How to Sustainably Design Your Home
image courtesy LZF Lamps, an artisanal and sustainable lighting design studio in Spain
It may not be surprising that overall building and construction account for almost 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions during the building process. But did you know that the interior design inside said building will actually exceed that level of emissions throughout the lifespan of the home or building? This includes furniture, decor, fixtures, lighting, equipment, and more. This shocking impact is the reason why interior designers and homeowners alike are starting to make the switch to eco-friendly design—and why you should too!
Why interior design must consider climate change
For most people, carbon emissions are the last thing to come to mind when designing a space. When it comes to building a home, there are of course choices that can be made to lower energy consumption, cut down on air pollution, and more. But can the same be said for designing the inside of the space?
The biggest climate impactor in your home is actually your furniture! Especially when so many people frequently shop at stores like Ikea and Wayfair. In fact, the average piece of furniture accounts for the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning over 5 gallons of gas! Not only do furniture, appliances, and decor come with a high carbon price tag, but they can also be detrimental to the areas where they are produced.
Textiles for furniture, carpets/rugs, decor, and more have a huge impact on our environment. It takes over 700 gallons of water to produce a single t-shirt alone, how many do you think it would take to make a couch? The manufacturing of textiles also causes microplastics and pollution to be released into the environment in which they are made, creating unsafe conditions for the local population. If you’re thinking of purchasing leather furniture, it’s important to figure out where it was made as the process of tanning leather is a huge polluter and can also have a negative impact on the communities surrounding the tannery.
Last and certainly not least is design and textile waste. When a chair breaks or a blanket rips, it’s easy to throw it out. But furniture and textile waste is a huge problem all over the world. Because furniture cannot be recycled easily (due to the common mix of materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and more), it typically ends up in a landfill where it can sit for thousands of years until it decomposes. And with about 10 million tons of furniture being disposed of in landfills by Americans alone, we don’t have time to waste!
Eco-friendly interior design solutions
The main purpose of sustainable design is to reduce the waste we produce, cut down on non-renewable assets, and create a healthy environment inside our homes. There are many ways to get started on your sustainable design journey:
image: The Creative Exchange
Avoid ‘fast-furniture.’ While the appeal of fast-furniture stores are their low prices, the items they produce are detrimental to our environment. Textile dyes pollute the air and water, the mixed materials used for furniture make them hard to recycle, the water needed to manufacture the high amounts of items is astronomical, and most of the time the labor practices are not ethical. Also, many of these items are of a lower quality which means they won’t last long and will just end up in a landfill.
Consider your bases and textiles. Many synthetic fibers and bases require a ton of energy to manufacture and also create a high level of carbon emissions due to the chemicals needed to produce them. Instead, opt for natural materials and textiles such as natural stone, wood, organic cotton, wool, and more. These items are not only more eco-friendly, but they also are higher quality and will last much longer!
Opt for energy-efficient lighting. LED lighting is your best option when it comes to energy-efficient bulbs. They last much longer than your traditional incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy!
Look for upcycled and refurbished decor. Buying upcycled, antique, vintage, or refurbished decor is a huge way to lower your home's carbon footprint. The act of upcycling is essentially turning an item that is old, broken, or no longer serving a purpose into something new again. This reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills but also allows your home to be filled with unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that you can feel good about! From furniture to art to lighting fixtures to decor, the options are endless when it comes to buying antique or vintage, upcycling and refurbishing.
Don’t forget the greenery! This one may be obvious, but adding plants to your space does a whole lot more than meets the eye! Plants actually filter the air in your room by absorbing carbon dioxide. Not only are plants good for the air quality, but they also help to boost your mood, improve your focus, and reduce stress levels! Talk about a multi-tasker.
Reduce your waste. When we think of waste, we often think of the trash we have to take out every week but when it comes to interior design, you should think of how often you’re renovating or updating a space. Constant remodeling and designing is the reason buildings and homes keep up their high carbon footprint because we’re constantly getting rid of the old and bringing in new pieces. If you want to replace an item, first consider the possibilities of repairing or reupholstering it. If you really want to get rid of it, try to sell it to someone else or find a company that will actually recycle your items. Just make sure to do anything to avoid your items ending up in a landfill!
Sustainability in every aspect of our lives doesn’t have to be a giant step right away. Start off small by making mindful choices in your buying decisions and before you know it, you will have an eco-friendly home you can feel proud of!
