Dream Lands Design
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Backyard
  • Bathroom
  • Beauty
  • Bedroom
  • Cars
  • Decor
  • Design Ideas
  • Dining Room
  • DIY
  • Entertaining
  • Exterior
  • Finance
  • Front Yard
  • Furniture
  • Gardening
  • Green Living
  • Home Design
  • Home Improvement
  • Interior
  • Kitchen
  • Landscaping
  • Lifestyle
  • Living
  • Living Room
  • Organize
  • Photography
  • Real Estate
  • Remodeling
  • Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Wall Improvement
  • Woodworking

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
29K
98K
0
Dream Lands Design
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping
featured image - Interior Design and Sustainability
You're here: Home Home Improvement Interior Design and Sustainability

Interior Design and Sustainability

  • Perla Irish
  • October 19, 2021
Total
1
Shares
0
0
1
0
0
Table of Contents Hide
  1. Sustainability Challenges in Interior Design
  2. Furniture Waste
  3. Exploited Labor
  4. Deforestation and Wood Harvesting
  5. Tips for Designing Your Space Sustainably
    1. 1. Buy Consciously
    2. 2. Design for Flexibility
    3. 3. Design for Efficiency

As climate concerns continue to grow, the ideas of sustainability and eco-friendliness become more important each day. In order to reduce our environmental footprint, we need to incorporate sustainability into every part of our lives.

Housing and architecture are major industries where sustainable practices can be implemented. This goes not only for exterior construction but for interior design as well. Sustainability and interior design are largely intertwined and for a plethora of reasons.

image - Interior Design and Sustainability
Interior Design and Sustainability

Sustainability doesn’t just mean minimizing harm to the environment. It means thinking about everything we do as part of a connected ecosystem, and acknowledging the impacts of our lifestyle at every step of the supply chain, as it applies to both the environment and human health.

Having a more all-encompassing definition of sustainability helps us to be more mindful about our environmental footprint and create systems that support the planet from start to finish.

Sustainability Challenges in Interior Design

Sustainable interior design goes beyond energy efficiency and potted plants. If we look at the systems and structures involved in interior design as a whole, we see harmful practices that often go overlooked by consumers.

Furniture Waste

The EPA reports that around 10 million tons of furniture end up in landfills every year. In a market that prioritizes immediate satisfaction and single-use products, used furniture often goes unwanted. Furniture waste continues to accelerate with the rise of flat-packed furniture in popular culture.

This market has created a “fast furniture” mindset that encourages buying cheap furniture and disposing of it when it wears out.


Read Also:

  • Nice Home Designs Feature Sustainability and are Tailored to Owner’s Lifestyle
  • Individual Sustainability: Your A-to-Z Guide to Saving the Earth
  • Types of Furniture Material and How to Choose: Reupholster
  • The Hottest New Furniture Trends of 2019

Exploited Labor

As a consumer, it’s almost impossible to know the labor practices that go on throughout the supply chain of any given product, but exploitative practices are more common than one might hope.

The U.S. Department of Labor has reported that industries like textiles, rugs, furniture, and brassware are known to be widely produced with child or forced labor.

Deforestation and Wood Harvesting

Wood is a staple material in the furniture and construction industries and is largely harvested with unsustainable practices. Deforestation as a whole contributes to habitat loss, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.

Additionally, many companies engage in illegal wood foresting that can cause conflicts with indigenous populations and exacerbate poverty.

So, when addressing sustainability in interior design, it’s important to address these issues in addition to boosting the sustainability of the space itself.

Tips for Designing Your Space Sustainably

1. Buy Consciously

The first step to designing a space with sustainability in mind is being conscious of where and how your products are sourced. Learn about fair trade principles and buy products from businesses that fully disclose their sourcing and production processes.

Generally, small companies are easier to learn about than large corporations. This is especially important for buying wood products. Many businesses like ETO Doors will disclose that their wood is sustainably forested and FSC certified.

For furniture and decor, try to shop used first by checking local marketplaces. Up-cycling used furniture can be a fun DIY project, and can be more affordable than buying new furniture.

2. Design for Flexibility

Designing a space with flexibility in mind allows the design to last longer. Life is always changing, and it’s common for a space to need to be redesigned to fit a new purpose. Designing a room or a home to be flexible and easily adapt to changes improves the longevity of the design.

This prioritizes waste reduction by minimizing renovations and extending the life of furniture and decor. It also is the most cost-effective way to design a space.

3. Design for Efficiency

Maximizing energy efficiency is another great way to make sure your space is cost-effective and eco-friendly. Heating and lighting are two crucial factors of interior design.

Investing inefficient windows, insulation, blinds, and curtains can make a big difference in the efficiency of air conditioning and the need for artificial lighting.

Carpets make great thermal insulators, as they can retain up to 10% of a room’s heat depending on the size and material. You can also opt for eco-friendly lighting options like bulbs that allow you to choose the color and brightness settings.

Total
1
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 1
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • design
  • furniture
  • interior
  • interior design
  • space
  • sustainable
  • wood

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

You May Also Like
Featured image - What are the Most Common Plumbing Problems in Delray Beach, FL?
View Post

What are the Most Common Plumbing Problems in Delray Beach, FL?

  • March 30, 2023
featured image - What Is the Use Of 3 Jars in Mixer Grinder
View Post

What Is the Use Of 3 Jars in Mixer Grinder?

  • March 30, 2023
Featured image - 10 Tips To Give Your Home’s Exterior That WOW Factor
View Post

10 Tips To Give Your Home’s Exterior That WOW Factor

  • March 29, 2023
featured image - Exploring the Benefits of Business Insurance Companies
View Post

Exploring the Benefits of Business Insurance Companies

  • March 29, 2023
featured image - Understanding Title Insurance
View Post

Understanding Title Insurance

  • March 29, 2023
Featured image - Utilize Existing Space with a Basement Renovation
View Post

Utilize Existing Space with a Basement Renovation

  • March 29, 2023
featured image - 5 Ways People Use Personal Loans
View Post

5 Ways People Use Personal Loans

  • March 29, 2023
Featured image - How to Find the Perfect Moroccan Rug in Australia?
View Post

How to Find the Perfect Moroccan Rug in Australia?

  • March 29, 2023
Dream Lands Design
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Add Dream Lands Design to your Homescreen!

Add