Circular interior guide: decorate your home with durable furniture and accessories

At COSH! we usually research the sustainability of the fashion industry, but the decor and furniture industry also has an impact on the environment. Every year, around 10 million tonnes of furniture are thrown away across the EU, and only about 10% of it is recycled. The rest is burned or landfilled (European Environmental Bureau). Fast furniture has quietly copied fast fashion’s worst habit: make it cheap, sell it fast, and bin and replace it soon. The good news? A more circular interior, built from second-hand finds, upcycled eyecatchers, repairable quality pieces, and made-to-order craft, has way more character anyway. 

Here’s where to find more sustainable furniture and interior decoration at cool stores across Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. So you can create an authentic interior with durable quality items that you can enjoy for a lifetime!

Why ​‘fast furniture’ is fashion’s quiet twin

We talk a lot about fast fashion. Fast furniture gets off far more lightly, yet the numbers are just as astonishing. Low-quality materials, glued-together designs and hard-to-find spare parts all make repair and reuse harder than it should be.

So what does ​“circular” actually mean in this context? A circular economy keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible, and gives existing materials a new purpose when a product reaches the end of its first life. In practice, that means buying second-hand, repairing and re-upholstering, upcycling old textiles, and choosing pieces designed to be adapted rather than replaced. Want to discover circular fashion designers too? Explore them here. Now, let’s furnish that home.

Made to last and adapt to your lifestyle

The most circular furniture is often the piece you never have to replace because you can adapt it, re-cover it, or hand it down.

For rest and ergonomics, Greensleep at Ergodôme in Kortrijk is worth the trip. Here you’ll find custom ergonomic furniture, like quality office chairs and made-to-measure beds with frames made from solid wood. Chairs can be covered in natural fabrics (cotton with an Oeko-Tex label and EU Ecolabels) or recycled polyester, and re-upholstered years down the line when the fabric wears out, so you keep the frame in use. The Greensleep mattresses are customisable and made in Belgium from natural hevea latex and pure Texel wool. 

In Rotterdam, De Groene Passage gathers a cluster of like-minded shops under one roof. Inside, the Van Binnen store is the address for natural bedding and home decoration, from rugs to curtains and lighting and furniture, from dining tables to couches, where you can get personal advice instead of guessing online.

Another good tip is to choose modular design. At MOOSE in the CITY in Antwerp you’ll find String’s modular shelving: buy the elements like a rod, magazine shelf, drawers, cabinets or a desk according to what you want or need right now, add more later, and reconfigure for the bathroom, living room or office as life changes. One system, many lifetimes.

Fonetik in Aalst is a concept store packed with furniture, interior decoration, gifts, and lifestyle items chosen with care. For example, you can shop for modular furniture by the brand Tiptoe here, while also browsing colourful glassware, organically shaped vases, 3D printed lamps and candles to decorate your shelves with.

In Aalter, concept store and florist Onverbloemd says it screens every product on origin, materials, working conditions and production before it hits the shelves. You will find seasonal (summer) organic flowers from mainly European growers, as well as affordable design objects. By choosing independent labels with small productions and circular initiatives, you support creative makers. For example, you will find circular armchairs by Kairos from Utrecht, lighting from Recozy and furniture from De Vorm, all made from reclaimed or recycled materials.

Second-hand & vintage: character with a past

Nothing beats the thrill of a second-hand find. A piece with history, a lower price tag, and zero new resources that have to be consumed.

At REVERSA in Bornem, close to Antwerp and Sint-Niklaas you’ll find a carefully curated collection of vintage furniture from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s: wooden cabinets, side tables, cute vases, bookshelves, Thonet chairs and plenty more. Something timeless for every corner.

Over the border in Düsseldorf, Fairhaus Flingern proves reuse can look sharp too. Here you’ll find second-hand furniture and home accessories, electronic appliances ready to reuse, a repair service and upcycled décor including patchwork blankets. Its in-house label UPcycle by fairhaus turns waste such as old fire hoses, Tour de France banners and packaging wood into bags, accessories and furniture. Fairhaus is part of a socio-ecological network that creates jobs for people with and without disabilities, so every purchase does double duty.

Looking for second-hand and vintage addresses near you? Browse the full COSH! interior stores overview, which includes thrift stores across Belgium and the Netherlands.

Home textiles and rugs that have a story to tell

When you’re choosing home textiles like rugs, wall decor, cushions, blankets, bedding, towels, and table or kitchen textiles, a few things make a real difference: upcycled or natural fabrics such as organic-certified cotton (look for GOTS) or European linen, local or European production, and quality that survives years of washing rather than months. Fibre matters at the end of life too, single-material textiles are far easier to recycle than blends.

For soft furnishings with real craft behind them, La Femme Garniture in Ghent knits blankets, cushions and scarves in graphic patterns and colours. The blankets are made from 100% merino wool and knitted in the brand’s own Belgian atelier. Cuddle up on the couch in a stylish and warm blanket.

And in Amsterdam, Poppy Dream offers quilts, cushion covers and hand-printed table linen made from natural fibres. Inspired by childhood travels through India, this brand transforms traditional fabric techniques into tactile home pieces that bring colour, calm and joy.

At Atelier Heimat in Antwerp, Kachiri Faes stitches unique patchwork quilts, blankets and Haori jackets from second-hand fabrics made of natural fibres. It’s a slow studio, working in small batches or to order, so each piece carries a story in its seams.

Prefer something underfoot? Tapis Plain in Deurne (Antwerp) hand-makes colourful tufted tapestries and rugs and constantly experiments with materials: using deadstock from fashion designers to recycled yarn and more natural fibres. Are you looking for a custom piece for your home? You can request a tailor-made tapestry or participate in a creative workshop, where you’ll learn to make your own tapestry in 4 hours.

In Kortrijk, LAUV crafts bold, made-to-order rugs in funky patterns and organic shapes. Because every rug is made to order, there’s no stock gathering dust and no overproduction. You choose the colours and dimensions, and designer Laurence makes it yours.

We’ve given home textiles a guide all of their own. For the full overview of more sustainable bedding, towels, table and kitchen textiles, plus the stores that stock them, read the article: level up your household linen.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is a circular interior? A: A circular interior is a home furnished in a way that keeps furniture and materials in use for as long as possible, through second-hand and vintage pieces, upcycled textiles, repair and re-upholstery, and made-to-order or modular design. Instead of the make-use-bin cycle of fast furniture, a circular interior gives existing beds, wardrobes, tables or reworks already used materials like wood or textiles a new purpose. It’s usually cheaper, more characterful and lower-impact.

Q: Where can I buy second-hand or upcycled furniture in Belgium and the Netherlands? A: COSH! lists interior stores across both countries, from vintage furniture at Reversa in Antwerp to upcycled décor at Fairhaus in Düsseldorf. You can browse them all, including second-hand shops, on the COSH! interior stores overview. Filter by city to find a shop near you.

Q: Is second-hand furniture really better for the environment? A: In most cases, yes. Around 10 million tonnes of furniture are discarded in the EU each year and only about 10% is recycled, with the rest landfilled or incinerated (European Environmental Bureau). Buying second-hand keeps those pieces in use and avoids the resources needed to make something new.

Q: What should I look for in more sustainable home textiles? A: Prioritise natural fibres such as organic-certified cotton (GOTS) or European linen, local or European production, and quality that lasts through years of washing. Single-material textiles are also easier to recycle at the end of their life than blends. For a full guide to bedding, towels and kitchen textiles, see level up your household linen.

Q: How do I make my furniture last longer? A: Choose pieces designed to be repaired, re-covered or reconfigured, for example, modular shelving you can extend, or chairs you can have re-upholstered rather than replaced. Maintaining and repairing what you already own is the single most circular thing you can do for your interior. When you do need something new, made-to-order and solid-wood pieces tend to outlast cheap alternatives.