More Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Choices For Your Home Decor

More Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Choices For Your Home Decor

Home decor is already fun. Now imagine the relief when you know each item in your home is helping the Earth rather than adding to its destruction. In this excerpt below, we will discuss some of the best sustainable home decor and renovation ideas for your new life!

Introduction

“There is no planet B”

Maybe there is, but we aren’t getting access to it. We swear it will be the politician and billionaires first! So, we can only protect our little home with everything we can.

Not to give a depressing start to a beautiful subject of sustainability! So, let’s understand the subject from a brand new perspective. Sometimes, sustainability is not just for the Earth but also has some benefits for yourself.

For example, when it comes to saving electricity to decrease energy emissions and carbon footprint, your budgeting is also getting better (when you do not have to give half of your salary in your energy bill!).

If you are looking for a full 180 change in your life and do not know where to start, why not take the sustainability pledge? Most importantly, how to invest more into “green” decor like a deep sectional sofa.

Home decor is already fun. Now imagine the relief when you know each item in your home is helping the Earth rather than adding to its destruction. In this excerpt below, we will discuss some of the best sustainable home decor and renovation ideas for your new life!

What Is Sustainable Living?

Sustainable living is being mindful of the natural resources you use and keeping the environment in mind before utilizing anything just for functionality.

You cannot stop using certain technologies. You will always need the laptop to charge, and your cell phone will have radiation, but you do have control over certain parts of your house, and this is how you should go forth.

Sustainable Choice For Your Home Decor

These home decor ideas will be great when you breathe in the fresh air and know every item is for a greater cause.

Add An Extra Layer Of Insulation

How much are you paying every winter to get the right heat for the perfect temperature? 

Did you know poor insulation can let almost 50% of the trapped heat out from your roof? If most of the year requires artificial heating, consider adding another layer of insulation to your walls. You can trap most of the heat and save so much on your electricity bill.

Adding an extra layer of insulation to your home is a sustainable and eco-friendly way to enhance your home decor. Insulation is crucial in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and creating a comfortable living environment. 

Here are some reasons why adding insulation is a sustainable home decor choice:

• Energy Efficiency: Insulation acts as a barrier, preventing outside elements from entering the house. Adding insulation to walls, roofs, floors, and attics can significantly reduce the energy needed to heat or cool your home. This results in lower energy consumption and reduced reliance on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, ultimately reducing your carbon footprint.
• Reduced Energy Consumption: By improving the insulation in your home, you can reduce heat loss during winter and heat gain during summer. This means your HVAC systems will run more efficiently and consume less energy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. As a result, you save on energy bills and contribute to the overall conservation of energy resources.
• Comfort and Indoor Air Quality: Effective insulation helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing drafts and cold spots in winter and minimizing heat infiltration in summer. This creates a more comfortable living environment for you and your family. Additionally, insulation can act as a sound barrier, reducing noise transmission between rooms and outside sources. It also helps prevent the entry of outdoor pollutants, improving indoor air quality.

When considering insulation options, choose materials that have high insulation values (R-values) and are eco-friendly. 

Common eco-friendly insulation materials include cellulose, recycled denim, wool, and natural fibers like hemp and cotton. 

These materials not only provide excellent insulation but also minimize the use of harmful chemicals and promote sustainable manufacturing practices.

Try Recycled Thrifted Material

Using recycled and thrifted materials for home decor is a fantastic way to embrace sustainability and make eco-friendly choices. It reduces waste and adds unique character and charm to your living space. Recycled and thrifted products provide affordable furniture options that are unique and benefit the planet.

For a modern and eco-friendly touch, consider 3D wall panels. These panels are made from sustainable materials and offer stylish patterns and textures. By choosing Eco-friendly 3D wall panels, you can enhance your home’s aesthetic while reducing your environmental footprint. WoodenAve Fluted Wall Panels provide extra acoustic insulation and sound absorption, giving them a practical as well as a decorative purpose.

Here are some reasons why incorporating recycled and thrifted materials into your home decor is a sustainable option:

• Waste Reduction: By repurposing and reusing materials, you divert them from ending up in landfills. Instead of contributing to the demand for new resources, using recycled and thrifted materials helps reduce waste and supports a circular economy.
• Conservation of Resources: When you opt for recycled and thrifted materials, you reduce the need to extract and manufacture new materials. 
• Unique and Personalized Style: One of the major advantages of using recycled and thrifted materials is the ability to create unique and personalized home decor. Each piece carries its own history and story, adding a touch of character and individuality to your living space. 
• Support for Local and Small Businesses: Many thrift stores and local businesses specialize in selling recycled and upcycled home decor items. By purchasing from these sources, you support small businesses, local artisans, and community initiatives that promote sustainability. 

When incorporating recycled and thrifted materials into your home decor, consider the following tips:

• Look for items made from sustainable materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled glass.
• Prioritize quality and functionality when selecting secondhand items.
• Take the time to clean and refurbish thrift pieces to restore their beauty and functionality.
• Combine recycled and thrifted items with new, sustainably sourced materials for a balanced and cohesive look.
• Embrace imperfections and unique features that come with recycled and thrifted items, as they add character to your home.

Let More Natural Light In

Allowing more natural light into your home is a sustainable and eco-friendly choice and has numerous benefits for your well-being and the environment. 

Here are some reasons why embracing natural light in your home decor is a great idea:

• Energy Efficiency: Maximizing natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours. This, in turn, lowers your energy consumption and reduces the carbon footprint associated with electricity production. Using less artificial lighting also saves you money on energy bills and contributes to a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Health and Well-being: Natural light positively impacts your health and well-being. Exposure to natural light has been linked to improved mood, increased productivity, better sleep, and enhanced vitamin D absorption. Designing your home to allow ample natural light creates a healthier and more uplifting living environment.
• Visual Comfort: Natural light provides a softer, more flattering illumination than artificial lighting. It enhances the colors and textures of your interior decor, making your space more visually appealing. Natural light can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making your home a more pleasant place to spend time in.
• Connection with Nature: Bringing natural light into your home helps create a stronger connection with the natural world. Sunlight streaming through windows brings the outdoors inside, providing a sense of openness and harmony. This connection to nature can have a calming and rejuvenating effect on your overall well-being. Additionally, sunlight also helps to keep flower pots in your home healthy. If you want your flower vase to be filled with fresh flowers every day, order them online. With flower delivery brooklyn, you get same-day delivery service, ensuring your flower vase is never empty.
• Energy-Efficient Window Treatments: While you want to maximize natural light, it’s also essential to consider energy-efficient window treatments. Options such as insulated blinds, curtains, or shades can help regulate heat gain or loss, improve thermal comfort, and prevent excessive glare. Choosing energy-efficient window treatments ensures you can control the amount of natural light while minimizing energy waste.

Incorporating more natural light into your home decor is a sustainable and eco-friendly choice that promotes well-being and reduces energy consumption. 

Use Natural Decorators

Every week we run to the nearby Target to get home decor items. Yes, we home decor fanatics always need the newest of the season. No curtain shade is vibrant enough after six months, and season changes call for seasonal decorations.

However, no matter how exciting it sounds, it still creates a lot of waste. This waste adds up to either becoming hoarders or throwing them away, adding to the ecosystem. Rather than spending so much on cheap plastic, why not decorate with natural products?

Flowers are the best decorations in a room. A colorful centerpiece for the coffee table or a tall bouquet of jasmine to match the tall tapered candles. 

Something for the side table near the bookshelf. You can go monochromatic with the freshest English roses or have the vibrancy of carnations adorning your mantle.

You use biodegradable substances, using something fresh to decorate the house daily. That being said, you could also balance the colors with some greens here and there. We are talking about bamboo plants for good luck and money plants (creepers) to keep the wealth coming!

Try To Renew Rather Than Buy Again

Regarding home decor, opting for items that can be renewed or refreshed over time is a sustainable and cost-effective approach. 

Rather than constantly buying new pieces, choosing decor that can be easily updated or transformed allows you to adapt your space to evolving tastes and styles while minimizing waste. 

Here are some ideas for home decor items that can be renewed instead of being replaced:

• Furniture: Instead of investing in brand-new furniture, consider opting for pieces that can be easily reupholstered or refinished. By updating the fabric or giving it a fresh coat of paint or varnish, you can completely transform the look of your furniture and give it a new lease on life. 
• Textiles: Cushions, curtains, and throws are easy ways to add color and texture to your home decor. Instead of buying new ones, consider investing in removable and interchangeable covers. This allows you to switch up the look of your textiles whenever you feel like a change.
• Artwork and Wall Decor: Rather than constantly purchasing new artwork, explore your creative side and make your own. Create a gallery wall with personal photographs, prints, or paintings that reflect your style and interests.
• Accessories: Small decorative items like vases, candleholders, and figurines can be easily updated to match your evolving style. Instead of buying new ones, consider giving them a new look with spray paint or decorative techniques like decoupage or stenciling. 

You can embrace a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to decorating your space by choosing home decorating items that can be renewed or refreshed. 

Not only does this reduce waste and conserve resources, it also allows you to showcase your creativity and personalize your home.

Buy Bamboo Furniture

Investing in bamboo furniture is an excellent way to make an eco-friendly choice for your home. By choosing bamboo furniture, you contribute to preserving forests, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting sustainable manufacturing practices. 

It’s a tangible way to positively impact the environment while enjoying stylish and durable furniture in your home.

When purchasing bamboo furniture, ensure it comes from responsibly managed bamboo plantations or sources that adhere to sustainable harvesting practices. 

Look for certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or other reputable eco-labels to ensure that the bamboo used in the furniture has been sourced ethically and sustainably.

By buying bamboo furniture, you create a beautiful and eco-friendly home, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to conserving our planet’s valuable resources.

Have Efficient Energy Lighting

Having energy-efficient lighting is a crucial aspect of creating an eco-friendly home. By choosing energy-efficient lighting options, you reduce your environmental impact and save on energy costs. 

Energy-efficient lighting, such as LED (Light-Emitting Diode) and CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs, consume significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs, in particular, are highly efficient and use up to 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs, translating into substantial energy savings. 

Using energy-efficient lighting contributes to the conservation of natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity generation.

Energy-efficient bulbs have a much longer lifespan compared to traditional bulbs. LED bulbs, for instance, can last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This not only saves you money on replacement costs but also reduces the amount of waste generated from discarded bulbs.

While energy-efficient bulbs may have a higher upfront cost than traditional ones, they provide significant long-term cost savings. Due to their energy-saving properties and extended lifespan, energy-efficient lighting options result in lower electricity bills over time. 

The money saved from reduced energy consumption can be redirected toward other important expenses or investments.

When purchasing energy-efficient lighting, look for products with ENERGY STAR certification or other reputable labels that indicate their energy efficiency. 

These certifications ensure the lighting products meet specific energy-saving standards and have been independently tested for performance and efficiency.

Now You Know How To Make Your Home More Sustainable And Eco Friendly

Now that you have a better understanding of how to make your house sustainable and eco-friendly, you can take steps to make a house environmentally conscious.

By incorporating the ideas we have shared in this article, you can positively impact the planet’s health and make your house look beautiful.

Feel free to get creative and think outside the box. Look for opportunities to repurpose, recycle, or upcycle materials. Embrace natural elements, light, and greenery to bring a sense of freshness and connection to the outdoors.

That said, we have done our part.

Now, it’s your turn!