How to be eco-conscious in interior design
Design your home eco-consciously by bringing nature inside, conserving energy, choosing quality over quantity, and opting for natural or recycled fabrics, available at Home Fabrics' Eco Label collections.
Eco-consciousness is a respect for the environment (plants, animals, and other elements of the natural world). It’s also a fast-growing trend, as manufacturers start to recognise the public’s desire to protect and preserve the natural world, make more eco-friendly choices when purchasing products, and live more sustainably. This eco-consciousness is also influencing how people style and design their homes. If you’re looking to style your home in an eco-conscious way, here are 4 ideas to inspire you.
Create a healthy eco-system
Designing healthy and environmentally friendly spaces takes into consideration the well-being of the inhabitants. Factors such as light, ventilation, air quality and acoustics all contribute to interiors that feel and function as good as they look.
A simple inclusion for great eco-consciousness in design is to bring a bit of nature indoors. Plants not only purify the air but also help to reduce noise levels and some offer a refreshing fragrance for the space. Indoor plants are also shown to have a positive mental effect, reducing stress and increasing feelings of calm. Incorporating plants in home offices or shared living areas can do wonders for well-being while also being mindful of the environment.
Conserve energy in your home
The easiest way to be eco-conscious: conserve energy in your home. A reduction in energy consumption not only lowers your carbon footprint but also conserves the earth’s resources. Most of our energy consumption goes towards lighting, heating/cooling and cooking and there are easy ways to better manage it.
Use heating appliances sparingly and opt for energy-efficient lightbulbs
Utilise good airflow and sheer curtains in summer to cool the home
Thick carpets and heavier-weight drapery can help conserve heat in winter
Choose quality over quantity
Buy quality products from the onset and you won’t need to toss them out and buy new items. This is especially true of furniture. Good quality items could last a lifetime or even pass down generations. This is also why buying good quality second-hand or antique items is another way of being more eco-conscious in interior design.
When it comes to the upholstery of your furniture, select durable fabrics. FibreGuard ensures there’s no worry about cleaning with its stain-resistant technology, the fabric has a luxurious soft touch and is available in a wide selection of colours and textures. Choosing quality over quantity also saves money because there’s a drastically reduced need to buy new items or reupholster furniture every few years.
Choose natural and recycled fabrics
From the production process to when they’re eventually disposed of, synthetic fabrics harm the environment. To minimise the environmental impact, choose products that have been ethically made and whose fabrics are biodegradable. This is not to say that natural fabrics don’t impact the environment. Look at their production process, and most of them do. But their impact is often less harmful than the impact left by synthetics.
Some natural fabrics you can use for rugs, upholstery, curtains, and more:
Organic cotton
Bamboo
Wool
Jute
Hemp
Recycled fabrics/materials are one of the best things you can use when styling a home. You’re reusing and repurposing what already exists, and this reduces the impact of microplastics on the environment. The fabric below is Ambiant, it is a FibreGuard fabric and is 100% made up of recycled materials.
Style your home’s interior with an eco-conscious mindset
When it comes to creating an eco-friendly interior, begin by seeking out sustainable alternatives to the fabrics and other design elements you use. Visit Home Fabrics to explore our Eco Label fabric collections.