May 2022

A house is made a home by making the space cosy and safe and adding personal touches and colours to the walls, furniture, and ornaments.
However, the interior design industry has significant environmental impacts regarding materials needed, energy consumed, and waste generated.

Let’s choose sustainable alternatives when designing and decorating our homes to minimise the environmental impact of our interiors.

In this entry, we will walk you through everything you need about sustainable interiors - shopping, using, and disposing of them!

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR?

The interior decorates the home, making it more aesthetically pleasing for those who live there. It includes decorative items, furnishings, walls, floor coverings, and lighting. 
Sustainable interiors consider various environmentally friendly aspects of materials and items. That is:  

• considering how things are made, 

• where materials are sourced from, 

• how they are transported,

• and their impact on the environment, animals and people.

Why sustainable interior?

Choosing a sustainable interior saves resources, decreases pollution and carbon footprint, and avoids waste.
We can also save money by reusing items and choosing high-quality pieces. Plus, our choices can actively support local businesses and workers who are paid and treated fairly.

Where To start?

Yes, it is possible to give your home a fresh update that requires little money and few resources. 
Here is how.

Pre-consideration before getting new items

Before making any new purchases, ask yourself these questions:

• Could I rearrange the furniture I already own in my home to spice it up?

• Can I repurpose something I own into new interior design pieces? 

• Could I live with less?

• Can I get the piece I want second-hand?

And, remember: 

• The most sustainable item is the item you already own. Apply what you have.

• Sustainability goes hand in hand with frugality, so the less, the better. 

• Always choose quality over quantity to ensure items last.

• Reduce your consumption and overbuying of furniture and ornaments: buy only what you love and need. 

Get the most out of what you own

Care for and restyle/ reinvent what you already own.

Repair - Take your time sorting out old or broken items. Check if they can be repaired. Check out websites like iFixit for ideas and tips on repairing interior items. 

Repurpose - Repurposing means breaking something down and giving it a new function. Try to get creative with your old pieces: candles from drink cans, turn broken glass into a photo frame, or turn old LPs into clocks - the list is endless!
Check out hashtags such as #repurpose, #repurposedfurniture, #repurposeditems and consult Pinterest for wonderful inspiration. 

Upcycle - Upcycling means recycling an item to make it of a higher value than the original one.  An example is turning used transport pallets into garden furniture. Why not get creative and add new handles to old furniture pieces or a splash of paint to give them a brand-new look? 
Check out hashtags such as #upcyclingfurniture, #upcyclingglassyar to find ideas and inspiration. 
Some exemplary sources for upcycling projects include upcyclethat.com, joannecondon.com, upcyclemystuff.com. 

Rot - Learn to compost and turn organic waste into valuable soil. You don’t need a huge compost pile in your garden to rot your organic waste. There are small, space-saving containers that can be easily stored in cupboards. For details, take a look at our manual entry on Soil → and Valuable Waste →.

SHOPping for sustainable interior

We want to care for our planet while keeping our homes stylish, warm, and cosy. Once you have decided to shop for new interior pieces, here are a few ‘golden rules’  to remember for an eco-friendly purchasing decision: 

Shopping Locally 

Shopping locally supports local businesses and gives back to your community. It also reduces your carbon footprint, air pollution, and traffic, as less driving is needed.

Second-Hand SHOPS, FLEA MARKETS & Charity Shops 

Reclaimed items give character and tell a story. Give it a try.

Not only do second-hand shops stop the massive accumulation of waste, but they also support charities and small businesses, make purchasing items more accessible, and allow items to be rehomed.

Flea markets can be found in many cities around the world. Search the web for keywords such as #fleamarket, browse local groups on Facebook.com, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay, and websites such as fleamapket.com to find flea markets in your area.      

There are many independent second-hand sellers on etsy.com and instagram.com - try searching #secondhandfurniture, #secondhanddecoration.

Classic Items

It's so easy, exciting and aesthetically pleasing to fall into trends.  Plus, trends come and go and can be cost-intensive and resource-intensive. Thus, to reduce the decorative items needed and frequent new purchases, prefer timeless pieces which can be easily restyled, pimped, recombinant, or sold. 

Pick up Rather Than Deliver

The e-commerce industry produces more Greenhouse Gases → (GHG) than customers collecting their items from stores.  Avoid delivery service if you can combine a furniture house/ interior store tour with other errands you are planning. 

Sustainable ITEMS & Materials

Your choice matters. When shopping for new items, favour items, materials and manufacturing processes that do not harm the environment.
Choose certified items to quickly select the items with the least environmental impact, even without in-depth knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes.
To go one step further, check the item of your choice for core eco-criteria. As a rule of thumb, it should meet half of the requirements below. 

Certifications & Labels

Eco-certificates and seals are reliable aids for identifying, spotting, and choosing items and materials.

Some well-known ones are PEFC and FSC labels, which guarantee that wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests and recycled. FSC certification also indicates traceability within the whole processing chain. 
Other eco-labels, such as Blue Angel, Green Crane, Ecolabel and Level, guarantee that interiro items meet sustainability standards. 

Check out ecolabelindex.com for a worldwide list of eco-labels that can be found on interior items, depending on the type of piece. 

Examples of ECO-FRIENDLY materials

• Recycled fabrics

• Certified wood and wood originating from fast-growing species such as pine trees

• Felt 

• Organic cotton

• Silk, preferably organic

• Natural stone 

Learn more in our manual entry about Sustainable Fibers →.

What Materials to Avoid 

Certain materials and production methods harm the environment long-term and have a huge negative impact on climate, nature and Biodiversity →. Here are some main examples:  

• VOC (volatile organic compounds)

• EPA

• Polyester 

• Conventional cotton 

Also, avoid materials with the following properties: 

Sustainable interior design providers

Sustainable interior design concerns the whole supply chain, from sourcing materials to retail. 

How to identify sustainable interior design providers?
In general, taking into account the following criteria is a practical guide to spot providers of sustainable interior design:

• Locally sourced and produced.

• Use of eco-friendly materials.

• Limited transportation time.

• Reduced packaging.

• Homemade.

For your inspiration, here are some exemplary eco-friendly retailers selling sustainable interior design: collective-stories.com (UK), nkuku.com (UK), karuun.com/en/ (G), huelsta.com/en (G), maronbouillie.com/shop/en/ (F), devorm.nl/products (NL)

Check out certification body blauer-engel.de/en for more products and where to shop sustainably for interior items.

Paint

Wall paint can do so much more than just colour our walls. It can insulate, allow rooms to breathe, and vaporise long after we have applied it to the wall. Here are a few tips on how to recognise sustainable wall paint:

• Consider the ingredients in the paint. Opt for non-toxic paint, such as clay-based, and those manufactured ethically, which are more environmentally friendly. When looking for paint, always check for an eco certification.
  Brands such as Ecos Paints and Real Milk Paint are examples.

• Avoid using paints with VOC (volatile organic compounds) as they can affect your home's air quality and overall health. 

• Light colours like white or light tones of green allow more sunlight to be reflected and less heat to accumulate in the room. As a result, there will be less need for air conditioning and, therefore, less energy usage.
  Plus, sun-reflective and light colours for your room will open it up, making it feel more spacious. 

• Ask for climate coating products: These wall coatings' physical properties help prevent heat loss or heat penetration, thus saving heating and cooling energy. This reduces your energy consumption and saves money on your energy bill.  

Lighting

Here is how you can save energy and money, boost your mood, and open your room simultaneously. That sounds great, doesn’t it?

• Maximise natural light usage. The more natural light gets into your room, the less you will need to switch on lamps.
  Easy ways to get more light into your rooms are to 

• Open your blinds, windows or curtains to allow more light in the room. 

• Hang mirrors facing the windows to magnify and reflect light throughout the room. A plus: more light in your room will open it up optically and improve your mood. 

• When choosing bulbs to light your home, opt for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED bulbs, which consume around 75% less energy and last longer than standard incandescent bulbs for the same light output. For outside lighting, opt for solar lights. 

• Another alternative is using movement sensors. Only having lights on when you are in the room can save up to 30% on energy.  

• Turn the lights off in rooms when they're not in use,

• and do not leave your lights on overnight.

Check out our manual entry on Energy → to learn more about sustainable energy consumption practices. 

Houseplants

Our consumption decisions can harm or protect the environment, even with house plants.  
Here are the very basics to take into consideration to ensure an environmentally friendly purchase: 

• shop for domestic houseplants

• shop at your local greenery, nursery or farmers' market

• opt for seasonal and locally grown houseplants

• watch out for certifications like organic and fair trade seals.

Visit our House Plants → entry to learn how to get an eco-friendly house plant and care for it in an environmentally friendly way.

Decoration from Nature

Vases, picture frames, sculptures, cushions, bowls, vessels, crockery - the list of decorative objects is almost endless. Look at our list of step-by-step sustainable shopping for interior items to find an environmentally friendly decorative object.

Consider going outside and repeatedly discovering what new decorations nature has to offer. Twigs, fruit, nuts, flowers, leaf decorations - the possibilities are endless, and your creativity is limitless and costs little or nothing, "production" is environmentally friendly, and you can continuously adapt your decorations to the season without producing waste.
If you prefer not to craft, go to the nearest nursery or flower stall at the market. Here, you will find excellent seasonal arrangements, wreaths and bouquets.

Check out our Cut Flowers → guide for more info on eco-friendly cut flower decoration.

Natural Cleaning 

Make your interior items last, and take care of what you already own. Here are some fundamental tips to help you get started.

• Regular cleaning and maintenance.

• Consider appropriate cleaning methods per each product type - consider the special treatment of marble or wooden items.

• Choose simple DIY natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda or lime mixtures.

• Opt for organic-certified cleaning products and supplies. 

Check out our manual entry on Cleaning → for many more details on eco-friendly cleaning.

Sustainable replacement & disposal of interior items

Sadly, disposing of interiors is the standard - 10.75 million tonnes of furniture are disposed of yearly, and recyclable or reusable furniture is included in that number.
Let’s change that! 
Here is how we can dispose of our pre-loved interior items sustainably:

Dropping off interior items at second-hand shops

Similarly to making purchases, second-hand shops are great places to recycle furniture. We give our items a new home; someone else saves resources by purchasing a second-hand piece.
Many second-hand shops collect your unwanted items for free, making it one of the most cost-effective methods for you and buyers.
Browse the web to find a second-hand shop close to your place. 

Gifting interior items

Depending on the item you want to dispose of, you can offer it to an independent business, school, homeless service centre, or friend. Several places will willingly accept and appreciate free interior items.
Here, you can dive deeper into the art of eco-friendly Gifting →.

Recycling interior items

If your items are damaged and repurposing them is not an option, ensure that they are sorted into the right bin so that the material can be processed appropriately and, ideally returned to the material cycle.
To learn more about recycling practices, check out our manual entries on Household Waste →, Circular Economy and Cradle to Cradle →.  

Eco-friendly rubbish collection services 

If you are willing to pay for a company's services, they collect your items and take them to local recycling centres to be recycled, repurposed or resold. Browse the web  to find one in your area.

Learn more

Check our sources: Bibliography →