Chances are, you’re more than familiar with fast fashion, but did you know that fast home décor is rising? Interior design trends used to last for years; some even lasted decades. However, it’s becoming more difficult thanks to these changes within interior design. Trends from social media such as TikTok, Instagram, and even Pinterest are making people less interested in having a timeless homestyle and instead want to change up their environment just as much as their want to change up their wardrobe. While it’s understandable to want to breathe in new life in a space, it needs to be done in a sustainable manner.
You can have sustainable interior design while still giving your space that much-needed update. So, what is the main goal behind the sustainable design? It’s all about reusing materials and using new products, as well as products that are deemed less harmful to the environment. In general, green design needs to be recognized and have an eco-friendly lifestyle, and the home can be one of the best pushes to continue this push for a better environment.
Why is Sustainable Interior Design Important?
Sustainable interior design matters now more than ever. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has done a study, and it concluded that the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. This is where the concentration of pollutants can be five times higher than what it is outdoors. This means that people are spending less than a half-day per week outside.
Meaning that the role interior design plays in homes is incredibly significant.
Most interactions within a day are confined to an environment that’s been created for you. It’s vital that this space addresses the impacts and the concerns both inside and outside the home. This includes the marks that you imprint on Mother nature. So, why is sustainable interior design so important? Well, it’s important to have a home or office that you can thrive in, a space that’s healthy. But it should also be an environment that doesn’t take away from nature, but instead can prosper with it.
What are Some Sustainable Interior Design Examples?
Sustainable interior design examples are abundant. While there is this aesthetic appeal to green design, just keep in mind that it doesn’t need to be expensive. Eco-friendly home décor and an eco-friendly lifestyle can actually be quite super affordable! Whether you want to work with a sustainable interior design firms or do this yourself, these are some sustainable interior design examples you may not want to skip out on!
Re-upholstering Furniture
This can include learning to reupholster furniture yourself, or this can include supporting local craftsmen whose designs you admire. Re-upholstering your furniture can be one of the best sustainable interior design ideas around. An Interior Designer can help you select the materials and fabrics that are sustainable and include contrasting fabrics and trims that express your personality and design style.
Window Treatments to Save on Energy Costs
Window treatments can actually be a great way to keep the home eco-friendly. While the sun brings in free lighting and heating, sometimes it can be a little too much. Honeycomb shades and shutters are both great methods of saving on energy costs. They both work as heat insulators. Even custom drapery panels with blackout lining provide a great option. They can absorb the sun rays and keep the sun from fading furniture and flooring while keeping the space cooler.
Reclaimed Wood in furniture and construction
At this moment, reclaimed wood is a major trend in interior design This sustainable interior design material is gorgeous and can essentially complement any space. By using reclaimed wood, you’re decreasing the demand for a new source, thus being eco-friendly.
Starting with Simple Environmentally Friendly Materials
Interior designers focus on choosing materials that are that are eco-friendly. This should include cost-saving solutions for the long run for the client such and quality pieces that last and aren’t thrown away. Ask yourself these questions ‘will this design and furniture look good and be trendy in a few years? This is also known as having a timeless design.
When it comes to sustainable interior design materials, what’s going to last? Also ask yourself What will help nature? Designs need to take the life-cycle into account, and the long-term environmental impact that materials have. Throughout all phases of production and disposal, the sustainability of the material needs to be considered.
Upcycled and Recycled Materials
Recycled materials, aren’t always renewable. However, if they are given a second life, or at least able to bring second life they become a part of circular construction. Upcycling can be one of the best ways to keep your household sustainable. Having the chance to bring a second life to your belongings can also save you money in the long run.
Whether this is reusing old clothes for rags, jars for scraps, or thinking outside the box like creating home décor accessories from upcycled items. It’s really all about getting in touch with your creative side and working with an interior designer to see what you can come up with together. Thrift shops are loaded with items waiting for a second life.
Wool Area Rugs & Carpets
When it comes to rugs and carpets, they can bring a lot of warmth and softness into a space. These even have the perks of absorbing the cold, helping floors to keep warmer. When you’re shopping for a non-toxic rug for your space, you’re going to want to select something that offers sustainable fibers, and is natural. Wool is the best option for rugs. It offers the most sustainability due to fiber longevity. Plus, there is low maintenance when it comes to cleaning, it is biodegradable and it’s all natural!
Performance Fabrics
Performance fabrics are another example of sustainable materials for home and commercial interior design. These fabrics offer basic cleanability and longevity. Performance fabrics are fabrics that are stain resistant and easy to clean. Thus they are eco-friendly because they simply last longer and you are not replacing the items.
Energy Star Appliances
Consider energy star-certified appliances which use less energy and work just as well as their traditional counterparts. They consume less energy, and can even at times be less expensive as well. On average, Energy Star-certified appliances can use anywhere from 30% to 40% less energy.
LED Lightbulbs
Switching over to LED lights can have a positive sustainable impact on your energy bill, and the environment as a whole. These provide low energy costs and last a lot longer compared to their traditional counterparts.
Low VOC Paints
Low VOC paints are easily available by most paint manufacturers. VOC also known as “volatile organic compounds” in paint are solvents that act to slow the initial drying and give a “wet edge”. This helps create more time to work with the product. The evaporation that the process of VOC paint creates is “off-gassing” and this can create the off-putting paint smell. So, choosing a low VOC paint can be beneficial to the environment, your house, and your nose. Overall, sustainable interior design is something that everyone can incorporate. Whether you’re wanting to slowly change your home into a sustainable paradise or a completely new design and renovation contact me for ideas and help. Contact me for ideas and help with your sustainable goals
Julie
First Impressions by Julie Wagner, LLC
Chapel Hill, NC
(919) 578-7313
https://www.impressionsbyjulie.com/
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