Sustainable Interior Design

Sustainable Interior Design

sustainable interior design

As we become more aware of the impact our daily lives have on the environment, our interior designers are always on the lookout for the best eco-friendly, sustainable interior design techniques to maximize our clients’ home efficiency and reduce their impact by keeping everything green.

From building a vegetable garden to starting a composting routine, there is a lot you can do to help the environment and to help you personally. But how do you deal with sustainable interior design?

To help you get started with adopting sustainable interior design in your home, we’ve created a quick checklist you can implement to lower your environmental pressures beyond solar panels – and no, upcycling furniture isn’t one of them …

Choose lighter colors

energy saving paint

To save money and energy on lighting, rethink your approach to your main color scheme, as lighter shades reflect more light while darker walls and decorations need more artificial light. Also, to help you get rid of the toxic chemicals and fumes found in most paints, there are now a multitude of paint companies that are developing fewer abrasives that are better for the environment and your home.

Another sustainable interior design practice that our designers often use is to incorporate reflective surfaces to increase the amount of light that is reflected from room to room while reducing the use of artificial light.

Source environmentally friendly facility

sustainable furniture

Look for companies that are committed to sustainable interior design by using environmentally friendly materials and ethical production methods. Study the companies you want to invest in and examine their approach to green building that will last a lifetime, considering their waste production.

And as with any purchase, swell parts are built to last a few years and you won’t get tired of them.

Choose materials + finishes wisely

easy to clean sustainable upholstery

You may be surprised to read this as they are often viewed as a far cry from luxury. However, sourcing synthetic materials and upholstery can help the environment in the long run as they generally stay clean and last longer – just be sure it is you, and it’s great to see them in your home years.

It’s even better to source materials made from recycled materials and waste, as sustainable interior design requires never-before-considered approaches for the best results. Similarly, look for surfaces like counters and table tops that are easy to clean, take less time and product. Teak is a great alternative to more delicate wood because it is extremely durable and quick to work with.

Bring in carpet

Save money on sustainable interior design

Although we often forget them and consider them purely decorative, rugs and carpeting have a double function as heat insulators, while they store up to 10% of the heat in the room.

They also act as brilliant silencers and can reduce noise by picking up sound vibrations. Believe it or not, they also improve air quality by trapping airborne dust until it is vacuumed. Since we are committed to sustainable interior design, we recommend organically produced products that are easy to clean and do not require environmentally harmful trips to dry cleaners or chemically treated products.

Install window treatments

Energy saving curtains

When it comes to sustainable interior design, heating and lighting are two of the easiest ways our designers use to make our clients’ homes as environmentally friendly as possible. Since most building’s heat escapes through windows, it is important that your windows are of the best quality while ensuring proper insulation.

And if you are not gifted with the best windows and upgrading them is not within your budget, window treatments are a smart, easy to manage and install option as they can keep cold air and solar heat out while controlling the temperature of your home through Open and close when necessary.

Install efficient shower heads + faucets

Modern water-saving shower head

Save water and energy by upgrading your faucets and shower heads with more efficient models as today’s options use up to 70% less water. As you can see, updates to sustainable interior design most of the time don’t require unlimited resources, just a thoughtful, well-studied approach.

Update your devices

Energy saving kitchen appliances

Since Energy Star certified devices can now be found in almost every modern household, we recommend swapping out older washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators for updated, energy-saving options, as this will save you money in the long term.

We love the functionality and environmental friendliness of the LG Signature Refridgerator, which has a cleverly designed transparent front that allows you to see what’s inside without opening the door.

Invest in Nest

Tips for saving energy at home

Brands like Nest offer beautifully designed, easy-to-use automation services to control heating and lighting systems from anywhere, making more efficient and economical use of your home’s energy.

As for lighting, did you know that traditional lightbulbs give off 90% of their energy as heat, which makes them more expensive to use and keeps your home warmer. Since this is probably one of the most affordable hacks for sustainable interior design, we recommend using energy efficient bulbs like halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lights, and LED lights, as well as using timers and dimmers to save the best while helping the environment.

Images via Pinterest