Interior design in 2022 has seen a greater demand for sustainability than ever before. These environmentally friendly homes include materials sourced ethically, or even salvaged. The choices designers and consumers make when purchasing furniture can provide a better and safer future for generations to come. Read below for tips on how to incorporate sustainability into your home from E-Z Living Interiors.
Source Materials
Collecting materials from local sources is the best way to design sustainably, alongside promoting safe manufacturing processes and socially responsible business partnerships. Consumers can promote a healthy home environment by ensuring the materials used are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and are generally chemical-free. Materials should also be hypoallergenic and/or organic.
Reclaim and Recycle
Instead of disposing of old or unwanted furniture, repurpose or refinish these items to fit any interior design style. An antique piece can become a modern staple with a new finish and hardware. Moreover, recycled upholstery can provide unique textures to furniture pieces. Repurposed tiling can also introduce a strong statement piece into any kitchen or bathroom.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Materials, furnishings and equipment make an impact on your home’s carbon footprint. Wood flooring that comes from ethically sourced, rapidly renewable resources, along with water saving plumbing and energy-efficient appliances are long-lasting choices. Energy in the home can also be better preserved by choosing doors that provide a tight seal, and double-glazed windows.
Add Eco-Friendly Lighting
LED, halogens and compact fluorescent light bulbs (Energy Star Certified) provide a long-lasting option. Properly planned windows and skylights that maximize the use of daylight can also ease the need for artificial lighting.
Use Alternative Power
Homes today can be run entirely on solar electricity. This pure and renewable energy source minimizes the need for fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. Solar panels can be integrated into the home in multiple ways, the most common and affordable being panels directly affixed to the roof.
Improve Air Quality
Ventilation within the home promotes a healthy environment while being cost efficient. Mechanical ventilation heat recovery units or ductless air conditioning systems are a great way to achieve this goal. The goal of these systems is to remove unwanted particles from the air such as dust, pollen and VOCs.
