As environmental problems become increasingly pressing, more people are starting to adopt sustainability principles when renovating their homes.
If you’re planning for a home makeover, here are some eco-friendly interior design tips to limit the impact you make on the environment.
1. Use Eco-friendly Paint
Regular interior paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) – chemical compounds that emit toxic gases that are harmful to the environment.
Apart from that, VOC can cause negative side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and memory impairment when inhaled. One way to avoid VOC is to stick to eco-friendly paints that are formulated without the compound.
2. Stick to a Minimalist Interior Design Style
A minimalist interior design encourages you to stay clutter-free to stick to the theme. This, in turn, helps to reduce your consumption and carbon footprint.
If the minimalist style isn’t your thing, try to adopt a mid-century interior instead; it uses a less-is-more approach to decorating, making it great for eco-friendly homes.
3. Choose Long-lasting Materials
If you’re trying to be more sustainable, opt for materials that are less susceptible to damage to reduce your wastage.
For example, an FSC-certified solid wood dining table made from walnut is preferred as this material is extremely durable.
4. Decorate Your Home with Plants
Decorating your home with plants is the easiest way to make your interior design more eco-friendly.
Plants improve the quality of the air by filtering out harmful chemicals; they also provide oxygen and bring a little of the outside into your home.
Newbies or those who lack a green thumb should choose plants that can thrive in poor conditions and require little attention.
Some of the best houseplants for beginners include
- Snake plants
- Succulents
- Spider plants
- Aloe vera plants
- Ponytail palms
5. Make Use of Natural Light
Natural light can help reduce your reliance on artificial lighting, leading to lower energy consumption levels and the reduction of greenhouse gases released.
To let in more natural light, avoid thick curtains and use light and lightweight window treatments instead. You can also include mirrors in your home as they help to reflect the light filtering into the room, making it brighter.
6. Upgrade Your Old Appliances
It may sound counterintuitive to purchase new appliances, but they are more energy-efficient and better for the environment.
Additionally, upgrading to energy-saving options can also help you to save money on your utility bills.
7. Use Furniture Made from Natural Materials
From a sustainability perspective, using furniture made from natural materials can make your interior design more eco-friendly. This can also help to minimise the use of plastic in your home.
Some examples of natural and sustainable materials include furniture made from wood or rattan.
Note!
Not all woods are sustainable. When sourcing for furniture, look for pieces that are made from wood that are Forest Stewardship Council certified.
Additionally, opt for furniture that’s built using traditional building and joinery methods rather than glues. Adhesives release VOCs, which as mentioned previously, can negatively impact the quality of air in your home and the environment.
8. Buy Secondhand Furniture
Buying secondhand furniture is a great way to decorate your home in an eco-friendly manner. These pre-owned pieces come without packaging, removing the need for new resources while helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
Additionally, the inclusion of such furniture can add a touch of character to your interior decor due to their rich heritage.
9. Upcycle Your Old Furniture
Upcycling old furniture can help to breathe a new lease of life into materials that may otherwise be discarded to the landfill. Revamping your furniture also reduces the need for resources to produce new products.
10. Swap Fluorescent Lights with LEDs
Cutting down on your energy consumption is important because it’s one of the biggest contributors to the emission of greenhouse gases.
One way to reduce your energy usage is by introducing LEDs to your home. LEDs are, on average, 30% more energy-efficient and can last much longer as compared to its fluorescent counterparts.
Designing an Eco-friendly Home
Apply the tips above for your next home makeover to create a more sustainable home and play your part to help protect our environment!
