Eco-friendly interior design has grown popular over the years. As more people spend time indoors, studies reveal that online searches have increased concerning how to connect with nature and protect the environment. This trend is described as an ‘eco-wakening.’ A great way to be more environmentally friendly is to incorporate sustainable ideas in your interior design. Contrary to popular belief, going green with your interior design doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. Here are some practical and trendy eco-friendly interior decor ideas for your home.
- Allow in more light
Your lighting can create the perfect atmosphere for your home while at the same time conserving energy. There are energy-efficient light bulbs that come in different designs and are functional. These include compact fluorescents (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are known to last about 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use at least 75% less energy.
To make your lighting more eco-friendly, you can start by removing any incandescent bulbs you have, as they consume more energy. You can also choose light fixtures made from eco-friendly materials such as iron and bamboo. You can even get creative using recycled materials such as wine bottles.
Aside from getting more energy-efficient lighting, you can also incorporate more natural lighting into your home design. You can let in more light by drawing your curtains during the day, so you don’t have to turn on the light. You can consider installing eco-friendly and organic linen curtains, which you can hang using curtain rods to add a nice, cozy touch. You can also consider thick, eco-friendly curtains to provide extra warmth during winter.
- Add a modern touch with energy-efficient appliances
The appliances you use in your home could significantly contribute to your energy consumption. Appliances such as refrigerators, televisions, etc., can add to the aesthetics of your interior space. However, before purchasing such appliances, it’s essential to consider some factors beyond style. Presently, more appliance manufacturers pay greater attention to ensuring their products are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. It’s best to ensure the appliance you’re getting is Energy Star certified to help determine whether it will help make your home more eco-friendly.
- Try eco-friendly art
If you’re an art lover, you can incorporate your personality into your interior design while still being environmentally conscious, using eco-friendly art. These pieces are a favorite because they’re not only decorative but also functional. To add a playful or artistic touch to your interior, you can get creative by transforming your old mason jars, using sustainable handmade tiles for your kitchen, or making your chandeliers by hanging colorful beer and wine bottles on a string. If you want to add brighter tones to your interior space, you can also use no-VOC paint, an eco-friendly alternative.
- Get creative with your storage
Choosing to go eco-friendly with your interior design enables you to be creative in many ways, including your storage. There are several fun ways to have functional yet decorative storage. For instance, you can repurpose old containers or boxes for storage instead of opting for plastic bins. You can add a vintage touch by wrapping them with old newspapers and colorful ribbons. You can also use old bottles, cans, or even a cheese grater to store your stationery.
Additionally, you can try building some shelves if you have the space to store your bowls and cutlery. You can also use wine racks to store your towels. A stylish trend that has emerged is also under-cabinet canisters, where you mount jars under your cabinets by making holes in the lids so that you can store items such as snacks, pasta, etc. Trying these ideas helps you make good use of space while minimizing the likelihood of throwing things away.
While being creative with your storage, it’s best to consciously avoid impulse buying or items you don’t necessarily need. This way, you prevent your home from looking cluttered.
- Consider your flooring
Aside from adding beauty to your interior space, eco-friendly flooring could also prevent energy loss and ensure proper insulation during cold weather. Using eco-friendly materials for your flooring also helps reduce any negative impact on the environment. An added advantage of eco-friendly flooring is that it usually lasts longer and doesn’t require much maintenance. Some ideas worth exploring include natural stone tiles, terra-cotta, recycled or reclaimed hardwood, bamboo, and cork flooring. If you want to use a carpet or rug, you can also try those made from natural fibers such as seagrass, wool, and jute. These don’t release as many toxins as carpets and rugs made from plastic and trap less dust.
- Add more houseplants
Incorporating houseplants into your interior design provides several benefits apart from beautifying your home. They help boost your mood and give you the fresh air you need if you’re unable to go outdoors. They also add a refreshing fragrance to your home. You can place them in colorful pots and vases of different sizes.
There are several houseplants you can choose from, depending on your preferences. Some common houseplants include the Boston fern, which is known as an excellent air purifier. The bamboo palm is a natural humidifier, and aloe Vera is good for the skin aside from purifying the air in your interior. The English ivy has healing properties, such as relieving allergy symptoms.
To help your houseplants last longer, it would help to consider where you place them, such as an area where they can get sufficient sunlight. It’s best to also water them using natural water sources like rainwater.
- Use recycled or organic materials for your fabrics
Fabrics make up a major part of your interior decor, from pillowcases to curtains, bedsheets, and table cloths. To achieve an eco-friendly interior design, you can consider using recycled or organic materials for such items. You can sew pillowcases using old clothes or buy organic cotton to make other fabrics for your home. You can also use linen bedsheets.
You can get creative by dyeing them naturally with juices from colored vegetables and fruits like grapes, purple cabbage, beets, carrots, and blueberries, to achieve the color of your choice. Using recycled or organic materials for your fabrics allows you to eliminate any harmful plastic materials.
- Go minimalistic
The minimalistic interior decor has been in style for several years and is a great option worth considering if you want to maximize space, as it highlights the saying ‘less is more.’ This option also allows you to be eco-friendly depending on the styles and items you use to achieve the minimalistic design, and as a plus, you can save costs as you don’t need to purchase too many things.
You can start by getting simple furniture such as an eco-friendly sofa, tables made from stone or marble, natural tapestry, and DIY decor ideas such as a mini family gallery of your favorite pictures and paintings. Making sure your interior is well-lit also adds to the effect, making your room look more spacious. If you want to add a fireplace, it’s best to go for options that use bio-fuels instead of electricity. As a plus, it helps to add a warm, rustic touch to your interior.
- Try eco-friendly wall coverings
Your walls can add life to your interior decor, giving you the room to be versatile with your design choices. Your wall coverings can also be eco-friendly without taking away from the look you want to achieve. You can use paint that has low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or none at all, such as milk paint, latex paint, and water-based paint, to protect you and your family’s health without harming the environment. You can also opt for eco-friendly removable wallpaper, which combines simplicity with style without harming you and the environment. They come in different patterns and are made from recycled paper or natural materials. You can also add a luxurious touch by going with walls made from wood panels, cork, etc. There are also several other environmentally-friendly finishes you can consider for your walls. If you live in a usually cold area, you can try going for darker colors for your walls to add some warmth.
- Use furniture made of natural materials
Your furniture is a significant part of your interior decor and can contribute to your home’s eco-friendliness. It’s best to use furniture made from sustainable materials like natural or repurposed wood instead of plastic. You can also try bamboo furniture to add a rustic appeal to your decor. While thinking about your furniture, you can also consider using materials such as stone or marble for your countertops. If you want a vintage look, you can consider antique furniture. Furniture made from natural materials usually use environmentally friendly options such as wood joinery instead of harmful adhesives.
These practical ideas will suit your personality while at the same time helping to protect the environment. They also allow you to get creative without breaking the bank, adding a beautiful touch to your interior. Some other benefits these eco-friendly designs offer you are durability, helping you produce less waste, and helping you save costs such as energy bills.