While most people think about how they can live a more sustainable life through their daily actions, it’s often the bigger actions and choices that we make that can have the biggest impact. So while you likely will only be designing and decorating your home rarely, the items you use and the choices you make can make or break you when it comes to sustainability.
To help you in making the best choices in these situations, here are three tips for implementing sustainable interior design in your home.
Buy Used Rather Than New
One of the best ways to live a more sustainable life, and what can be put to use especially well when it comes to interior design, is to buy used rather than buying new when you need to add something to your life or your home.
When you choose to buy something new, it can be very hard to know if you’re getting the product from sustainable sources and what sustainability issues might be at play that you haven’t even considered. Additionally, you could be contributing to consumerism that creates more and more waste in our world. But when you choose to get something for your home that’s used rather than new, you can bypass a lot of these issues. And, as an added perk, you can often save yourself some money, too.
Focus On Longevity
When you are going to buy something new or add a larger item to your home, Econyl and Medium.com recommend that you focus on the longevity of the product above many other concerns. Ideally, you should try to use products that are going to last a long time and will be able to stand up to the wear and tear of daily life. And while this might mean spending more money now to buy a quality product, you could save in the long run by avoiding having to replace this item sooner had you bought something cheaper and less sustainable.
Choose Efficient Plumbing Fixtures
Sustainable interior design of your home involves everything from the foundation up. This includes what’s behind the walls or coming out of the walls, meaning your plumbing.
With efficient plumbing fixtures, you can save so much water usage. In fact, DecorAid.com shares that if you install shower heads and faucets that are made to be more efficient, you can use as much as 70 percent less water than had you not made this change. So if you’re really wanting your home to help you on your path to sustainability, having these types of plumbing fixtures can make a big impact.
If you’re designing or redesigning your home and are wanting to make things more sustainable, consider using the tips mentioned above to find some ways this can be done.