Sustainable interior design: Everything you ever wanted to know

1. Energy Efficiency

When exploring sustainable house designs, reducing energy consumption is probably both the simplest and the most economical step you can take. Heating and lighting are two of the most impactful areas where eco-friendly, sustainable interior design solutions can be incorporated, even post construction, into your home. These can be as simple as replacing old fashioned bulbs with energy efficient LEDS and decreasing the use of artificial lighting by painting interior walls in lighter colours and adding reflective surfaces to maximise light. Furthermore, high quality window insulation and appropriate curtains, blinds or shades are sustainable home design basics that allow you to regulate interior temperatures by simply opening or shutting windows based on weather needs.

Pick Sustainable Interior Design Materials for Furniture, Flooring & Décor
 

• Reclaimed Wood
  

  While first use wood is less nature friendly, house designs that utilise reclaimed wood have all the old world feel and traditional look without the negative impact. Reclaimed wood is an ideal material for modern rustic and blended interiors and sustainable interior designers are finding creative and interesting ways to incorporate it into their designs.
  
  

• FSC certified Bamboo
  

  Absorbing 2x more carbon dioxide while producing 30% more oxygen than most plants and trees, bamboo is both fast growing and durable making it a favourite of low cost eco-friendly house designs. It also requires minimal water, pesticide or fertiliser to grow, making it both an economical and highly sustainable home design material. 

• Jute Fibre
  

  Another staple of eco-friendly sustainable interior design materials, jute shares all the growth and oxygen release advantages of bamboo. Furthermore, jute plants enhance the fertility of the soil they grow on, giving nature-friendly house designs the additional advantage of benefiting nature!

• Cork
  

  Like bamboo, cork is fast-growing, and since cork is only made from the bark the source tree continues to grow, making cork arguably the best of sustainable interior design materials. Used mostly in ceilings, walls and flooring for its thermal insulation and shock absorption properties, cork is recently getting used for décor within eco home designs as planters, light fixtures or even tables.
  
  

• Recycled Plastic
  

  While high-density polyethylene used in moulded furniture is well known in sustainable design, in interior design recycled PET actually has a wider range of application. From fabrics made from recycled PET ocean waste to wall claddings and fiberfill for cushions, recycled plastic is a mainstay of eco-friendly house designs.

• Anti-Bacterial Paint
  

  Silver ion infused Antibacterial paints, such as Royale Health Shield Luxury Emulsion, provide a healthier room environment by killing upto 99% of bacteria that make contact on the surface. This sort of paint is ideal for eco conscious bedroom design as it improves indoor air quality and reduces air pollution.
  
  

• Low-VOC Paints
  

  Paints with VOC concentrations of less than 50 g/L of paint are healthier than conventional paint formulas. When building an eco-friendly house, options such as Royale Aspira provide a durable, washable surface that is both fire-resistant and environmentally safe. As such paints usually also come in soft sheen finishes, they are a good pick for your living room design in eco-friendly house plans.
  
  

• Organic/Natural Paints
  

  Composed almost entirely of natural ingredients like whey protein, calcium carbonate and the antifungal and antibacterial neem oil, organic paints such as Nilaya Naturals are healthy, porous and odour-free. The nature-inspired palette is perfect for a green design interior with a rich matte finish and naturally sourced pigments.

Sustainable Interior Design - Quick Tips
 

• Use Plants as Décor
  

  The simplest way for sustainable interior designers to improve the environment in your home is to bring more oxygen in. 
  
  

• Choose Lighter Colours
  

  Lighter walls and décor need less artificial lighting for a relaxing, well ventilated feel.
  
  

• Scandinavian Minimalism
  

  The open plan, reduced clutter ethos of the Scandinavian design trend suits eco home designs keeping the focus on nature while also limiting the use of non-renewable resources.
  
  

• Recycle/Upcycle
  

  Don’t throw away the functional when a smart coat of paint or new upholstery could bring fresh life to it.
  
  

• Rustic Décor
  

  Rustic themes are the perfect fit for sustainable house designs as recycled or reclaimed wood is ideal for the décor style.

Myth #1 - Sustainable is Expensive:

As we’ve discussed, sustainable design in interior design does not need to be expensive to be effective. All you really need is a thoughtful, creative approach and in the long run, sustainability can actually be kinder to your pocket.

Myth #2 - Everything Must Change:

You don’t need a complete remodel to make your home more sustainable. Basic eco home designs can start with simple upgrades at first, such as changing lighting fixtures, replacing bathroom appliances, and improving waste management solutions.

Myth #3 - Sustainable Design is a Gimmick:

To avoid spuriously marketed “eco-friendly” or “green” products, look for established certifications of sustainability such as the previously mentioned GreenPro, EcoMark, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or EnergyStar labels. Research unfamiliar certifications to check their legitimacy.

FAQ #1 - Which are the best sustainable design materials?

Over and above reclaimed wood, FSC certified bamboo, recycled metals and the rest of the list discussed above, there are other natural options like hemp, rattan and rice straw. Also consider locally sourced natural stone and modern composites like precast concrete and AshCrete.

FAQ #2 - Which are the best eco-friendly fabrics?

For the most part, naturally dyed and organic fabrics such as cotton, linen, hemp, wool and Ahimsa silk are both environmentally sound and low toxicity. However, take care to check labels for sustainability and ethical standards.