Regardless of whether you live in a rented home or a forever home, taking little steps to live consciously can go a long way to improve your health as well as the environment. Mindful purchases can certainly impact the process right from design level to production to shipping and recycling.
We’ve put together a simple guide with interior design tips to help you improve the environmental sustainability of your home:
Low-Pollution Shipping & Logistics
With the way items are manufactured today, it seems nearly impossible to reduce the environmental issues arising from shipping and logistics. For example, wood may be sourced from Asia, shipped to the US for manufacturing, then shipped again to various countries around the world. The only solution to this issue is to try your best to reduce the logistics burden or to find sustainable brands that practice low pollution logistics. Shop local as much as you can!
Intentional shopping
Prioritize longevity, design, and quality above anything else. Buy items that serve a purpose and bring you joy and will be with you for many many years in the future. There really isn’t a need to buy a new piece of furniture every time you move homes. Don’t compromise on quality or comfort, do and try not rush the buying process – wait until the perfect item turns up before making any decisions!
Pre-loved Shopping
There are many options and ways to extend the life of a piece of furniture –recycled, upcycled, salvaged, pre-loved. Buying pre-loved is an amazing way to be environmentally conscious and add some beautiful pieces to your home for half the price or less. You’ve also saved on the logistics and shipping. Watch out for our list of places to buy second hand furniture in Dubai…. Coming up on the blog soon!!
Eco-friendly & Sustainable materials
Consider sustainable and ecofriendly materials and fabrics when buying items for your home.
Here are a few tips:
Reclaimed wood: uses old materials (example old furniture that has been discarded) giving it a new life, so no new trees will be cut down to make your furniture. Reclaimed wood is usually upcycled wood that comes from old buildings, ships, warehouses, furniture etc. The wood is basically repurposed, but that does not change its physical properties. This is a good option for small furniture or flooring.
Bamboo: is considered a sustainable material. Did you know that bamboo is actually grass not a tree? It is the fastest growing plant in the world, allowing it to be used within 4 years of planting versus 50+ years required by most trees. It also takes less energy to produce and is durable and versatile.
Rattan: is similar to bamboo in terms of its sustainable benefits. It grows really fast and is produced in a low-energy and low-waste way. It is also recyclable and biodegradable, and very popular with people looking to create a boho vibe in their homes.
Recycled plastic and metal: A lot of brands are today making an effort to recycle materials – e.g. rugs made out of used plastic bottles (or other non-biodegradable materials) or tables made out of recycled metal or paper. Metal can be recycled repeatedly without any negative effects to its properties.
Natural fabrics for home textiles: When it comes to home textiles, like rugs, throws, bedding or towels, natural fabrics are the most sustainable options. Look for organic cotton, linen, organic wool, bamboo, hemp, jute.
Cork – This is a material known for its high sustainability & recyclability. Extracting cork does not harm trees, only the bark is harvested. Hence this is a great sustainable option – for floorings or other items. Cork can also be easily reused. Some floor materials or décor items are today made out of entirely recycled wine corks.
Watch out for more posts on conscious interior spaces. If there is anything you’d like us to talk about, let us know on hello@theinteriorcurators.me