As the world continues to experience environmental problems like climate change, pollution, and degradation of ecosystems, we should all be mindful of our consumption habits. How we live and how we choose to spend our money can have a direct impact on the planet as well as on less privileged communities throughout the world.
One of the best ways to be mindful of our spending habits is to embrace eco-friendly interior design ideas in our homes. Incorporating these concepts into our lifestyle not only reduces our environmental impact but also helps create a dwelling that reminds us of our responsibility to the planet we share. Here, we’ll look at several eco-friendly interior design choices you can make for your home today.
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1) Purchase Secondhand Furniture and Decoration
Manufacturing is a major contributor to a variety of global environmental problems. By buying preloved items, you can positively affect the market, effectively reducing the demand for new goods and reducing your carbon footprint in the process. In the Philippines, you can find great deals on online marketplaces like LookingFour, Facebook Marketplace, and neighborhood thrift stores.
The great thing about choosing secondhand is you can usually get everything you need at a budget you can afford. Whether you’re planning to purchase a bed frame, table, cabinet, or a dining chair for sale, if you have patience and know where to look, you’ll eventually find what you want at a great price.
2) Upcycle Old Furniture
Upcycling is the process of transforming old and often unwanted furniture and appliances into something new and beautiful. For instance, you can convert an old TV into a chic pet bed. In recent years, upcycling has become a bit of a trend in the Philippines, thanks to wider access to DIY materials and knowledge. This is great news as upcycling is not only a good way to reduce waste but it also helps us become more conscious about the potential of items we already own.
3) Use Low-VOC Paints
If you know what new paint smells like, you’re already familiar with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can be found in a variety of everyday products, most notably adhesives, and fresh paint. These chemicals are responsible for the “new” smell of manufactured goods and freshly renovated homes.
While a lot of people find the smell of VOCs enjoyable or nostalgic, prolonged exposure to VOCs can be harmful to human health and they’re not great for the environment either. To minimize your exposure to VOCs, use modern low-VOC paints when repainting your home and upcycling your furniture.
4) Invest in Energy-Efficient Lighting
Given that the Philippines still depends on fossil fuels for electricity, switching to LEDs can make a significant impact in reducing your carbon footprint. In any case, in this day and age, there is absolutely no reason to light up your home with energy-hungry incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lights. While these previous-generation lighting technologies still have niche uses, they are no longer ideal for everyday lighting due to their high energy consumption and environmental impact. LED lighting technology has made major strides since it was first made widely available and you can now get energy-efficient LED lights with any color temperature and for any legacy light fixture.
5) Incorporate Sustainably-Sourced Natural Materials
Before you purchase any piece of furniture, try to learn more about where and how the materials its made of are produced. Unless you’re buying secondhand (see point #1), avoid trendy pieces made of hard-to-recycle plastic, and instead choose ones made from sustainably sourced natural materials like bamboo, rubberwood, repurposed wood, or recycled pallet boards. Not only are these materials less impactful on the environment, but they can also add a touch of warmth to your home. When possible, try to choose sturdier pieces as these will not need to be replaced as often, if at all, further reducing the environmental impact of your consumption habits.
6) Choose Pieces Made from Reusable or Recyclable Materials
Related to the previous point, when given a choice it’s best to choose pieces made from materials that are easy to repurpose or recycle. As such, furniture pieces made from wood, steel, aluminum, and glass can be quite eco-friendly as these are made from easily recyclable materials. What’s more, these pieces tend to be very durable as well, which means that, with care, they can serve you for a lifetime.
7) Invest in Modern Water-Saving Plumbing
Because of climate change and rising sea levels, the Philippines is now facing serious problems with its water security. Reducing water usage in your home is important not just for sustainability but also for leading a more ecologically conscious lifestyle.
Fortunately, as with electrical appliances, modern plumbing fixtures have come a long way in its overall efficiency. Apart from basic conservation practices like taking shorter showers and turning off taps when they’re not in use, you can save even more water by installing modern low-flow showerheads, toilets, and faucets. Other things you can do include fixing leaks promptly and using less water-hungry plants in your garden. Doing all these together will significantly bring down your home’s impact on the country’s dwindling water reserves
We all share the same planet. By making eco-friendly interior design choices in your home, you will not only reduce your carbon footprint and promote sustainability, but you’ll also ensure a better future for the next generation. If we all start making better choices today, there’s no reason we can’t all have more sustainable homes and a healthier planet.