Interior Design Tips by Michelle Rider

Many of you have probably heard the word Sustainability buzzing around but might not know exactly what it means. For those of you that don’t, I am here to explain it as it is something I try to incorporate in every design I do. Firstly and most importantly, sustainability is more than just a buzzword or an aesthetic; it is a practice. According to Google, sustainability is the “avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” In other words, it is the practice of being aware of how we use Earth’s resources so that we can continue to have them in the future. In design, it is taking that philosophy into account when conceiving a space.

There is plenty of room in design to cause harm to the environment. But it is about the choices we make as designers that can either perpetuate or prevent this harm. Do I go with electric lighting or more environmentally-friendly solar light? Should I purchase a real leather couch or will faux leather work just as well? These are the types of questions you should ask yourself when looking to make sustainable choices. If keeping the Earth a healthier place to live is not enough reason to design sustainably (which it should be!), sustainability is also very marketable nowadays. Many clients actively seek design that is environmentally-conscious and will feel good knowing that through the space they have commissioned and may soon inhabit, they too are playing a part in keeping the Earth green.

We can think about sustainable design in three categories: resource conservation, waste reduction, and environmental and human health. By addressing these categories in our design choices, we can design more sustainably. Below I’ll go into a few ways I Incorporate Sustainability into my design.

Use Eco-Friendly Paint

An eco-friendly paint is one that doesn’t have volatile organic compounds or VOCs in it. These are airborne chemicals or gasses present in low levels in some paints that are harmful to human health and the environment. Be sure to do your due diligence and look for paint that has a very low to zero VOC rating next time you shop for it!

Incorporate Pieces with an Aim Toward Longevity

Design with pieces designed to last. Simple enough! This tip touches on waste reduction and means choosing and incorporating furniture, appliances, or whatever it may be that are high-integrity and can last a long time (ideally even so long that people can sell them or pass them on once they no longer have use for them). It’s about combating the demand for disposability and investing in longevity. Choose a greater number of pieces that have staying power, both aesthetically and functionally (but if not, be sure they’re biodegradable!). You’ll feel better about reducing consumer waste, and your clients will definitely appreciate the time and effort spent sourcing quality pieces for their homes.

Be Energy-Conscious

Whether it’s adorning an outdoor deck or choosing appliances for a home, I’m always thinking about the impact I can have on reducing my clients’ carbon footprint. A lot of the time for me, this means using solar-powered lighting or sourcing energy-efficient appliances to conserve natural resources. Placing these items in my client’s home builds sustainability into their daily life and ensures an enduring payoff, even if relatively small. Over multiple projects, the impact can add up.

While there are many ways to be sustainable, these three practices are among some of the main ways I try to incorporate being green into my design approach. For me, they are very doable, which makes it easy to choose them over less eco-friendly alternatives. I say when it comes to sustainability and design, find those things that you can easily integrate into the way you design. That way, in designing and creating new spaces, we can, in more ways than one, all take part in making the planet a more habitable place.

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Title Image: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/interior-design
Image 1: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/paint-orange-peel-nap-roller-74095.html
Image 2: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/interior-design
Image 3: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2299/2005/products/step_solar_lights_true_lumens.jpg
?v=1616487180

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