Sustainable interior design is becoming a major trend as people look for ways to improve their homes while also reducing their environmental impact. Climate change and environmental damage are major talking points right now and this is leading to people becoming more aware of the sustainability of the products that they buy. So, what are a few sustainable interior design ideas? Read on to find out.
Source Local & Fair Trade Products
One of the best ways to be more sustainable at home is to source local products. Not only will you be supporting the local economy, but you will also find that this is helpful in terms of reducing long-distance transportation. Additionally, shopping locally at smaller businesses could also help you to find interesting, unique pieces for your home. You should also keep an eye out for fair trade items – they support respect, equity and transparency in the trading market.
Choose Low-Impact Furniture
Choosing furniture for your home is always one of the biggest decisions to make. If sustainability is a priority, you want to make sure that you are choosing items that are low-impact and have been made in a sustainable manner. This means that you want to avoid materials like plastic and instead focus on natural, non-toxic materials. This includes wood (responsibly sourced), cork, bamboo and organic/recycled wool, hemp and cotton.
Reclaim or Recycle
A major trend to emerge in recent years has been reclaiming, recycling and reusing what you already have. You can reduce your environmental impact and save money by taking what you already have and improving or repurposing it, such as refinishing a chest of drawers or reupholstering an old sofa. If you do not want to do this yourself, there is a huge market for reclaimed furniture online and this can be much cheaper and help you to source unusual items in addition to reducing your impact.
Use Energy Efficiency Lighting
You also need to consider the lighting that you use and opt for eco-friendly lighting, such as stylish glass lamps and LED lightbulbs. In addition to helping you to reduce your environmental impact, you will also find that this could help to lower your energy bills (something that everyone is looking to do right now). In addition to eco-friendly lighting, you should try to increase natural light as a way to lessen your need for artificial lighting and to make the home look and feel bigger.
Save Water With Fixtures
You should also opt for water-efficient taps and shower heads that could greatly reduce the amount of water that you use. This could save you a fair amount of money in the long run as well as reduce your environmental impact.
If you are looking to be sustainable with your interior design, these are a few ideas that could help to reduce your impact while still allowing you to create a stylish home.
