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Writer's pictureDe Shell Design Lab

SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

Updated: Oct 20, 2023


INTRODUCTION

Sustainability is the act of creating a home that's good for the environment. It's about reducing your impact on the earth, from water and energy use to waste management and recycling. Sustainable interiors can help you cut down on your carbon footprint by making small changes in how you live in your home.

In this blog post, we'll cover some benefits of sustainable interiors and give you some tips on how to make them happen!

Sustainable interiors is a term used to describe the use of materials that are renewable, recyclable or biodegradable. This includes natural materials like wood and cork, as well as man-made alternatives such as recycled plastic. Sustainable interior design also focuses on energy efficiency in the home, so you can reduce your carbon footprint by making small changes to your home's design.


Benefits of Sustainable Interior Design


Sustainable interior design can be a great way to reduce your environmental impact, save money and improve your health.


  • Reduce environmental impact: By making small changes in your home such as switching out light bulbs or choosing sustainable materials for flooring or furniture, you can greatly reduce the amount of energy used by your home every year. This means less greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and less pollution released into the air.

  • Save money: Sustainable design doesn't have to cost more than conventional building materials; in fact it often costs less because many sustainable products are more durable than those made with non-renewable resources like wood or metal (which can break easily). In addition if these items last longer then there will be fewer replacements over time which saves even more money!

  • Improve health: Many synthetic chemicals used in conventional construction materials may cause respiratory issues such as asthma attacks when inhaled regularly over long periods of time - especially if combined with other irritants such as dust mites found naturally occurring indoors too often today due increased humidity levels caused by climate change effects outside our homes."


The benefits of sustainable interiors go beyond just helping the environment; they also improve health and productivity for those who live in them! Studies have shown that people who work in offices with plants feel less stressed than those without any greenery nearby (1). Plus, there are plenty of studies showing how spending time outside can boost mood by reducing anxiety levels (2).


Choosing Sustainable Materials


When you're choosing materials for your home, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • First, choose natural and renewable materials whenever possible. This includes wood products that are made from sustainably harvested trees, bamboo flooring (which is actually grass), hemp twine and other fibers (such as linen) that can be grown without pesticides or fertilizers.

  • Secondly, recycled materials can be used in many ways--from old bottles being repurposed into new glassware or furniture made from reclaimed wood scraps to tiles made out of recycled bottles! Recycling is another great way to reduce waste and help the environment at the same time.


  • Finally: low-VOC paints and finishes! These types of paints don't emit harmful fumes into your indoor air quality like traditional paints do; they also contain fewer toxic chemicals which means less risk for you when using them around children or pets


Sustainable Lighting Solutions


Sustainable lighting solutions are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. There are many ways to go about this, but here are some of the most popular:

  • LED Lighting

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have been around since the 1960s and are now widely used in commercial applications such as signage and traffic signals.LED lights use less energy than other types of bulbs, and they're more durable, so you can save money on replacement costs over time

They're also increasingly common in residential settings because they offer high energy efficiency, low maintenance costs and long life spans (20 times longer than incandescent bulbs).



In addition to being sustainable, LEDs can be dimmed or turned off when not needed without affecting their lifespan and allow you to control how much light you need at any given time thus save even more money!

--a feature that makes them ideal for use in bedrooms or other spaces where you want complete darkness at night!

For example: If you have an LED bulb in your kitchen that's always on when no one is home (or even if someone is), consider getting an automatic timer switch for it so that it turns off automatically when not needed.


Sustainable Furniture

If you're looking to make your home more sustainable, it's important to consider the furniture that you use. Sustainable furniture is a great way to add a unique and eco-friendly touch to your home. There are many options available on the market today and some are better than others.There are many different ways of going about this,


First, consider up-cycled furniture. Upcycling is when you take an old piece of furniture and give it new life by painting or reupholstering it. This is second-hand furniture that has been refurbished into something new and beautiful.

You can also buy up-cycled pieces from second-hand stores or auction sites, which allow people to sell their unwanted items at low prices so they don't go to waste!

The best part? It saves resources! Upcycling can be done in many ways: by painting over old pieces or using reclaimed wood as a base for new pieces of furniture like tables or chairs (check out this article for ideas).



Second, consider second-hand items as well! If you don't want an entirely new set of furniture but still want something unique and eco-friendly then buying second hand is perfect for your needs! There are tons of shops online where people sell their old stuff so that other people can buy it at discounted prices.


Thirdly, consider buying recycled wood that has been salvaged from old buildings or trees damaged by fire or disease (such as ash). This type of wood will be more expensive than regular wood due its limited availability but makes up for this with its high quality finish and eco credentials!





Sustainable Flooring


Now that you've decided on a sustainable interior, it's time to look at flooring. Sustainable flooring is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. The good news is there are many options available.



  • Bamboo flooring: This option is both durable and eco-friendly--it's made from bamboo trees which grow quickly and require little water or fertilizer to thrive. In addition, bamboo floors are easy on the environment because they don't require any toxic chemicals during manufacturing or installation (unlike most other types of wood).



  • Cork flooring: Cork comes from cork oak trees which have been harvested for centuries without causing damage to their habitat or population numbers. Cork can be recycled up to seven times before being discarded into landfills so if you're looking for something unique in your

home but still want something that's good for the environment this might be worth considering!



  • Linoleum flooring: Made from recycled rubber tires linoleum has been around since 1860s making it one of oldest forms of synthetic flooring available today! It has been proven safe over time so if you're looking for something durable yet environmentally friendly then look no further than linoleum!

Sustainable Wall Coverings


The walls are the foundation of your home and can be an important part of any sustainable interior design. There are several options for sustainable wall coverings including clay plasters, natural paints and recycled wallpapers.


  • Clay plasters: Clay plasters are made from natural clay which is mixed with water to form a paste that can be applied directly onto the wall surface. They're easy to use and come in many different colors so you can create a custom look for your home's interior design!

  • Natural paints: Natural paints contain no synthetic ingredients such as binders or fillers--they're made entirely from plant materials like linseed oil (which acts as a binder), pigments (for color) and water (to thin out). These paints offer an earthy look that works well with most styles of decorating while also being environmentally friendly because they don't contain any toxic chemicals which could harm indoor air quality over time if left exposed too long without proper ventilation systems installed throughout each room where these types exist within them."


  • Recycled wallpapers

Sustainable Textiles


If you're looking for sustainable textiles, look no further than organic cotton and hemp. Both of these fibers are grown without pesticides or fertilizers and are completely free of chemicals. Bamboo is also a great option if you want something that's both sustainable and eco-friendly. It grows quickly and requires little water to do so--which makes it ideal for areas where water is scarce or polluted.


Sustainable Decorations

Sustainable decorations are a great way to add an eco-friendly touch to your home. There are many ways you can incorporate sustainable decor into your space, including:


  • Reclaimed wood furniture and accessories. This is one of the easiest ways to go green in terms of decorating because reclaimed wood is often already finished with natural oils that make it resistant against water damage and insects. You can also find pieces with unique textures or designs that make them stand out from other pieces of furniture, even if they come from similar styles or materials!


  • Up-cycled decor items like old wine bottles turned into lamps or vintage suitcases used as coffee tables are another great way to add some personality into any room while reducing waste at the same time! These items may be slightly more expensive than their new counterparts but they're worth every penny when considering how much less energy was used during production compared with making something new out of raw materials (which requires resources such as electricity).

Sustainable Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures


  • Low-flow fixtures: These are the most common sustainable bathroom and kitchen fixtures, as they reduce water consumption by about 30%. They're also easy to find at any hardware store, so you don't have to wait for a special order.


  • Recycled fixtures: If you want to go even further with your sustainable efforts, look for recycled versions of your favorite products. For example, instead of buying new faucets or sinks made from plastic or metal that will eventually end up in landfills when they break down over time (and they will), consider getting used ones from secondhand stores or Craigslist instead--they'll last longer than their disposable counterparts anyway!

  • Composting toilets: These toilets don't use any water at all! Instead they rely on natural processes like evaporation and bacterial action within their compost chamber where bacteria eat away at waste matter until only clean water remains behind after each flush cycle has finished its job cleaning out all traces left behind by previous users' bodies' natural processes occurring inside those same bodies prior to leaving them behind via excretion through various openings located around said bodies' outer surfaces."


Conclusion

In this article, we've explored how our interiors spaces can be made sustainable. If you have been inspired to create a space that reflects your own style and personality, then it's time to start planning!

Looking to bring sustainable interiors to your home? Our team of professional interior designers can help! Start off your home project on the right foot with a free design consultation.

If you are looking for more inspiration on how to design your home using this trend check out our gallery of images.


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