Do you want your next renovation project to be eco-friendly, or have a client who demands it, but you’re not sure where to start? Look no further than this guide.
Why sustainable interior design?
As consumers have become more conscious about their individual impact on the environment, the demand for sustainable building and home decor projects has increased substantially over the past few years.
The goal of sustainable home design, which frequently utilizes eco-friendly materials, is to minimize any negative effects on the environment and human health.
Eco-friendly interior design isn’t just practical — given the right materials and ideas, it can also help you create an aesthetically pleasing space.
Here are some ideas for incorporating eco-friendly ideas into your home:
Idea #1: Reclaimed furniture
Reclaimed furniture and home goods, which are made from recycled or reused materials, provide an excellent way to incorporate eco-friendly items into your design.
Some great examples include stools made from reclaimed wood and nightstands or tables made from reclaimed wood. Curtains made from recycled fabrics are also a great way to add some accents to the room.
This project goes one step further and incorporates recycled pipes into the design of these reclaimed stools:
Since eco-friendly interior design is such a popular trend right now, the possibilities are nearly limitless when it comes to finding reclaimed furniture and home decor items.
Idea #2: Stay local
Rather than ordering furniture and other goods from overseas, in the interest of eco-friendliness you might want to choose local artisans and producers. This helps to reduce the use of oil and energy in the transportation of the items from other countries.
Plus, you can really score some handcrafted goodness if you find a skilled local artisan! Handcrafted local goods always have more of an aesthetic appeal than mass-produced items, and they’re especially great if you’re looking to create a rustic atmosphere.
Idea #3: DIY upcycled home decor
Besides purchasing reclaimed goods, you can also fashion some things out of materials that are readily available to you.
There are a ton of useful objects you can make from items you would otherwise throw away. Think about some of the materials that you regularly discard.
With the right materials and a little bit of elbow grease, you can create headboards, wine racks, shoe racks, coffee tables, planters, or picture frames from reclaimed wood. Old wood pallets can be fashioned into patio furniture or vertical garden structures. Pillow covers can even be fashioned out of old clothing, shower curtains, and more — just like these:
Just think of all the ways in which you can use leftover materials and things you would otherwise throw away! Eco-friendly interior design will have you look at them in a new light.
Idea #4: Reclaimed wide plank floors
Why stop at furniture when your floors can be reclaimed, too? Reclaimed hardwood floors are eco-friendly, and they’re hip! They’re repurposed from other places, so they utilize materials that would otherwise have been discarded, and they can last for decades. Reclaimed floors are an eco-friendly alternative to carpeting and other floor coverings.
#5: Use no-or low-VOC hardwood floor finishes and wall paints
To take the sustainability one step further, you can also coat the floors with a finish that contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), or a very small amount of them. Certain VOCs are hazardous
chemicals that evaporate or sublimate at room temperature, which is dangerous to both human health and the environment.
Luckily, some hardwood floor finish companies like Vermont Natural Coatings and WOCA are dedicated to creating finishes that have less VOCs than average or none at all.
Floor finishes with low VOC counts are one thing. But you can also purchase wall paints that contain little or no VOCs. By selecting these products, you’ll ensure that the indoor environment you create is as healthy and eco-friendly as possible, from the furniture to the walls.
The eco-friendly home design trend is great for the environment and your home design projects, too! There are tons of things you can do with sustainable interior design.
With some research, you can find sustainable interior design ideas that will work with your next project. You can always check out this blog for new ideas, or comb Pinterest and Houzz for more eco-friendly interior design inspiration.