| Interior design is all about creating aesthetically pleasing | | | | uses a lot less energy than what is required to make |
| spaces that are safe, practical and in harmony with | | | | new glass and metal. |
| the rest of the surroundings. In order to carry this out | | | | Textiles |
| effectively we must source the best materials, | | | | Textile production can include processes like dying and |
| furniture and fixtures and fittings for the job, and in | | | | bleaching which uses a lot of energy and will produce |
| doing so, we inevitably have an impact on the | | | | toxic gases which are then released into the |
| environment albeit inadvertently. | | | | environment not to mention the harmful pesticides that |
| These days with so much emphasis being placed on | | | | are often used whilst growing the raw materials. The |
| global climate change, reducing consumption, and | | | | main things to consider when choosing an eco friendly |
| recycling, interior design can be a bit daunting if we | | | | option is how renewable the product is, in other words, |
| want to limit our carbon footprint and still get the effect | | | | can it be replenished quickly, whether the product is |
| we want. However, armed with the right information, it | | | | dyed or if natural dyes are used, and whether a lot of |
| needn't be a big challenge and we can still create | | | | chemicals are required to produce it. Some of the |
| beautiful rooms that are stylish, healthy and that are | | | | more eco friendly choices include organic cotton, wool |
| environmentally friendly too. So where do we begin? | | | | and hemp although there are many others available |
| First of all it's important to note that every single thing | | | | too. |
| we buy has an impact on the environment | | | | Furniture |
| somewhere along the line either, from the way they | | | | How eco friendly your furniture is will depend on the |
| are extracted, manufactured and processed, or from | | | | material it is made from, how it is processed and what |
| the distances they have to travel to end up in our | | | | finishes have been used, so choose carefully. Consider |
| home. Take for example paint, wood, glass, metal, | | | | buying second hand furniture or items made from |
| textiles and furniture, each of which can have a | | | | recycled or reclaimed materials and doing them up as |
| negative impact if we don't know what to look out for | | | | this helps to keep existing items in circulation and |
| but with a little effort and forethought, we are able to | | | | reduces the amount of perfectly useful items ending |
| find eco friendly alternatives. | | | | up in landfill. |
| Paint | | | | When sourcing eco friendly materials for your interior |
| Conventional paint contains solvents and lot of other | | | | design project, try to stick to the following guidelines: |
| harsh chemicals and toxins but it is possible to source | | | | - Buy from local producers and suppliers as much as |
| paints that have a reduced effect on the environment | | | | possible as the less distance an item has to travel, the |
| and that don't contain solvents, which are not only a | | | | lower the impact on the environment |
| much healthier option as they won't release harmful | | | | - Consider the type of materials you choose and |
| gases into your home and the atmosphere, they can | | | | whether they come from renewable and sustainable |
| be just as effective. | | | | energy sources |
| Wood | | | | - Avoid materials that contain chemical additives or |
| If possible, try to buy wood that is grown in a local | | | | that use a lot of energy during manufacturing |
| forest so it doesn't have to travel long distances to | | | | processes |
| end up in your home. Also, choose woods that don't | | | | - When buying new items, try as much as possible to |
| have a negative effect on the environment. Look out | | | | choose products that can be readily recycled after |
| for the FSC symbol which stands for Forestry | | | | use or that can be disposed of in an environmentally |
| Stewardship Council, an international non-profit | | | | friendly manner |
| organisation that will ensure that when you buy you will | | | | - Consider low energy or energy saving devices and |
| not be contributing to global forest destruction and | | | | buy as much as you can from recycled or reclaimed |
| threatening the livelihoods of people who depend on | | | | materials |
| the forest or timber to survive. | | | | Finally, as a result of the massive amount of publicity |
| Glass and Metal | | | | given to global warming and the need for conservation |
| Glass and metal are fairly easy to recycle and one of | | | | of energy, many producers make claims about their |
| the advantages of both is that in most cases they can | | | | products that are misleading or even false so check |
| be recycled over and over again without losing any | | | | out the credentials of any suppliers claiming that their |
| quality. Using recycled glass and metal helps reduce | | | | products are certified as natural, organic or eco |
| the amount of resources needed to produce these | | | | friendly. |
| materials from scratch, also the process of recycling | | | | |