We are reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission.
Whether you have decorated many homes before or are a complete interior design newbie, this is an activity many people enjoy because it allows them to bring parts of themselves into their homes, choosing what to display to guests and finding products that reflect their values. These opportunities create ways to embrace sustainability. What should people do to make the biggest impacts while maintaining their budgets?
One of the biggest interior design trends apparently involves getting rid of everything a person already owns in favor of buying new things. People can prioritize sustainable living by ignoring that approach and exploring how the things they already have could fit into the new look.
Applying this tip might also mean making some minor purchases to refresh currently owned items. For example, new pillow covers for the couch can liven up those that have become faded. You can also repurpose furniture by turning a bookcase into a place to store linens or making another similarly creative swap.
People who decide to buy a few new things can maximize sustainability by carefully planning their purchases and clarifying the necessity of each one. Similarly, sticking to a reasonable budget encourages people to stay under that limit rather than giving in to excess.
Another useful strategy is to only purchase something after thinking about it for at least a day. That brief delay gives people time to determine whether they truly need and want something or if the initial desire was merely a fleeting impulse.
Try building an interior design theme by deciding you will primarily use secondhand items. Besides being kind to your budget, this decision is better for the planet than buying new because it gives previously owned items new lives with you, keeping them out of landfills.
Estate sales have become popular because they typically involve selling a home’s entire contents, often due to the occupant’s death. Visiting one to browse could help you find unique items that bring historical charm to your home. Those familiar with estate sales also say you can often find hardwood furniture at prices lower than the big-box stores offer.
You’ll probably get the best results at estate sales if you visit them with an open mind. You might not find exactly what you want, but there’s a good chance you’ll come across some surprises that you want to take home.
Other sources, such as Facebook groups and local group chats, can be good options, as well. However, there is much less oversight with those possibilities than with estate sales. People interested in buying secondhand items that way should never send money without seeing the goods first. They should also be extremely cautious about transactions conducted by mail, as they offer too many opportunities for scammers. The best option is to meet the seller in person in a safe, public area before providing any payment.
Those who prioritize sustainable interior design are also often intentional in other ways, such as by showing interest in slow living. This movement involves being more deliberate with actions and decisions, which can include pausing between feeling motivated to purchase something and actually doing it. Besides being a useful strategy when shopping for interior design items, this concept can also enrich the way you live by encouraging you to slow down and enjoy periods of genuine rest without feeling compelled to do specific things.
You might be surprised by how relaxed you feel by sitting in a comfortable chair and watching the birds or marveling about how the leaves on the trees surrounding your property change with the seasons. The more you appreciate the living world outside your home, the more likely you are to want to act to preserve it by maintaining a sustainable lifestyle.
Prioritizing interior design pieces that increase your comfort also discourages future waste. Many people can recall instances of purchasing stylish furniture that was not as comfortable as they hoped. Taking your time to find aesthetically pleasing, genuinely comfortable items could mean that you use them for years to come, and even in multiple homes if you move during your lifetime.
Most people have heard of the fast fashion concept, but they might not realize it can also apply to furniture. That’s one of the reasons why items ranging from bookshelves to couches have become impressively inexpensive, encouraging many consumers to buy them.
However, those low prices can come with environmental costs because designers generally intend for products to last only a few years before they wear out, and households will need to dispose of them. A recent report examined the scale of the issue, showing that landfills in the United States receive more than 12 million tons of decorative home items per year. The data indicated that furniture and accent pieces were the most commonly discarded items, with carpets and rugs also emerging as significant contributors.
Buying items that will last several years is not always feasible, especially for someone on a low budget. In that case, the next best option is to buy something affordable but of lower quality and treat it very carefully. That way, they can get as many years of use out of it as possible through conscientiousness.
A related tip is to avoid putting unnecessary stress on furniture, especially when moving it. Some people try to slide heavy furniture, such as desks, kitchen tables, and beds across the floor, whether to rearrange the space or to clean around the pieces. However, it is usually better for the furniture if people pick it up to move it. Doing that does not put extra strain on the item’s joints and legs.
Humans can also save their bodies by recruiting enough help to move the products by picking them up. Having one person at each corner evenly distributes the forces to protect the furniture while ensuring that no single person has to lift too much.
Anyone who has seen a university campus when students move out of dorms is probably shocked by the number of items discarded along curbs and in dumpsters as people leave. However, that tendency to throw things away rather than continue using them need not become the norm for all interior design efforts.
Being more mindful of the products purchased and how people will use them encourages consumers to select items that they will use for years. That mindset keeps products out of landfills and keeps them usable and beautiful for the long term.
Approaching interior design with a sustainable perspective offers many possibilities. What else should people know as they prioritize this option?
Strategies vary depending on the entities running the estate sales. However, many gradually lower item prices as the sale progresses, so people can often find the lowest prices on the last day. The internet has dedicated websites to help people find estate sales, and these events are also often listed on social media channels.
Although online shopping is convenient, it does not allow consumers to touch and try the items before purchasing. That could mean people end up with products they don’t enjoy as much as they’d hoped or expected. Shopping locally can be a good alternative, especially if retailers offer free delivery.
Because soft or upholstered items are more likely to harbor bedbugs, the safest option is to buy hard products and carefully inspect all surfaces before buying these things or bringing them into the home.
