You’ve mastered recycling paper and plastics, installed a smart energy meter and switched to LED light bulbs to be more eco-friendly but in terms of sustainable living, it’s always possible to increase your efforts at home.
Moving home presents an excellent opportunity to change purchasing habits, especially at a time when many people need new items. The small but conscious choices made can make a big, collective impact on the environment, and there’s no need to compromise on style either.
Independent producers lead the way
Just as we can choose to buy ethically made clothing or organic food, it’s possible to pick paint, furniture and home accessories primarily for their sustainability credentials. This guide to sustainable home accessory purchases by Stylist gives you a flavour of the independent brands that are championing a more eco-friendly approach. Another great place to shop is the online marketplace Etsy, which has an extensive ‘sustainable homewares’ section, brimming with small-scale producers, although the big homeware brands are starting to pull their weight.
Seek out the sustainable ranges
If you’re set on buying from well-known retailers, opt for their products that are earmarked as sustainable. H&M Home has a range called Conscious Choice, with at least 50% of each piece made from more sustainable or recycled materials. John Lewis also carries a number of more sustainable homewares. Try its Charlotte range of sofas and armchairs, with environmentally friendly fillings from 50% recycled plastic and a sustainable manufacturing process, or its classic wool collection of mattresses, which uses waste wool and recycled post-consumer plastics.
Elsewhere, Ikea is challenging what it calls ‘unsustainable consumption’ with an ambitious sustainability pledge. By 2030, it wants to use more renewable and recycled materials, eliminate waste from its operations and change the way it designs products. While this is being achieved, you can take part in Ikea’s buyback and resell initiative, either selling unwanted Ikea furniture back to the store or by buying its goods second hand.
On a budget?
On the theme of second hand – or more glamorously labelled ‘pre-loved’ – moving from one home to another is the perfect time to follow sustainable living’s golden rule: ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’. The re-use part is of particular importance if you find yourself fed up with your current furniture or accessories.
Rather than buy new – perhaps buying cheap and unethically in the process – revamping existing items can help you fall back in love with your dining table, for instance. The act of repainting furniture, changing handles and adding decorative elements is commonly known as ‘upcycling’, and helps prevent the purchase of needless items.
Repurposing an item is another consideration, although it may require ‘thinking outside of the box’. Could an old chest of drawers provide hallway storage? Could an old bookcase be flipped on its side to provide bench seating with storage underneath?
Make your wall style sustainable
Paint has a reputation for being one of the biggest home-related polluters but a new generation of sustainable paints has emerged and they’re readily available too.
From water and mineral based products to 100% biodegradable or recyclable packaging, there is a wide choice of eggshell, matt and gloss paints with lower levels of solvents, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. You’ll be surprised just how many sustainable brands exist and this paint guide from YourHomeStyle lists many of the best.
You can also buy sustainable wallpaper. Look out for products labelled ‘printed with water-based inks’, recycled paper, FSC certified paper and non-vinyl paper – the latter which can be recycled when removed. Try Little Greene, Farrow & Ball, and Lick for eco-friendly yet elegant approaches to wallpaper and paint.
If sustainable living is high on your agenda, talk to us for a list of properties with excellent EPC ratings, high levels of insulation and the latest heating systems.
As more professionals embrace remote and hybrid working, demand for well-designed home office spaces is on the rise. Whether you're a landlord in Cardiff or across South Wales, understanding what makes a great home office can help boost your property's appeal, reduce void periods, and attract quality long-term tenants.
At RedKey, your local Cardiff and Newport property experts, we know how to position your rental to meet modern tenant expectations. Here are five key features that make a home office truly desirable — and how you can use them to your advantage.
Tenants value properties with plenty of natural light, and this is especially important in a home office. Natural light not only boosts productivity but is also linked to better sleep, improved mood, and fewer headaches.
✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
If your rental’s home office has limited light, use mirrors to reflect brightness, opt for light-coloured furniture, and choose pale window dressings that let the sun in. Small changes can make a big impact when staging.
Remote workers spend hours at their desks, so comfort and functionality matter. A desk cramped against the wall may look space-saving, but it lacks practicality.
✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
If space allows, pull the desk away from the wall to give the illusion of more room and improve comfort. Legroom is a key feature tenants now look for in Cardiff rental homes with workspaces.
Adding plants to a home office doesn’t just improve the aesthetics — it also boosts health and wellbeing. Studies show greenery can reduce stress, improve air quality, and increase focus and happiness.
✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
When staging your Cardiff rental, place low-maintenance plants or high-quality faux greenery in the office. It adds instant charm without requiring tenant upkeep.
Clutter is a productivity killer, and tenants want tidy, organised workspaces. Office essentials like chargers, stationery, and documents quickly pile up without the right storage.
✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
Install floating shelves, built-in cabinets, or stylish storage baskets to help tenants keep the space organised. Highlight these features in your rental listing for extra appeal.
Wall colour plays a huge role in a home office environment. While tenants may personalise later, neutral shades are universally appealing and help stage the space in a way that feels calm and professional.
✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
Stick to pale greens, cool blues, light greys, or off-whites. These tones help promote focus and relaxation — exactly what remote workers need.
With more tenants than ever working from home at least part-time, the home office has become a major selling point. Properties that include a functional and attractive office space stand out in the competitive Cardiff rental market.
By making just a few simple upgrades, landlords can:
Increase rental appeal
Reduce void periods
Attract high-quality, long-term tenants
Enhance rental value
At RedKey, we specialise in property management and marketing in Cardiff and South Wales. We know exactly what tenants are looking for and can help you present your property at its very best — including highlighting work-from-home features that drive results.
👉 Get in touch today for expert advice on staging, letting, or managing your rental property:
📞 Call 02920 090690 / 03333 447850
📧 Email hello@redkeylets.co.uk
Let us help you turn your rental into a high-demand property in the Cardiff rental market.
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As more professionals embrace remote and hybrid working, demand for well-designed home office spaces is on the rise.
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