Interior design trends: featuring sustainability

It’s always a good feeling to spruce up your home with the latest interior design trends. The change brings about a new mindset, full of positivity for the next phase of your life. In recent years, sustainability has gained attention in the global media when it comes to fashion, architectural design and now, interior design.

This latest décor trend is not just about aesthetics, it brings into focus the larger picture of our impact on this planet and how we can bring environmentally conscious practices into our homes to influence our day to day lives.

One of the main aspects of sustainable interior design is the use of eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recycled plastic. These materials not only have a lower carbon footprint but also add unique textures and character to the design. Another trend is the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, which can significantly reduce energy consumption and save money in the long run.

Sustainability goes beyond the materials and appliances used in a space. It encompasses the design philosophy of reducing waste, repurposing old items, and choosing products with a longer lifespan. For example, instead of buying new furniture, homeowners can opt for upcycling old pieces or investing in high-quality furniture that will last for years.

Incorporating sustainability into interior design not only benefits the environment but also promotes a mindful and conscious lifestyle. It encourages us to make conscious decisions about the products we buy and the impact they have on the planet.

Interior design through the ages

teal wooden drawer dresser

Where interior design once only focused on purpose, we now see that it serves an even bigger role to uplift a space, creating a mood of expansiveness, contemplation or even a theme of sustainability, bringing our minds into alignment with the natural world around us.

Interior design has always mirrored a global consensus where colour, form and function meet, creating global design movements such as the fun mustards and oranges of the 1970’s or the bright floral wallpapers of the 1940’s introduced by designer Dorothy Draper when she put her magic touch on the Greenbriar Hotel. In 2022, we’re a global community that wants to showcase our philosophies and motivations in our living spaces, and sustainability is playing a big role.

What is sustainability?

green plant

Simply put, sustainable development is ‘development that allows us to meet our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ This definition was first coined in 1983, by the World Commission on Environment and Development. To understand their position, it is simply that the current generation should not use all our resources in striving for our present goals. In recent years, with the growing spotlight on climate change and deforestation, sustainability has begun to feature in interior design.

Sustainable design

green plant on brown wooden table

At Pebble Beach, sustainability begins with our modern architectural design of floor to ceiling windows that welcome in more natural light to your living space. This aids in saving electricity usage and being more mindful of how the sunlight is a vital source of life. Pebble Beach has created a design where the outside is naturally brought into the home, where views of the Sibaya Coastal Forest and the ocean are a glowing reminder of your connection to nature.

A closer look at sustainable interior design in your home

gray dress shirt hang on brown wooden rack in front of window with white curtain

When it comes to sustainable interior design trends in the home, not only does this entail your own personal choice of energy and water conservation methods, but it also looks at how furniture and artwork featured in the home can become more sustainable. Think recycled materials such as wood, cork, steel, and rubber used to create unique pieces in your home and creating indoor furniture from sustainable materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood and recycled steel.

Sustainable materials tend to have a unique history of their own, adding to the charm of using it in your space. Just ask celebrity Daryl Hannah, who has filled her home with non-toxic recycled items that she renovated herself. Or, actress Emma Watson, who wears red carpet high-end fashion made from end-of-line fabric from a family-run London business specialising in couture fabrics.

Using these items can have a long-term positive effect on the environment and on your own ingenuity. Imagine creating a tablecloth from end-of-line fabric from your local dressmaker or creating couture curtains!

From the looks of it, being sustainable requires quite a bit of planning in order to refurbish an existing item in your home, take up DIY as a hobby or find an expert who can help you in this regard. The commitment is worth the reward as it will reorient your goals and help you connect more with the natural environment. As more young homeowners delight in taking on these home projects the interior design trend towards sustainability continues to grow.

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