SUDDENLY it's cool to care about the planet, and to worry that wasting our natural resources could trash the environment.

But that concern shouldn't be limited to the tropical rainforests and polar bears, because our homes should be eco-friendly too, according to the greenies'.

That's fine, but you still want your home to look great. Noone wants to sacrifice style and fill rooms with grungy, dull objects simply made from reprocessed cardboard or car tyres just so they can claim to have done their bit for the Earth.

It is possible to find great green design but discovering what's hot and what's not for eco homes - and not paying a fortune for it - can be difficult. So expert help is needed.

Judith Wilson, stylist and interiors writer, isn't just an expert on natural living, she's also following a green agenda in renovating her own home.

She understands that style gurus want eco chic but acknowledges: "For the design-conscious individual, there's still the worry that going natural means compromising on style and choice.

"Thankfully, it doesn't. High street stores and specialist suppliers are falling over themselves to provide natural products, ranging from organic textiles to eco paints and from energy-efficient lightbulbs to low-flow showerheads, while contemporary designers are increasingly using recycled materials to dramatic effect."

She's put all her wisdom, top tips, practical strategies and detailed advice for creating an eco-friendly living space into a new book, The Natural Home Jacqui Small, £12.99.

She says it's perfectly possible to save energy without compromising good looks, use old furniture in imaginative ways rather than buying new and source recycled materials and still have a stylish home.

"Going the natural route is no longer for the minority," she says. "Today it makes ethical as well as beautiful and healthy good sense."

Turning green, it seems, has never been easier or smarter - and where better to soothe your conscience than in your own eco sanctuary!

STYLISH ECO STRATEGY

GO GREEN

Judith says: "The focus of a natural home is beautiful, natural materials, but it's also crucial to remove, or to avoid adding harmful substances."

Take time to research the materials you plan to use and choose eco-friendly versions of common building materials and paints. Companies such as earthBorn, The Little Greene Paint Company and Francesca's Paints offer natural paints without harmful chemicals.

Judith believes the best hunting grounds for anything from a recycled bath to an entire salvaged floor or from old radiators to second-hand bricks are nearby demolition sites and salvage yards. Or find a reclamation dealer who will source for you.

Wood and stone are two obvious choices for a natural home, but don't forget fabrics. There's an increasing choice of organic textiles such as organic cotton, linen and hemp.

It's even possible to source natural flooring made from bamboo, paper, coir and sisal from companies such as Crucial Trading. Graham & Brown has a range of wallpapers printed on either recycled paper or paper from managed forests.

FURNITURE

Judith says: "Restore old furniture - which brings personality and character to rooms - or seek out furniture makers who are prepared to create new pieces using recycled elements, eg: a headboard made from old flooring planks or a dining table made from an old, enamelled sign."

There are eco websites where you can buy innovative furniture, from coffee tables made from recycled washing-machine drums to sustainable cardboard shelving.

If you're really not into renovating a refectory table or repainting a vintage cupboard you could find pieces to tempt you at Nigel's Eco Store.

You'd never guess that the Big Shelf eco-shelving system, that would also work as a room divider, is made from cardboard. It's £319.99.

A bamboo veneer cabinet is £519.99, and movie fans might be tempted by the Rocky chair made from an old cinema seat, £1,499.99.

GORGEOUS GREEN TOUCHES

Judith says: "In our hearts we all know that it's those little details that make the difference to a home. It's the carefully-selected trimmings and decorative accessories, ornaments and the art, that add personality, originality and a touch of soul."

The good news is these needn't cost you a penny, you can just use found' objects. Collect beautiful pebbles from the beach or make a collection of unusual-shaped bottles For treats and inspiration visit the growing number of sophisticated eco websites with chic interior products.

Some good sources are Re-Found, Baileys Home & Garden, Love Eco and One Eco Home who sell recycled and specially-designed eco homeware.

Practical green homeware needn't be dull as the desirable two-colour trays from Fairwind Online demonstrate. They're £34 each - definitely for eco-show offs.

GREEN & SENSIBLE

Pop clutter like toys, or perhaps magazines and newspapers, into EcoTwine baskets, £19 or £28 made from recycled sweetie wrappers and fizzy drink labels, or choose neat white boxes made from recycled cardboard, £19 for two.

Sleek EcoGen bathroom containers are so smart you'd buy them no matter what their credentials. They are made from a combination of polymer and cornstarch. EcoGen toothbrush holder £9, soap dish £8, storage Box £14. All the above from STORE.

Heals is a byword for offering well-designed and functional homeware and its Bambu Veneerware plates and cutlery start at £10 and Bambu Veneerware and Lacquerware starts at £14. They could be great for picnics and alfresco meals.

Most of the chain stores now boast green ranges' and both Marks & Spencer and John Lewis have an excellent selection of baskets and boxes.

Making your interiors look stylish and contemporary doesn't have to cost the earth. With a bit of imagination, homemade interiors can be funkier than anything you'd find in the shops.