If you are not someone who has been living under a rock for the past couple of years, then you must have encountered the word sustainable on more than one occasion. This term has somewhat become one of the most important factors when designing and producing products in any and all forms of industries. It can simply be defined as producing goods and services that do not trouble the environment. It focuses more on the eco-friendly aspects of a commodity or action rather than just the production and profit. This is largely because, as a species, in the last couple of years, we have begun to understand that the many resources our dear world has to offer are finite in nature. If we want to have a world tomorrow that can sustain all of our needs, then we have to be sustainable today.
That is why today we have sustainable cars, fashion, furniture and, of course, the topic of this blog, sustainable interior design. The unique ability of sustainable interior design to bring a sense of peace and a bohemian touch to your home has contributed to its rise in popularity in recent years. They are good for the planet, affordable, and aesthetically beautiful.
Today, we want to discuss a few of these design trends that not only have the potential to heal the planet gradually but also uplift communities. However, before we delve into it, let’s first clarify what sustainable interior design really means.
What is sustainable interior design?
The sustainable interior design maximises a building’s potential with a minimal negative impact on the environment by minimising the use of non-renewable materials and employing a variety of eco-friendly solutions. Both water conservation and garbage reduction fall under this category. This method not only helps people, but it also helps the planet. Plus, eco-design can lead to more functional and healthful indoor environments.
With the right kind of sustainable interior design, you can
- Reduce your carbon footprint: Sustainable interior design practices focus on reducing the environmental impact of the materials and processes used in construction and renovation. By choosing eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient appliances, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
- Save energy and reduces utility bills: A sustainable interior design can help you save on energy costs by incorporating features such as solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and insulation. This can lead to significant cost savings over time.
- Enhance indoor air quality: Sustainable interior design often involves using natural materials and ventilation systems that help improve indoor air quality. This can reduce the risk of health problems caused by poor indoor air quality.
Let’s check out some of these eco-friendly interior design ideas that will make your home appear great. These 7 environmentally responsible decor choices will make your home more attractive without negatively impacting the planet.
01Energy-efficient architecture
Construction is frequently the first step in making a house more environmentally friendly. So, go for energy-efficient construction and interior design if you can. Cutting back on extra heating, lighting, and appliance energy use is the way to proceed.
This strategy makes use of solar power and other carbon-free energy sources in addition to novel building and design approaches. Reducing the demand for heating and lighting can be accomplished with simple measures like installing insulating windows, drapes, rugs, and a light colour scheme.
02Hire a professional
The easiest method to make your home more environmentally friendly is to hire an expert in eco-friendly interior design. This is because these eco-friendly decorators often have the latest information on green methods. They can select environmentally friendly furnishings, fixtures, and appliances. Designers also work to improve the air quality within a building and promote local businesses.
Making eco-friendly design choices is not always as simple as they seem. For example, Linoleum is preferable over vinyl when it comes to flooring. Linoleum is mainly made up of jute, a plant fibre, which is why it is eco-friendly. The toxicity of vinyl has long been acknowledged. This is how a green interior designer could advise you on the layout.
03Incorporating local and fair-trade products into your interior design
Making deliberate choices is essential when designing an eco-friendly home. Choosing between international corporations and local manufacturers is one such option. Look for products that support fair trade as well. They encourage openness, fairness, and regard in international trade.
Buying locally also lessens the demands placed on long-distance shipping. Locally sourced goods are also often one-of-a-kind, which adds character to any room.
04Think about putting in retrofits
Utilising and modernising already existing structures can help save waste. Built-ins and walls can be fortified or updated and expanded upon with the help of retrofitting. Furthermore, it is an innovative practice to evaluate contemporary interiors for potential retrofitting. This will reduce costs and lead to novel, environmentally friendly solutions. It also prevents the need for tearing things down and starting over.
05Select materials with minimal reaction time
When redecorating your home, try to use eco-friendly products whenever possible. In an ideal world, you would only purchase low-impact goods and never buy anything damaging or made from non-renewable resources. Products with a low environmental impact, on the other hand, are crafted from sustainable resources that won’t harm the environment. Wood, cork, compressed earth, bamboo, and recycled metals are all excellent options for furniture and fixtures. Select hemp, linen, wool, and organic cotton for your next textile purchase.
Two modern fabrics, Tencel and Qmonos, are manufactured from wood pulp and synthetic spider silk, respectively. They are both eco-friendly and decomposable. An environmentally preferable substitute for nylon and modern polymers is recycled polyester and Econyl.
06Reuse or repurpose your current furniture
Recapitulate your possessions. When you salvage, recycle, or reuse, you can create an environmentally friendly space. Sofas, for instance, can be reupholstered, while benches and cabinets can benefit from a new coat of paint. It’s possible that merely repainting the room will do the trick. Thrift stores and antique furniture are great places to find unique finds while helping the environment.
07Put in lights that save energy
The quality of an interior’s lighting can completely transform it. Fortunately, lighting design is one of the least expensive places to make a sustainable impact. Use natural light as much as possible and select energy-saving light bulbs.
Smart glass, bigger windows, and skylights are standard components of eco-friendly interior design. It also favours light colour schemes because they use less energy than darker ones. LEDs or composite fluorescent bulbs are ideal for use as artificial illumination. They save money on energy and last longer.
In 2023, “Invest In Our Planet” was the topic of Earth Day, which was observed on April 22. Let’s put some money into saving Earth and see what happens. We can help create a better planet for future generations with the help of our sustainable and eco-friendly home design ideas. Using these tips, you can bring the outdoors inside and make your house eco-friendlier. We want to help make the transition to an eco-friendlier home and way of life less daunting and more manageable. The expertise of trained sustainable interior designers with a wide range of experience is essential for building the ideal eco-friendly home. Let’s join forces and create a sustainable future.