Looking to make your home more eco-friendly next year? In this article Alison Hughes, Interiors Director at Coast Road Furniture, shares her top tips for choosing sustainable home interiors in 2022. 

2021 has been a defining year for sustainability, with many of us realising just how important it is to make more eco-conscious choices in our day-to-day lives. In fact, 82% of consumers have already made lifestyle changes in the name of sustainability this year, with many opting to reduce their use of single-use plastic and shop more from brands they perceive to be eco-friendly (Deloitte). 

So, if you’re looking to update your home décor in 2022, you’ll no doubt be thinking of ways to make your interiors as eco-friendly as you can. The good news is that there are a variety of sustainable and stylish interior design ideas to try out! To give you some inspiration, here are five of the best ways to make your home interiors more environmentally friendly next year.

 

Opt for British made products

Buying close to home isn’t just great for local business, but for the planet too. Opting for British made furniture and home décor over products made in other countries reduces the environmental impact from fuel caused by transporting the items from overseas. 

Local businesses are also likely to require less packaging to transport the products. This is because the items are travelling a shorter distance and for less time, so most won’t need as much protection as they would if they came from overseas via a few different methods of transport. And as the distance travelled is much shorter, the delivery fees are likely to be a lot less, making it a win-win!

 

Choose natural and renewable materials

One of the best ways to make your home interiors more sustainable is by being mindful of the materials your products are made out of. Opting for natural and renewable materials is much better for the environment, and they’re often high in quality too. 

Wool is a particularly eco-friendly material to use, as it’s one of the best renewables. In fact, one sheep can produce up to 30 pounds of wool a year, which is equivalent to around 300 miles of yarn (AgHires)! 

Reclaimed wood is another eco-friendly, renewable material which works well with a variety of interior design ideas. On top of being renewable, reclaimed wood requires fewer chemical treating agents which can have a negative environmental impact (Blue & Green Tomorrow). 

 

Invest in top quality, durable interiors 

It may surprise you to know that a staggering 22 million pieces of furniture are discarded each year, only 15% of which end up being reused (Integral). To cut down on waste and reduce the amount of furniture going to landfill, it’s important to invest in high-quality interiors made out of durable materials so you can enjoy them for years to come. 

As previously mentioned, renewable materials can be particularly high quality. For example, wool fibres are surprisingly tough, and can be bent and stretched over 20,000 times without breaking (norilla). Wood furniture is incredibly durable too and can last over 100 years if looked after well (Vintage Mill Werks).

Another great idea is to avoid buying a lot of trend-led pieces. Trends can come and go pretty quickly, so it’s better to choose interiors that you truly enjoy so you won’t end up getting bored of them or regretting your purchase and throwing them away. 

 

Decorate for warmth

Choosing pieces that can help keep your home warm is a great way to save on heating bills whilst helping the planet at the same time. A lot of Brits have draughty homes, with some houses leaking three times more heat than many more energy-efficient homes in Europe (iNews). On top of this, UK gas boilers have been found to emit double the amount of CO₂ produced by power stations (The Guardian). 

However, there are a number of ways to keep our homes warm naturally by nifty use of home interiors. One way to keep the heat in is by opting for carpet over wood flooring. As well as keeping your home warm, it gives you the opportunity to experiment with different colours and patterns for your flooring. And make sure to incorporate plenty of soft furnishings, such as throws, cushions, and thick curtains to make the room feel warm and cosy. 

 

If you’re looking to lead a more sustainable lifestyle in 2022, these interior design ideas and tips should help you make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to home décor and furnishings. And if you’re looking for more interior design ideas and advice, make sure to check out the services offered by The Mini Interior Design Company!