Making sure the interior of our homes looks great is a priority for many of us. However, in addition to good aesthetics, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure the interior of our homes is environmentally friendly too. You can find some of the most effective ways to do this in my post below…
Add Rugs To Your Interior Scheme
If you ever needed a great excuse to include gorgeous and luxurious rugs in your interior decor scheme then this is it. After all, rugs and carpets can help better insulate your rooms, keeping them around 10% warmer than rooms without.
Another great thing about adding rugs to your interiors (apart from their aesthetic appeal) is that they also help insulate your room for sound, which is great news for your downstairs neighbours.
DIY Your Decor
Now, if you are like me and shopping for decor is one of your favourite things, this suggestion may sound a little extreme. However, small steps still count, and often once you start exploring your creative DIY skills, you catch the bug.
A great place to start is by making your own (or some of your own) Christmas decorations. Opt for pinecones, evergreens, and even popcorn which you can string and add to your tree, and will give off a delightful warming scent as well.
Although if you are feeling crafty you may wish to turn your hand to more advanced interior projects such as blankets, throws and cushion covers.
In particular, crochet can be very relaxing and simple designs like granny squares can be done while relaxing and watching TV. You can even get the wool you need by buying pre-loved jumpers, washing them and then unravelling them, which again will save on waste, and preserve resources.
Use Green Energy To Run Your Home
One of the most effective ways you can make the interior of your home more eco-friendly is to switch to a renewable energy source to power all those must-have items like TVs, refrigerators, and cookers.
Renewable energy comes from sources like wind, sun, waves, and geothermal energy which means it’s constantly replenished by nature, and so unlike fossil fuel is not a finite resource. Also, these types of energy are clean as they do not make any nasty byproducts that get released into the atmosphere or environment like fossil fuels do.
It is possible to access some of the benefits of renewable energy by switching to a provider that offers power generated in this way. Although, many people choose to work with experts like solar panel installers so they can produce their own. The major additional benefit of which is that along with being far greener, it can save them a great deal of money over the long term because they will be generating their own power rather than buying it directly from a provider.
Choose Energy-Efficient Devices
While using clean and renewable energy is best, you can also make the interior of your home more environmentally friendly by selecting energy-efficient devices as well.
In particular, when replacing white goods like freezers, washing machines and refrigerators, look for machines that score high on the energy efficiency scale. Swapping to LED lightbulbs is also a great idea, not only for the environment but also for your pocket. This is because they last longer, and shine brighter while still using less energy than traditional bulbs.
Pay Attention To Light When You Decorate
Another way you can make the interior of your home more environmentally friendly is to decorate it with lighter colours. This is because lighter colours and reflective surfaces such as mirrors reflect more light, which can in turn help the interior of your home brighter without having to use excessive amounts of electricity for lighting.
Choose Paints Without VOCs
VOCs or volatile organic compounds as they are also known are present in many types of paint. The issue with this is that VOCs are bad for both the environment at large as well as the residents of the home. This is because they have been linked to both the creation of greenhouse gases that are deteriorating the ozone layer, and various illnesses including cancer.
That is why, if you want to change up the colour of a wall, or ceiling in your home, it’s a good idea to choose VOC-free paints. The good news is you will find that eco-paints are now widely available at the paint store and online, and there is a good selection of colours and finishes from which to choose.
Buy Pieces That Will Last
While it can be tempting to get caught up in every new fashion and trend that comes along in interior design, focusing on pieces that will last is a much more environmentally friendly option.
Indeed, quality pieces that last for years mean less waste entering into landfill, as well as fewer resources and energy being used in the manufacturing process, every time a less robust piece needs to be replaced.
Happily, there are plenty of gorgeous, and durable furniture items to choose from, including sofas like these that come with a massive 20-year guarantee so you can be sure they will stand the test of time.
Investing in pieces that will last over the long term doesn’t have to impact your style or expression either, as you can opt for more neutral or classic pieces and then add dressing-like cushions and throws according to the current trend!
Save Water
You can also make the interior of your home more eco-friendly by changing the way you use water. There are several ways you can do this and they range from the very simple, such as shutting off the tap while you brush your teeth, to fitting energy-efficient showerheads in your bathrooms.
Another great option for conserving water is to reuse grey water and rainwater. Grey water is water that has already been used for washing laundry or people and can be used to keep your garden and indoor plants healthy. Rainwater can be collected in water butts in your garden and can be used for the same purposes, as well as washing exterior and interior windows.
