One of the keywords at the forefront of today’s environmental efforts is ‘sustainability’. You’ve likely noticed more items like foods, wooden goods, and clothing marketing themselves as sustainable; but, what does it mean to be sustainable? And, how can we incorporate sustainability into more aspects of our lives, such as interior design? With our planet’s future on the line, it has never been more crucial to understand and answer these questions.
Why Is Sustainability Important?
Sustainability in an environmental setting means much the same thing that it does without such a context; it’s about making sure things can last. Whether this means crafting items from superior materials in order to guarantee a long lifespan, or establishing a source of materials that can easily replenish, ensuring that production can continue for years to come rather than being short-lived.
In terms of the environment, sustainability is essential for keeping our vital natural resources like rainforests and bee colonies thriving. Creating without sustainability in mind is how species end up threatened if not extinct, and habitats and much-need biomes in our world can be lost.
Industrial sustainability is very important, but there is also more we can do as individuals and consumers to aid the efforts of sustainability. For one, supporting businesses who prioritise being environmentally friendly is essential. Another thing we can do is see where in our own lives we can choose more sustainable options. Buying second-hand where we can allows us to be more environmentally friendly, reducing the burden placed on a range of production industries.
This sustainable mentality can be brought to almost all aspects of life, from cooking, to cleaning, even to your own interior design. But what does sustainable interior design mean for the average person?
What Is Sustainable Interior Design?
Sustainable interior design is about making a building as harmless to the environment as possible. At the building stage, there are a lot of ways of implementing environmentally-friendly aspects to a property that can aid sustainability. Heating and lighting a space are the two most important elements of sustainable building in homes. Quality windows can ensure a space is well-lit whilst retaining heat efficiently. Equally, carpeted flooring can retain up to 10% of the heat of any given room, meaning it is both a comfortable and effective choice for the home.
Using light colours in a space creates the illusion of lighter, larger space, lessening the need for electric lighting until later in the day compared to using darker colours. Decorative elements such as mirrors and other reflective items enhance this brightness effect, maximising the appearance of the light and diminishing the need to use electricity as much as possible. The energy used in homes and other buildings accounts for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, and so architects and homeowners doing what they can to reduce this is essential.
Reducing the environmental impact of the building in addition to the waste created by it are two key stages in creating sustainable interior design. The classic eco phrase ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is as relevant to architecture and interior design as it is to any other element of our daily lives. Using reclaimed materials and pre-owned items in building and decorating a home are significantly beneficial for the environment in comparison to the more traditional methods which give little thought to being eco-friendly.
How to Create Sustainable Interiors
As homeowners, there are various ways to create sustainable interiors that are environmentally friendly without sacrificing any style or beauty. As mentioned regarding the building of homes in general, using sustainable materials in your home is one of the best ways to ensure it is environmentally friendly. Reclaimed wood allows you to enjoy the beauty of real wooden furniture without adding to the rampant deforestation which devastates much of the Earth’s woodland.
Recycled materials like scrap metals and plastics are also often reused to craft items such as lamps and tables which look as beautiful as new pieces. Innovative material uses such as cork, bamboo, and jute can all be utilised for rugs, flooring, and a range of seating concepts. Something you may be happy to hear is the importance of longevity. It is certainly more important to spend a little more on an item that will last a lifetime rather than save your pennies now only to have to spend again and again in replacements. In terms of shopping sustainably, this means that it’s worth treating yourself to something extravagant.
A key accessory for the home that is as environmentally friendly as it is luxurious in nature is an antique. Antique furnishings have significantly greater longevity over their modern-day counterparts, being crafted from superior materials, often with superior craftsmanship also. Not only does this apply for the majority of wooden antique furnishings, but silver also is an eco-friendly option for decorating your home.
Preowned silverware has a beauty to it which is rarely matched by contemporary pieces. Whether it’s a silver canteen of cutlery which can be passed down through generations in a family, or silver photograph frames accenting various areas of the home, using antiques in this way is a charming and stylish way of using sustainable materials in your interior design without losing out on any luxury or aesthetic significance.
Buying antique silverware is a good way of shopping sustainably, adding no demand to the market, as the pieces are all pre-existing. Equally, an item crafted from silverware is generally of a higher quality than more unethically made modern equivalents.
Sustainable Antique Silverware
Featured below is a selection of our own silverware which meets the requirements for being eco-friendly and sustainable, with a very minimal environmental impact; each piece built to last by master craftspeople. Whether you are looking for decoration in your silverware, or you prefer to prioritise practicality and function, there is something perfect for anyone amongst our varied collections.
There’s never been a better time to go green in as many of our choices as possible, from shopping to eating, even to designing our homes. Do what you can to be sustainable and eco-conscious and discover how simple it is to be overjoyed with the results of your efforts.
Sources
https://decoroutdoor.com/blog/eco-friendly-interior-design-guide/
https://www.barbuliannodesign.com/post/the-importance-of-sustainability-in-interior-design
https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/interiors/sustainable-interior-design/
