Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design
Modern interior design has gone green. Over the past few years the focus of interior design has shifted towards a more environmentally-friendly approach.
Eco design is about creating mindful interiors that improve the health of those who live there while respecting the environment by using sustainable materials and reducing waste.
But it’s not all compost toilets, rain water showers and incense. No, eco-friendly design is modern, practical and can be very stylish.
Eco-friendly design isn’t a trend – I can’t imagine it will ever go out of fashion now. It’s more of a lifestyle choice, and a very chic one at that.
Going Green
There are numerous ways to improve the eco credentials of your home. Some are low cost and quick, others more expensive and time-consuming. But even the smallest changes will reap benefits for your family and the environment.
Materials
Some materials are more environmentally sound than others. As a general rule of thumb, the more natural the source, the better it is. I wrote a post dedicated to natural materials such as wood, slate, marble, linen, jute, bamboo and limestone. I’m a huge advocate for natural because it looks beautiful and is sustainable. These materials are highly coveted in modern interior design at the moment, and they’re easily sourced.
Decor
Wallpapers, paints, flooring, fabrics – these can all be eco-friendly. Manufacturers have started offering a huge selection of non-toxic paints – which aren’t just better for the environment but for you too. Some of the producers of ‘green’ paint are Earthborn, Auro, and Ecos Organic Paints, any there are many more.
Similarly, wallpaper is being produced using paper from managed forests and non-toxic inks. Sweden based Eco Wallpaper have a very strict manufacturing process that significantly reduces any impact on the environment. And it’s not just about the environment – modern interior design is benefiting from these respectful design and production practices too.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (or Upcycle!)
The most eco-friendly things you can do is buy thoughtfully and recycle more. So much can be recycled or reused in some way. There’s a strong culture of “make do and mend” in the UK at the moment. But people aren’t just repairing holey clothes or fixing wobbly chair legs – they are completely transforming old items with brilliant ‘hacks’.
It’s called upcycling and it’s a great way to reduce the sheer amount of waste we produce. Anything can be upcycled; furniture, lights, clothes, accessories, rugs, decorative items, shipping containers. All it takes is a lick of paint or some fabric and you can turn a dowdy, old piece of furniture into something contemporary. And with the sheer number of businesses now offering recycled furniture, tiles, wooden floors, lights etc it’s clearly a trend to last.
