to set a more formal holiday table, nest your salad and dinner plates in between the placemat and napkins. I chose to keep them off as our dinner was served buffet-style, with guests claiming a plate at the beginning of the line before heading to their seat.

Here’s a close up of the four napkin colors on our pink runner. I’m all for unconventional pops of color, but I have to say the traditional Indigo is my favorite here. I love the richness of the dye.

What do your holiday tables look like? Do you go for traditional seasonal colors or something more surprising?

By the way, if you’re considering a zero waste swap for the new year, I definitely recommend ditching paper towels for a good set of cotton or linen napkins. I swapped a few years ago and never went back. Not only does it reduce waste, but meals feel just a bit fancier because of it!

Shop at terraklay.com and be sure to head over to Insta for a chance to win a set of your own!

The Best Vintage Christmas Ornaments on Etsy

published on November 10, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on November 5, 2021

Anyone else obsessed with vintage Christmas ornaments? I already own more than I need for my little {pink} tree thanks to my local thrift shops, but I can’t help but comb my favorite Etsy shops for new-old-finds each year. I’ve saved what feels like a zillion shops with ornaments and decor the past few weeks, and thought it would be fun to share them with those on the hunt for festive and sustainable adornments of their own! Find my top collections below linked with our Etsy affiliate links (which I appreciate the opportunity to use so much, because I love promoting Etsy stores!).

Side note: Be sure to peruse the rest of the shops behind each listing, as most of them have essentially turned into vintage holiday goldmines this time of year!

the prettiest vintage ornaments on etsy

Christmas Tree Top Glass Ornaments via OldBox (sold individually)

Vintage Czech blown mercury glass miniature bell Christmas ornaments via BohemianStarsLtd

Custom set vintage Christmas hand-painted glass ornaments via Grannysbox

Gold vintage Christmas ornaments via Danslamalleameme

50 1960s glass ornaments via vintagestoreworld

50 Christmas glass indent ornaments via ChristmasBoxStore

Sparkly silver and pastel ornaments via DaniBeeVintage

Vintage blue Shiny Brite glass balls via findandseekvtg

Blue and coral 1950 vintage Shiny Brite ornaments via DonnaDanielsDecor (like any vintage holiday collector, I have to have me some Shiny Brites!)

8 indented mercury glass vintage Christmas ornaments via Kleymannscloset

What do you think? Should I keep adding more as I find them? 100% happy to keep on collecting these fabulous Etsy shops for your scrolling pleasure. If you plan to gift any to loved ones this season, don’t forget to check out our guide to sustainable gift wrap and how to level up your holiday gifts!

Where To Buy Eco Friendly Gift Wrap

published on November 5, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

Once of my favorite ways to level up holiday gifts is with beautiful wrapping paper. Ribbons, bows, tags, you name the accessory and I love to pop it on. I want my gift box to be a gift in itself! So you can imagine my disappointment upon learning that most wrapping paper and gift embellishments aren’t up to my sustainability standards. In fact, you probably saw a couple years ago when articles started circulating claiming that wrapping paper isn’t recyclable. (The truth is, it depends where you live, and usually just wrapping paper with foil, glitter, or other non-paper components. My rule: if it’s not shiny, recycle it!)

Of course, what makes gift wrap eco friendly isn’t just its ability to be recycled. Like any other consumer good, it depends on its base materials and how it was produced. At the very least, I like to stick to supporting small businesses when it comes to buying gift wrap—they’ll offer the original designs I’m looking to add to my thoughtful packages, anyway.

eco friendly wrapping paper

Take Etsy for example. This eco friendly gift wrap was designed by a small business, Lomond Paper Co, and printed on recyclable FSC certified paper. It’s so cute!

happywrap‘s Lotka paper (made from the bark of the Lokta shrub found in the Himalayas) is fair trade and naturally dyed.

has the sweetest winter designs.

happywrap reminds me how much I love going non-traditional on holidays.

Mulberry paper is another wonderful resource for eco friendly gift wrap, like these purple rolls from Saaper.

Scotland Based Cascayde offers up everything from eco friendly Christmas crackers to recycled ribbon and more. Love their innovation!

Sustainable gift wrap company unwrp offers super colorful and fun designs on wrapping paper, fabric wrap, and accessories. Their wrapping paper is FSC certified and fully recyclable, and their fabric wrap is even better: they’re actually gorgeous scarves meant to be reused as accessories!

I found this botanical wrap from Bombus and am patiently waiting for an occasion next spring!

mintpopco eco friendly tissue paper is 100% recycled and comes in lots of lovely colors.

creates beautiful, intricate designs and prints them on recycled paper using vegetable inks.

Just need to have a *little* sparkle on your gift wrap? LittleGreenPapershop produces this pretty star gift wrap that’s 100% biodegradable!

If you love soft hues over traditional holiday colors, Alfreda & Alice Illustration has you covered.

And for those of you looking past the holidays, prints their designs on 100% recycled paper!

where to buy eco friendly gift wrap

There are so many beautiful paper designers and producers out there, it’s not very hard to find eco friendly gift wrap. But there’s definitely challenges such as ordering online, where you may not be able to source it locally and thus contribute to the environmental impact of shipping. In the end we all have to weigh our options and priorities. I want my gift wrap to be recyclable. But I also want it to be special, and sourcing from an independent designer or small business is my favorite way to do it. Even if none of the options above are the right fit, I hope this inspires you to dive a little deeper into which holiday waste is recyclable in your area (here’s King County, Seattle’s take), and see which local businesses have the resources you need to give thoughtful gifts!

Sustainable Lifestyle Gift Guide: Neutral Artisan Home Decor

published on November 1, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on October 27, 2021

I am a color lover through and through, but I lived in Los Angeles long enough to appreciate a well-designed minimalist home with neutral decor (take this Venice Beach bungalow, for example), especially if it’s got a few desert touches. While we’ve focused a lot on conscious maximalism, I do love the warmth and texture that neutrals (done right) can bring. Some of my favorite ethical home decor shops offer unique artisan finds for lovers of white-tan-beige layers, so our first sustainable lifestyle gift guide of the season came together rather effortlessly…

Two of my favorite starting points for sourcing a cozy minimalist look like this are Australia’s artisan decor brand Pampa (who has a US site now) and sustainable lifestyle boutique Housework, both offering beautiful neutrals in the warmest of ways. And don’t forget a the key to this look: a hint of wood or terracotta as a psuedo “pop of color” and lots of smooth surfaces (like candles or clay vessels) mixed with texture (from fringe to rattan to jute) throughout. Click the links above to follow the rest of the sources!

Do you know anyone who loves the look of a neutral artisan inspired home?