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Wide plank wooden flooring
For larger rooms, the wider the planks, the more striking the floor can look. And wood from sustainable forests, or reclaimed wood, are good choices for the eco-minded, nature-loving home-owner
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Oil painting exhibition
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters' annual exhibition opens in London, with pieces available to buy in-person and online
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Eco warriors as well as workhorse worktops
There's no need to sacrifice good looks and wonderful colour options when choosing environmentally-friendly worktops
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Ceramic baubles for Christmas
You've got the mugs..now if you want to update the bauble collection you might like to know that British heritage pottery Cornishware has launched its first collection of ceramic mini baubles painted in its trademark stripes
Accessories
Skär Organics offers the first certified organic, UK-made candles, unfragranced and scented
Lovely for Christmas but perfect for year-round use, these Kate Colin Design baubles are made from hand-folded paper
The spotlight of scrutiny is turning on jewellery which for centuries has got away with being the face of cruelty and avarice. So if you're investing in a piece for yourself or a loved one, check its provenance.
Events
Buying antiques is a great way of furnishing with minimal impact on the environment. And if you're always on the look-out for fascinating one-off pieces, don't miss the Decorative Antiques & Textile Fairs, which running through the year
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters' annual exhibition opens in London, with pieces available to buy in-person and online
If/when you're in London, head to the wonderful Design Museum in Kensington for an inspiring free exhibition - How to Build a Low Carbon Home
Interiors
Luxurious living can be anything you make it - so yes, sustainability absolutely can be at the heart of luxe living. Luxurious design is about achieving a sumptous look using materials that may not always have been associated with the style
Lots of us are buying flowers fairly regularly because well..they look lovely and cheer us up. But they are an expense, so if you've got room, start growing flowers in your garden. And to avoid the annoyance of them wilting in a few days, we have some maintenance tips.
It might seem counter intuitive, but don't dry clothes on heated radiators and be sure to open windows even in winter if you want to avoid condensation and worse still, mould
Gardens
Lots of us tend to think flowers grow in the garden only from spring to early autumn. But we're forgetting our winter friend the cyclamen, which grows in myriad colours and comes in different sizes too.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is urging us to keep an eye out for our fine friends with feathers as the weather turns colder
Unlike our friends with feathers, bats generally get a bad rap. But that's unwarranted because there are very few vampire bats (and none in the UK), and bats do not attack humans. In fact, we should be encouraging these shy little creatures because they bring many benefits to our gardens
