Reusing, reducing, and recycling are the pillars of sustainable living, a growing movement that encourages conscious lifestyle choices to limit environmental impact and preserve resources. One way to embrace a greener lifestyle is to incorporate Sustainable Home Decor, such as choosing organic cotton, using furniture made from reclaimed materials, and opting for energy-efficient lighting and linen fabric.
Not only is Sustainable Home Decor design eco-friendly, but it can also be trendy. Here are essential tips and tricks for implementing Sustainable Home Decor without compromising your style.
Sustainable furniture is made from biodegradable, renewable, and nontoxic materials, meaning it has a lower environmental impact. Furniture made from nonsustainable materials often uses durable fabric, which reduces the resources and waste products needed to manufacture new furniture.
Choose items made from natural materials, such as recycled materials, bamboo, stone, ceramics, glass, and metal. Another option is old or reclaimed, repurposed wood, which adds an outstanding look to your lovely home. For example, a coffee table made from a torn-down old barn from a woo salvage will have imperfections and history that make it one of a kind.
Look for Sustainable Home Decor at vintage stores, small businesses and craft fairs. Buying locally-made decor items reduces the carbon footprint and mass overproduction associated with transportation. It is one of the biggest sustainability challenges for the shipping industry. Buying locally reduces water and air pollution and eliminates the need for single-use packaging.
Shopping locally also helps support local businesses, boost the economy, and create jobs in the community. Plus, it allows you to touch and see the items before buying, ensuring that you will be happy with the design and quality.
Solar energy is one of the green energy sources. It does not release harmful emissions like carbon dioxide. Instead, shingles or solar panels draw energy directly from the sun and convert it into usable electricity. Extra energy is stored in a battery backup system and sent back to the grid for later use.
Bring the outside inside with plants to create a calm environment and brighten up your interior design. Thanks to their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, plants improve the air quality and support ecological equilibrium.
Go to your neighbourhood garden centre to locate plants that complement your decor. Use stands, hangers, and shelves to showcase plants at different heights. In simple containers, flowering plants can create visually arresting contrasts.
Think about moving to light-emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent light (CFL) alternatives instead of conventional, energy-guzzling light bulbs. These substitutes require less energy to achieve the same brightness as incandescent bulbs, and because of their longer lifespan, they need to be changed less frequently. Because CFL bulbs can be recycled, less trash ends up in landfills.
Consider natural illumination when creating sustainable home decor to improve it further. To make a room feel larger and more open, rearrange the furniture and use light-coloured walls and mirrors to reflect the sunshine.
Certain paints and stains contain high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fungicides, and biocides, which can contaminate the air and cause respiratory issues and irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes.
While most paint manufacturers indicate the VOC values on their paint cans, choose paints and stains with low or no VOCs. Seek goods with fewer than 50 grammes per litre. As an alternative, consider using paints produced with organic materials like plants, seed oils, and beeswax.
Another alternative for sustainable home decor is to use cotton blankets, pillows, bedsheets, and rugs rather than ones made of synthetic materials. While synthetic materials can take decades or even hundreds of years to break down, natural materials are softer, more breathable, endure longer, and are biodegradable.
Many cotton-based decor items are made sustainably from cotton that has been farmed, using less damaging pesticides and fertilisers or organic agricultural techniques. Organic farming is a much more sustainable solution that uses less non-renewable energy.
Upcycling furniture is a waste-reducing, environmentally responsible approach to revitalising outdated, worn-out items. Over 12 million tonnes of furniture are created annually, and over nine million tons—many less than 15 years old—end up in landfills.
Repurposed furniture is affordable and allows homeowners to personalise their unique, personalised pieces with personal touches. Refresh your home’s furnishings or look for pieces that could use some thrift shops and Facebook Marketplace.
By 2050, there are expected to be 10 billion people on the planet, and resource scarcity will make it harder for many of them to achieve their basic necessities. Our lifestyle decisions extensively influence the environment, and one of the most important things we can do to lessen our carbon footprint is to incorporate sustainable home design.
Designers are essential in encouraging eco-friendly living since they provide eco-friendly home decor options. By selecting sustainable materials and products, designers may contribute to decreasing waste and pollution while promoting responsible resource use. Using natural, upcycled, and repurposed materials in projects is becoming popular among designers who prioritise longevity and little environmental impact.
