5 Ways to Make Your Interior Design More Sustainable

The Carbon Impact of Interiors

 

In contrast to the average 6 tonnes that a standard housebuilder produces per property, a Sky-House produces 1.7 tonnes. Promising as this might sound, the work doesn’t stop here. The interior features and furnishings of a property, amassing on average to 50kg of carbon per square metre, bring the projected carbon released through décor alone of a Sky-House HT1 customer to 4.7 tonnes.

The good news – it doesn’t have to be this way. Interior renovations are a very necessary process for commercial and residential buildings, in addition to improving air quality and wellbeing, there are many opportunities to reduce carbon and create a more planet-friendly home.

The purpose of sustainable design is to meet the needs of people today without compromising the needs of people in the future. Here are five ways to make your design more sustainable, consequently reducing carbon and benefitting our planet…

 

 

Five Ways to Make Your Interior Design More Sustainable

 

1. Pop in a few plants

Plants help to filter your air by removing fine particulates and absorbing carbon dioxide. If you’re looking for a fresher feel for your interior design, welcome mother nature.

 

2. Shop and ship local whenever possible

Try to get as many materials as you can from brands who source their products locally. The less fuel it takes to bring those products to you, the better.

 

3. Curtains and drapes

Curtains and blinds serve as another form of insulation. Window coverings, blinds and curtains enable you to control the building’s temperature in an energy efficient way.

 

4. Longevity matters

Trend-based items tend to have a higher carbon footprint due to the fact they have an often-shorter life span. Landfill makes a significant contribution to carbon emissions, so it’s important to invest in classics that will stay with you for years to come.

 

5. Repurpose unwanted items

Speaking of lifespan, why not extend an otherwise obsolete piece of furniture’s lifetime by upcycling. Whether it be a lick of paint on a scuffed table, or re-upholstering an antique chair, upcycling encourages you to make the most out of what already exists.