Sustainable trends in interior design

Blossoms in a vase

Environmental preservation is an important goal for many of today’s industries—including interior design. Widespread use of non-renewables and toxic chemicals in various interiors has damaged the environment, which is why changes are necessary.

In recent years, there has been a massive shift towards creating sustainable interior spaces that have minimal impact on the environment. Incorporating some of the latest sustainable trends is a step in the right direction for positive ecological impact. Here are a few of the latest and most impactful trends in sustainable interior design.

Eco-friendly materials

It’s hard to deny the toxicity and environmental impact of many materials used in interior design. Knowing which substances you should and shouldn’t use is a key part of sustainable practices in this industry. Eco-friendly alternatives can help preserve the environment and give clients a healthier space to work and live in.

In recent years, clients have started to push for environmentally-conscious choices for their homes and offices. Certain materials, while they may be cheaper, lead to noticeable indoor air pollution, and clients would prefer to avoid them. Trends include moving away from materials like vinyl for flooring, instead opting for cork, linoleum, marmoleum, and many other healthier alternatives. The designers of today do more research into the ingredients used in construction materials to ensure their clients get the healthiest and most eco-friendly options available.

Minimalistic design

Bed sanctuary

One of the simplest ways to live more sustainably is to move towards minimalistic designs for work and living spaces. Moving away from excess and extravagance makes for some very sustainable interior designs.

Embracing a minimalist pattern of consumption relates to more than just the number and extravagance of décor items. Choosing durable, timeless, and long-lasting items and furniture allows you to keep an interior space fresh for a long time. This makes it unnecessary to redecorate frequently, as the interior will remain attractive and comfortable. This is why interior designers are constantly looking for the most timeless designs to provide for their clients.

Sustainable lighting

Reducing energy expenditures is a big part of sustainability in modern interior design. One of the most notable areas where we can reduce expenditures is lighting. With the right kinds of bulbs and fixtures, it’s possible to improve energy savings significantly.

Natural lighting should always be the top priority when designing a home or workspace. Introducing large windows and skylights in multiple rooms allows the inhabitants to enjoy as much sunlight as possible during the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Nonetheless, some level of artificial lighting is required for every indoor space. LED light bulbs are considered the most efficient choice among lightbulbs. They use a fraction of the energy of their fluorescent and incandescent counterparts, and they last quite a bit longer. This makes them the ideal choice for a sustainable interior.

Existing fixtures can be optimized to reduce energy losses as well. If they lack adequate insulation, heat can escape through walls and recesses. By insulating them well, it’s possible to improve their efficiency.

Smart design tools

The process of designing a space can be made more sustainable as well. Throughout the process, it’s inevitable that the client will want to make changes to the interior. There’s only so much a designer can show their client with only blueprints and drawings. These adjustments might require new materials and the disposal of old ones that were prepared beforehand, leading to unnecessary waste.

With the help of CGI renders, a designer can showcase the whole interior before it’s even close to being built. They can make changes and help their client compare different materials on the fly, allowing for the closest possible design that adheres to the client’s wishes. Finding experienced CGI professionals has become an integral part of sustainable interior design. With the help of high-quality 3D CGI renders, clients can explore designs in detail and avoid having to make changes later on in the process.

Extensive recycling

Recycling plays a major role in green home design and building. Choosing healthy materials is a good start—but we have to look at the big picture of environmental conservation. If we utilize non-renewable resources or those that can’t be recycled, it will certainly lead to more waste. Because of this, modern interior designers aim to introduce as many recyclable materials as possible in their designs.

Steel and aluminium are excellent choices for metals, as they can be recycled indefinitely. Using them in various parts of the construction and design guarantees that there will be minimal waste. Since the use of plastics is inevitable in interior designs, it’s important to choose options that are recyclable. This helps make sure that the items and appliances made from the material won’t end up in a landfill any time soon.

There are countless recyclable material alternatives that can help reduce the carbon footprint of an interior design, which is why it’s important for designers to keep up with the latest recycling trends.

Conclusion

If we want to make a lasting, positive impact on the environment, a sustainable interior design philosophy is a good start. The spaces we work and live in can produce an enormous amount of waste if they are not designed with sustainability in mind. By making adequate changes right from the start, it’s possible to reduce pollution and save energy in the long run. As the world trends towards green solutions, it should come as no surprise that clients will want more and more sustainable work and living space designs—and designers need to be prepared to provide them.

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