This year, interiors are going green – and we don’t mean the colour. Nick Acaster, from Rugs Direct, shares some simple eco-friendly material swaps and substitutions that will help ensure your home makeover is as sustainable as possible.
There’s more to being sustainable than just carrying your re-usable water bottle with you, or remembering to take your bag for life along to the supermarket (although these are great habits to get into, of course!). Sustainability touches all aspects of our lives – and that includes the way we decorate our homes. So, if you’re serious about making a difference, and you’re planning on updating your interiors soon, you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re choosing eco-friendly, renewable materials and furnishings.
In this article, I’ll share some simple eco-friendly material swaps you can make that will reduce the environmental impact of your renovations, while still ensuring your home is perfectly stylish, too.
Eco-Friendly Material Swaps for a Sustainable Home
Swap synthetics for natural fibres
Synthetic fabrics and textiles might be affordable, but they’re often made using non-renewable resources, like petroleum. The production process can also use lots of environmentally damaging chemicals and, as many synthetic fabrics contain plastic, they aren’t biodegradable. So, when it comes to textiles, soft furnishings, and upholstery, look for natural fabrics, rather than synthetic blends. Linen, cotton, and wool are all better for the environment, especially if they have been made in the UK.
For rugs, you’ll want to look for pure wools, and preferably ones which are sourced sustainably. If you prefer an earthy look, you could also consider going for a jute rug: these are made from the jute plant, which grows fast and is rapidly renewable. As well as being stylish, jute rugs are great heat insulators, meaning they can make your space that little bit more energy efficient, too.
Choose hardwood floors over plastic or vinyl
Laminate or vinyl flooring might be quick, easy, and affordable — but it does come with another hidden cost. These types of flooring cannot be recycled and they take a very long time to biodegrade when compared to real wood floorboards, meaning they’re much less eco-friendly. They also don’t tend to last as long as real hardwood flooring, which means they must be replaced more often.
So, for a truly sustainable home, it’s well worth choosing genuine wood floorboards — not only will these be more sustainable, but they have an authentic look that even the best vinyl or laminate just can’t recreate. Parquet and patterned wooden flooring is especially fashionable at the moment, too.
Choose vegan fabrics over leather – or go second-hand
Genuine leather might be stylish, but buying new furniture made using animal by-products funds the intensive rearing of cattle, which contributes to all sorts of environmental damage. So, even if you aren’t a vegan or vegetarian, you may want to opt for a sustainable faux leather covering for your seating.
These fabrics used to have something of a bad reputation, and in years gone by they were often seen as cheap and generally poor-quality. But advancements in fabric production and an increased demand for vegan options have driven massive improvements. These days, it’s possible to find incredibly convincing artificial leathers that have a very similar texture and appearance to the real deal.
If you’re still not sold on the idea, or you just love the classic look and silky feel of authentic leather, the most sustainable option is to go for a pre-owned or vintage piece, instead. By buying second-hand, you’ll be saving that item from a landfill, and reducing the demand for new animal products to be made. Additionally, vintage leather often has a gorgeous aged look and patina that you just don’t get with brand new leather.
Choose reclaimed materials where possible
We all know we should be recycling our household waste whenever we can. But did you know recycling can be incorporated into your home interiors, too? When you use reclaimed wood, stone, and tiles in your home, you’ll be stopping perfectly good materials from going to landfill. Buying brand new materials can also fund harmful practices like cutting down trees and quarrying stone. But, when you buy reclaimed materials, you won’t be contributing to these problematic practices. Plus, reclaimed materials can look incredibly stylish, especially in homes with an industrial or rustic décor scheme, so they’re a great choice all round.
Opt for bamboo furniture and accessories
One of the most sustainable materials out there at the moment is bamboo. The bamboo plant grows incredibly quickly, meaning it’s ready to harvest just four years after planting, compared with the 60–70 years it takes for hardwood trees to mature. It’s also very easy to grow, and requires very few pesticides or fertilizers. And, best of all, bamboo is astonishingly versatile, and can be used to make everything from furniture to fabric. So, for a more eco-friendly interior, opt for bamboo furnishings and accessories wherever you can. Find out more about bamboo by reading Is Bamboo Fabric Eco-Friendly?
If you’re planning to update your interiors for 2021, be sure to look for renewable materials wherever you can. This way, your home will be every bit as sustainable as it is stylish.
All images provided by Rugs Direct.
Are you interested in having a completely eco-friendly house? What construction materials should be used? What about energy efficiency? Have a read of Eco-Friendly Houses for more information.
