The days of wasteful frou frou and chintz are over in many households and it is far less common to see the huge swags and pelmets, the ornate gilt picture frames and the flowery wallpaper that was so common just a few short years ago.
You are now more likely to see a more contemporary feel, with canvas art oak flooring and plain blinds or shutters, which overall gives a far more minimalist feel to the room. It looks better and is also far easier to clean as it does not attract dust and dirt so much.
This partly derives from a matter of taste which has evolved over the decades but is also due to a more ethical approach to our shopping habits. We have realised that less is more and we do not want to clutter our homes with expensive pieces of decoration that are simply not needed.
We also tend now to be more careful in where we source our household items and we try to go for recycled or fair trade items – as long as the price difference is not too high.
The result is that not only do our homes look better now but they have less of an impact on the environment and if we choose carefully, less of an impact on our spending.