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8 Ways to Create Eco-friendly Interior Design

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Ankit Kapoor
8 Ways to Create Eco-friendly Interior Design

Design is everywhere. If you are not professionally involved in the field, it may seem irrelevant or sometimes too complicated. But design is an integral part of the lifestyle of all of us. Our homes, clothes, vehicles and even the future are designed.


If the first things on the list are aimed at making our lives easy and comfortable, the latter is additionally linked to the concept of sustainability. The goal is to meet our needs and most importantly, to meet the needs of the generations to come.


8 Tips for An Eco-Friendly Interior Design Makeover


What is Sustainable Design?

To get a better understanding of why a sustainable design is important, it is important to be somewhat philosophical.

Sustainability seeks to eliminate negative environmental impacts, thus, terms such as eco-friendly design, eco-design and eco-conscious design can be applied interchangeably towards it. Sustainable practice can improve your carbon footprint when designing and decorating your home. The important objectives of sustainable design are:

  • Minimize waste
  • Create a solid healthy environment
  • Reduce the utilization of non-renewable assets


Energy Efficient Design

Energy consumption is one of the important contributors to environmental change. Buildings are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions caused by energy consumption. There is much that architects and interior designers can do to improve a building's energy efficiency, primarily by reducing the amount of energy needed for heating, lighting, moving appliances, etc., and making the building a renewable, non-carbon-based by providing energy.


Waste Reduction Management

When it comes to waste reduction, interior designers have a lot of power in their hands, and this is the time when they must act responsibly towards sustainability. The planet's limited resources are valuable, so the mindset of taking products once out of style and replacing them with current trends is no longer appropriate.


Durability and Flexibility in Design

The lifetime of any material must be considered when interior designers are planning, to avoid discarding materials and products. Particularly, in terms of elements that experience a lot of wear and tear. Designing should aim for and create timeless spaces.

People grow and change, and they want the places around them to evolve with them and reflect those changes.


Interior designers must consider the flexibility of spaces—the adaptability to the changing needs of the people who are using them. The key to longevity is to design flexible spaces. Achieve timelessness and choose quality over quantity, classics over trendy, and simplicity/functionality over embellishment.


Reducing Environmental Impact

The materials and products with the lowest environmental impact are the most important choices from the point of view of sustainability. When it comes to organic materials (e.g., wood, wool, natural stone) not to forget the responsible treatment of natural resources, which seems to be an obvious choice. For a conscious living, choose renewable materials (such as bamboo), which are also responsibly extracted.


Materials and products must be evaluated at all levels throughout their life cycle – from extraction, production, transportation, and processing to how they are discarded after use.


Health Eco-system Design

Now in times of pandemic, people spend most of their time indoors. When it comes to designing a healthy interior there are many factors to control, such as air quality, heating, ventilation, lighting, and acoustics.

Products and materials with high levels of toxic emissions are the root cause of indoor air pollution. For example, furniture or equipment treated with harmful chemicals releases dangerous toxins into the air.


Designers should be responsible when choosing materials. Materials with low emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other air pollutants are more favourable when it comes to indoor air quality.


Recommended Blog: Eco-Friendly Landscaping Ideas for Yard and Home Garden


Use Plants as Decorations

This is a no brainer. Plants provide oxygen, and filter harmful chemicals from the air. Plus, they offer a natural beauty, ambiance, and freshness, bringing a little bit of the outdoors into your home. Think: the refreshing scent of mint or cedar, or any lovely scent of flowers. Marigold, bamboo palm or gerbera daisy especially work wonders in improving air quality.


Recommended Blog: 15 DIY Vertical Garden Ideas in Budget


Let the light in

The right lighting can make all the difference in a space. If you live in a cold climate, always try to maximize the natural sunlight in your space by freeing windows from heavy curtains and blinds. For privacy purposes, roller blinds are more versatile than curtains, and let lighter in. Just make sure that if you don't have curtains, your windows are completely protected in terms of insulation, so no heat escapes and no unwanted cold gets inside.


These are some chosen ideas for sustainable interiors. Tell us which one is your favourite. If you have any requirement regarding home or office interior, hire Cheapest Interior Designers in Mumbai with years of experience in this industry.

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