Guest Post By Eva Petruzziello
Photo byTimothy Buck
Eco-friendly design is as much about what you can see, as it is about what you can’t see. Decorating your home in an eco-friendly manner is sustainable for the long run and can help you save money. Choosing designs that are timeless and versatile is key. Eco-friendly designs will not only help you have a more livable space, but they will also brighten your home and help you to live in a healthier environment. The goal when choosing an eco-friendly design for your home is to minimize your carbon footprint and make your home a warm, healthy, and livable place.
Here are 5 eco-friendly design tips that will make you fall in love with your home.
Mind the Wood You Choose
Not long ago this was an impossible fact to confirm for most consumers. Today consumers have more information about where the wood comes from and whether it is grown in a responsible and conscious way. Efforts to replant forests and ensure that there is no damage to native flora and fauna are all part of the efforts to make wood more sustainable. Certain wood, such as bamboo, white ash, and oak are among the better choices for eco-design.
If you are questioning the sustainability of wood designs, consult the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which dictates how to choose wood sustainably.
Photo byMinh Pham
Repurpose
The value of repurposing furniture and houseware is greater than you can imagine. New furniture items not only come with a whole lot of packaging, but they also add heavily to our carbon footprint with unsustainable materials, chemicals used in manufacturing, and the costs of energy associated with transporting them.
Repurposing what you already have is the best way to redecorate without the heavy burden on our environment. Try painting your dresser white, reupholstering your kitchen chairs, or buying a sander to refinish that table. If repurposing isn’t your thing, donate your items so that someone else can use them.
Choose Sustainable Products for Furniture, Walls & Carpets
Sustainable furniture companies adhere to several standards in the production of their goods. There are a few reasons to choose sustainable home decor. First, sustainable companies make sure that materials are sourced with the conscious needs of local communities, forests, and environmental efforts. Forests are easily renewable, and furniture is often made from recycled materials.
Sustainable companies are often more cognizant of toxins that are used in the production of furniture, paint, and rugs. New materials from mainstream companies are often sprayed and polished with a variety of different toxins, from flame retardants to lacquers and sprays. Your furniture might be making you sick; as Oprah.com also investigated the potential harm from new furniture.
The best way to avoid toxins from new materials, and ensure healthy regrowth of forests and communities is by choosing sustainable furniture companies that have been known to care about the materials used and the health of the end consumer.
Increase Plants in Your Home
Plants can increase the oxygen and energy in the home. They not only chemically clean and change the air, but they also increase mood, productivity, and concentration. Plants clean the air through the process of photosynthesis. As humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, plants do the opposite.
Houseplants also help to fill the home for solo dwellers. Since they are alive, caring for them can help increase oxytocin and the feeling of wellbeing.
From a design perspective, plants can make your home more appealing and alive. They are often used as a focal point, or as a way to soften angular lines.
Maximize Energy in the Home
If you’re looking to save money and lower your carbon emissions it is essential to maximize heating and cooling within the home. Window covering may seem superficial and esthetically pleasing, but in reality, they offer great savings. Find thermal blinds and curtains that will allow your home to heat from the sun when cold outside, and keep cool air inside once the summer is here.
Insulation is also another factor to look into. Depending on where you live, and what materials are available, choosing the right insulation can mean the difference between a house that leaks toxins and energy, to a home that is toxin-free and draft resistant. Cellulose insulation, sheep’s wool, and cotton insulation are eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional fiberglass insulation.
Be sure to mend cracks in doors and walls. A lot of energy escapes from a lack of maintenance. This is also essential when following the design principles of feng-shui; where cracks denote a lower quality of energy in the home. It is always a good idea to have floor coverings for doors that leak air, such as in the basement or attic.
Where to Start
Depending on your budget and end goals, start with what is easiest for you. Perhaps, painting a room with low VOC paint will brighten up your design, or adding some plants will clear some stagnant air. Eco-friendly designs can help to save money in the home, reduce toxins, and make your home a more welcoming and healthy environment. Using natural materials and more neutral colors will give your home the most eco-friendly feeling.
About the Author
Eva Petruzziello is the Editor-in-Chief of Simple n’ Delight, a website about sustainable living. As an eco-schools teacher and a homeowner, she implements many of the design tips she discusses in this article. In her own household, she embraces steps towards a zero-waste lifestyle by composting, recycling, and adopting sustainable strategies to save money and keep our planet green. Follow Eva on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.