Eco-friendly design solutions are in vogue presently. They require less maintenance, lower your carbon footprint, are relatively cheap, and create a healthy environment for you and your family.
An eco-friendly environment creates sustainability, which is all about achieving environmental balance and meeting our own needs without interfering with future generations’ ability to meet their own needs. Here are 12 eco-friendly interior design solutions to utilize.
1. Use Linen Sheets
If you’ve considered making your sheets a little more eco-friendly, linen sheets are an excellent fabric choice for your bed. A 100% pure linen sheet naturally helps maintain your body’s temperature and is unlikely to give you an allergic reaction, making it a great fabric to use in all seasons. It is made from zero-waste flax fiber, a reusable basic material, and is durable, even though it softens over time.
2. Invest in Low or Zero VOCPaint
VOCs mean Volatile Organic Compounds. They are used in paints to make them dry faster and prevent streaking. These chemicals, however, often release harmful gasses into the atmosphere and are highly unsustainable. If you want to paint your home, consider using paint brands with fewer or zero VOCs.
3. Flooring: Bamboo, Concrete, Terracotta Flooring
Home flooring can be made easily eco-friendly by using sustainable materials such as bamboo, concrete, and terracotta. Bamboo is an excellent eco-friendly flooring option as it is durable, inexpensive and immediately elevates any interior decor.
Concrete is made mainly of cement and water, making it highly durable, recyclable, and sustainable. In comparison, terracotta tiles are made of clay and other natural materials. They also come in warm and earthy color tones and are resilient enough to withstand heavy traffic for a long time.
4. Think Bamboo, Rattan, and Wicker
Bamboo rattan and wicker are three very common materials found in eco-friendly homes. They are highly sustainable, look so unique, and are remarkably versatile. You can easily rely on them for providing carbon-negative furniture to room dividers and even decorations for your eco-friendly interior decoration.
5. Bring In Some Plants
Plants have the power to make a room look aesthetically pleasing and feel good. Since they also give out oxygen as a waste product and use up our carbon dioxide, plants improve air quality. You can place some natural and sustainably sourced pot plants inside your home and even surround your home with them.
6. Maximize Natural Vintage Items
Vintage types of furniture have numerous environmental advantages and attractive appearances. When you use vintage furniture instead of purchasing new furniture, you prevent it from being thrown away and reduce waste. A bonus point is that vintage pieces of furniture would have already finished releasing the poisonous gasses from the paints, sprays, and glues.
7. Cork Wallpaper
Using cork wallpapers contributes to your eco-friendly lifestyle. They are made from the bark of the cork oak tree and are ideal for going green and sustainable. It has antibacterial properties that prevent mold and fungi growth, is energy-efficient, and radiates warmth and comfort in your home. When paired with other eco-friendly home design items like a jute rug, puffs, and rope lightings, they exude an appealing and contemporary style aura.
8. Eco-friendly Faucets and Water Fixtures
Installing water-saving showerheads and faucets can reduce your water consumption by 70%. They are a low-cost eco-alternative that could significantly reduce your monthly water expenditures and minimize water wastage. Additionally, they are also relatively cheap and add a sense of class to your home.
9. Buy Organic Upholstery
Mass-produced furniture and upholstery are often made with petroleum-based flame retardants, among many other unsustainable components. Instead, avoid these and buy locally-made custom upholstery made with natural materials.
10. Sustainable and Functional Art
Art made from recycled materials can be sustainable and functional. It could be recycled wine bottles for sustainably sourced flowers or mason jars for storage.
11. Consider Solid Wood
Solid wood for furniture is an incredibly sustainable option. The material is strong and durable enough to last long and be repurposed. We recommend using furniture made from solid wood like walnut, teak, oak, or maple and avoid those composed of MDF or particleboard.
12. Organic and Recycled Curtains
Your curtains can be sustainable and Eco-friendly when you use organic and recycled materials such as pure cotton, pure linen, bamboo fabric, hemp fabric, and linen.
13. Use Energy-Saving Lighting
Energy-saving lighting makes all the difference. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a difference in the environment and reduce power consumption, bills, and heat loss. As a result, choose energy-efficient LED fixtures.
14. Increase Natural Lighting Pathway
The best strategy to reduce your use of artificial light is to bring in a lot of natural light into your home. Choose the right colors to help light bounce around and use large glass windows in your home. Besides giving you amazing views of your surrounding, it helps to increase the natural light getting into your home.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash.
