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Sustainable interior design: the future of interior design

Sustainability is transitioning from being a trend to becoming an integral part of the mindset when constructing a building or renovating a space. Many times, the idea of seeking a new way of designing that is much more planet-friendly arises inadvertently. We are increasingly aware that as interior designers, we have a responsibility. This is how sustainable interior design emerges.

It’s no longer enough to just satisfy the aesthetic and functional needs of the future home that clients or potential buyers will inhabit. Now, it’s also necessary to ensure a lower environmental impact, guarantee recycling, adapt construction to the surroundings, etc. Sustainable interior design entails a new configuration of the entire creation process, always with the goal of producing a final product that respects nature and helps create a healthier planet for future generations.

If you want to know the keys to this new approach to interior design, keep reading, because we’re going to reveal all the secrets.

What is sustainable interior design?

Although the idea of sustainable interior design has been circulating in the interior design world for some time, 2022 and 2023 have been its years of greatest flourishing. Sustainability has been a decorative trend during these years, but gradually it has evolved into a necessity created by the current climate crisis. As designers, we must take responsibility for our creations and adapt them to current thinking, which is heavily focused on seeking a movement where the planet is also a client of the project.

Sustainable interior design, demanded by both clients and design studios themselves, seeks a change in perspective when designing spaces. They continue to meet the demands required of them, but with consideration of the environmental impact it will cause, and striving to minimize it as much as possible. The keys to such a design lie in sustainability and minimalism.

Unlike the predominant trend of the last decade, which advocated for having everything at home and filling it with objects, sustainability comes with a slightly more relaxed mindset. The goal is to reduce purchases and the number of items owned; it’s better to have one high-quality item that lasts over time than to constantly replace products because they don’t endure.

Many factors are taken into account when designing sustainably (which we’ll explain below), but the fundamental ones are the use of materials and the reduction of raw materials. Sustainability isn’t rigid; it can be adapted in many ways depending on the scope of the project. There will be occasions when a certain sustainable element cannot be applied, but another can, or even both! That’s where the interior designer’s work comes in. For now, let’s start by explaining the key points.

sustainable interior design

How to create sustainable interior design?

These types of designs are characterized by seeking an environmentally friendly alternative to more traditional interior design. They aim to adapt to current lifestyles while integrating with nature and minimizing harm to it as much as possible. This way, not only are healthy spaces created for the planet, but it also benefits us as human beings, as we are more in touch with a more authentic life.

Therefore, we present to you the keys to sustainable interior design. We are aware that some of them need to be implemented in a home during construction, but some can be applied to an already existing space. If you want to make your home a bit more eco-friendly, take note:

Energy Efficiency

It’s one of the key points when it comes to making our home a more sustainable space. Energy consumption is one of the factors that most pollute and is a leading cause of climate change. Consider that when you excessively use heating or forget to turn off the lights, you’re contributing to pollution. Although these small actions also need to be changed, it’s easy to reduce energy consumption by using lighter colors in the rooms (especially on the walls) and adding some reflective surfaces that visually expand the space and distribute light. This way, it’s not necessary to have so many lights on.

If you live in a house with little natural light and need to have the lights on for long periods, there’s a much more sustainable alternative to traditional light bulbs: LEDs, halogens, and compact fluorescent bulbs. These three categories of lighting save energy because they are low-consumption and last much longer.

It’s also important to consider the fabric of curtains and carpets. The curtains will allow more or less light to pass through, influencing whether you need to turn on more lights or not. Carpets can also serve as thermal insulators, retaining heat in a room for longer periods. If you’re fond of carpets, you could have one for summer and another for winter to switch them as needed.

Another major advancement in energy efficiency is driven by technology: home automation. This application in the home allows you to turn objects on and off from a mobile device, saving energy and managing it only when necessary.

sustainable interior design

Use Space Wisely

Having a smaller space helps save on raw materials during construction while still providing all the comforts of a larger place. And not only that: a smaller home consumes fewer resources overall, thus increasing sustainability.

Social and environmental responsibility

Materials classified as sustainable used in such projects not only have a low environmental impact but are also typically produced with social responsibility, another value that is increasingly taken into account. To obtain them, companies that can guarantee a safe manufacturing process and socially just business practices are sought after. It’s best to speak with nearby companies, promoting the popular ‘kilometer 0’ concept, which, although primarily referring to food, also applies to other sectors like construction.

Equally important is analyzing the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle (extraction, production, transportation, transformation, and disposal). Nowadays, many sustainable and organic materials are available to designers, which we will discuss later. In addition to these, we can also obtain pesticide-free and organic products, always seeking to use only or as much as possible non-polluting and non-toxic materials.

sustainable interior design

Sustainable Design Built to Last

A sustainable space is designed to last. The materials used are of good quality and often have more than one use, such as mobile furniture, which can be reused to adapt to a modern aesthetic. The rise of minimalism and simple, neutral lines is largely due to this fact: if we have more or less standard furniture, it will always be in style, and we won’t have to change it according to trends.

Living Well

As mentioned earlier, opting for sustainable interior design is not only good for the planet but also for its inhabitants. Concern for using materials that are free of chemicals, maintaining air quality, ventilation, or improving acoustics can make a big difference in terms of quality of life.

Sustainable interiors are not only healthier for the environment but also for the people who inhabit them. Plants, which have become very fashionable as a form of decoration, aid in this process not only because they connect us with the outside world but also because they naturally filter the air.

Vegetation is so important to interior design that there’s even a concept called biophilic design, which acknowledges the need to include natural elements indoors. The goal is to reconnect humans with nature and remind them that they are part of it. Including plants indoors helps create an atmosphere of calm and tranquility, so we cannot ignore their power and the assistance they can provide us.

sustainable interior design

Natural Materials

Materials are one of the key pieces in the sustainability puzzle. Without them, there wouldn’t be the option to create more environmentally friendly spaces. When we talk about this topic, one of the first elements that surely comes to mind is wood, and we wouldn’t be far off.

Wood is a natural and organic resource that can be “manufactured” by planting more trees. It’s biodegradable and can be used for almost anything. However, if we want our construction to be sustainable, it’s necessary to consider its production cycle and find out if it comes from sustainable forests and what type of treatment it has undergone (preferably free of chemicals).

Wood is also popular for its versatility: it can be used in its natural state, with real coloring, or painted in the preferred tone…

Stone is another of the most sustainable materials available. The variety we can find (marble, quartz, mica…) and its resistant properties make it an excellent choice for floors and exteriors, although it’s increasingly used even in furniture, making the furniture last much longer.

However, if you don’t want to give up other materials, such as metal, you also have sustainable options. Aluminum, for example, is infinitely recyclable, lightweight, stainless, and durable. If you’re looking for a more industrial style, you can combine aluminum with natural cement, obtained from the firing of calcareous clay at high temperatures without adding any other element. There we have 2 perfectly sustainable materials capable of creating a modern and stylish interior.

Circular economy

The circular economy is the foundation of new sustainable trends. It involves using any product, material, or resource as much as possible. This keeps it within the economic chain until it can no longer be used. In this way, the generation of waste and the extraction of raw materials are minimized. The goal is to use a product as much as possible, and when it’s no longer usable, to recycle it to become part of that circular economy that is currently widely discussed.

As you can see, the path to sustainable interior design involves awareness when choosing materials, creating spaces, and thinking green, with the 3Rs (reduce, recycle, and reuse) always in mind. At Manuel Torres Design, we are aware of our responsibility as a design studio, and that’s why we adapt to the new times.

In addition to carrying out your project by anticipating your needs, we offer a home automation system creation service. It can help you save between 50 and 70% of the energy you consume and improve your lifestyle. If you want to learn more about how to make your home more sustainable and smart or if you have any other questions, feel free to contact us. Our team will be there for whatever you need.

The images used in this post do not belong to Manuel Torres Design, unless otherwise indicated. Credits for these images belong to other companies, photographers, and professionals. We appreciate their contribution in inspiring our content and recognise their work.

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Sustainable interior design: the future of interior design

What is sustainable interior design?