Making compost, upcycling tired-looking furniture and cooking vegan meals are among some of the sustainable home habits Brits have adopted during lockdown.
The team at Boiler Guide analysed the most popular Instagram hashtags, including #ecohome and #greenhome, to uncover how households have been making their homes more planet-friendly over the past few months.
Taking the top spot is vegetarian and vegan meals, with more of us lowering our meat consumption to curb climate change. In second place is staycations, as thousands of Brits swapped planes for trains this year, holidaying on home turf due to travel restrictions.
Unsurprisingly, the study also found that searches for houseplants doubled in lockdown. With more time being spent cooped up indoors, households began creating their own indoor jungles to boost oxygen levels.
Elsewhere, there has also been a sharp increase in people upcyling furniture items instead of buying brand new. 'Since lockdown hit, more of us are getting resourceful and creative by upcycling rather than disposing,' the team say. 'From Instagram posts to YouTube tutorials there are endless amounts of inspiration out there for those looking to get creative and turn their trash into treasure.'
Take a look at the full list below...
10 ways people in the UK have been making their homes more sustainable during lockdown
- Cooking vegetarian and vegan meals (21.6 million Instagram posts)
- Staycations closer to home (4.7 million)
- Indoor houseplants (4.5 million)
- Upcycling (2.4 million)
- LED desk lighting (1.5 million)
- Growing fruits and vegetables (23,025)
- Eco-friendly candles (7,656)
- Eco-friendly furniture (4,036)
- Buying natural hand soaps (3,679)
- Making compost (2,501)
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14 beautiful twig Christmas trees to buy ahead of the festive season
This twig Christmas tree, available as a 5ft or the larger 6ft, is quite the showstopper. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, it's pre-lit with 160 warm white LED lights and has a snowy, frosted effect on the branch, ideal for creating that winter wonderland look in your home.
Adorned with 24 warm white LED bulbs, this twig tree from Next makes for the perfect centrepiece this season. Decorate with your favourite mini Christmas baubles for a splash of colour.
This slimline twig tree is a great alternative. It features flexible branches illuminated by warm white micro LEDs for a brighter glow, and you can choose from 5, 6 or 7ft. With the current offer, you can save over half price, too.
Fitted with 600 pure white LEDs, this charming copper-coloured twig tree is beautifully twinkly. It's strong enough to be decorated with baubles, though we think it looks great left bare for a convincing wintery look.
Add some sparkle this festive season with Very's slim Christmas tree adorned with glitter. It features a thin trunk and 230 warm LED lights that twinkle each evening in a fun 'starburst' constellation.
Give your outdoor space a festive makeover with this fantastic outdoor twig tree. The multicoloured bulbs at the end of each branch will bring a fun, enchanting glow to your garden, and a sturdy base will ensure it stays secure throughout the winter weather, too.
Forget a twig tree and recreate the look with faux branches instead. These illuminated branches with 24 LED lights will spruce up a sideboard or coffee table in an instant. Place it in a vase and style with faux flowers for serious wow factor.
Looking for a smaller twig tree? This elegant snowy style is perfect for placing on a side table, and you can adjust and move the branches to the style you'd like.
Made from brass wire, this twig tree from Nkuku will fit into almost any interior scheme. Adorn with your favourite baubles for a suitably festive look – gold Christmas decorations would look fabulous. It comes in a small and larger size.
With its rustic white trunk, this twig Christmas tree looks like something straight out of Narnia. It has 96 warm LED lights to create the cosiest atmosphere either inside your home or outside. Drape some Christmas garlands along the bare twig branches for added colour and interest.
This Selfridges twig tree – with 180 bulbs – is more than a little bit special and would make for a real showstopper in your home. You can place it inside or outside.
How elegant is this champagne twig tree? The 970 pure white LED lights attached as clusters at the end of each branch give it a lovely festive glow, while the gold coating gives it a luxe finish. It's sturdy enough to hold a Christmas tree topper too for the perfect finishing touch.
This elegant pre-lit twig tree is a romantic and whimsical addition for your festive decor this year. It has a handy timer function so you can decide when it comes on and for how long.
This 3ft tabletop twig tree is perfect for Christmas, but its understated style makes it a great addition to your home throughout all the winter months too.
Can you keep a twig tree up all year?
Should you decorate a twig tree?
Twig trees have an elegant simplicity about them, but there's no reason why you can't adorn yours with traditional Christmas baubles or garlands. Just make sure the branches are sturdy enough to bear the weight of the decorations, and keep in mind that all your ornaments will be more visible than they would if surrounded by foliage.
Whether you're on the hunt for 6ft twig trees or smaller trees to place beside your desk, there are plenty of styles to choose from. And with Black Friday just around the corner, there are some great deals available right now to help you save on your fresh new Christmas decorations.
