Interior design may go through trends, but sustainability has definitely become more of a mainstay than a fad in design circles. However you decorate your home, and whatever your style, it’s become a matter of course to pay some attention to the impact your design will have on the planet.
Want to get up to speed on the world of green interior design? Check out these 5 trends.
Indoor Gardens
Gardening was a hobby many people picked up during the pandemic. Some of the most creative gardens, however, weren’t about food, but about aesthetics. Indoor gardens are bringing nature inside, fostering connections between our homes and the natural world.
To create an indoor garden of your own, find the space in your home that gets the most light. You can find plants that will thrive even in low light, but you’ll have more options for plant selection if you can use a spot that gets 6-8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight.
Arrange plants to give the effect of filling the space with lush, full greenery. Use shelves and plant stands of varying heights to make the most of your space and to create levels. Vertical gardens and living walls are fantastic solutions for homes that don’t have a ton of floor space.
Try to choose plants that have a variety of textures and colours to add interest to your garden. Your garden should make you want to spend time in it, so if you have the space, throw in a comfortable chair to relax in. Put in a small potting bench, too, to give yourself space to putter.
Thrift Store Finds
Recycling and repurposing is always hot in sustainable design, and this year is no different. Finding décor items at thrift stores, auctions, salvage places and vintage markets offers a ton of benefits that conventional shopping can’t match.
You’ll find more unique pieces when you shop second-hand; often high-quality pieces that will cost you less than lower-quality new ones. You’ll get the thrill of the find when you’re salvage shopping, and you’ll keep your carbon footprint low.
Keep your overall design aesthetic in mind as you choose your décor pieces. Your finished space should look eclectic, but still purposeful.
Mix and match small thrift store décor items so they coordinate. If you’re grouping things like plant pots, or throw cushions and knitted blankets, or side tables together, try to find items that complement each other in colour and texture. Choose items that are from the same period, or that have similar but contrasting patterns and lines.
Don’t shy away from larger statement pieces. Furniture, wall hangings, repurposed vintage items like spinning wheels or farm tools, even antique architectural elements can be given a new setting and worked into a contemporary design. Make larger pieces the focal point of a space, keeping the surrounding area clear so it doesn’t look cluttered.
Natural Materials and Patterns
Natural materials and patterns are a big part of a shift in home décor towards biophilic design. This is a field of design and architecture that’s all about connecting humans with their local environments. Wood and stone, fabrics and metal are all used to give the impression that a home is one with its natural surroundings.
Updating flooring to reclaimed wood, or to slate or stone can create a sense of bringing the outdoors in. Not every change has to be a huge one, though. If new flooring isn’t in the cards, a wool or jute rug can warm up a room and give your floors a natural feel underfoot.
This trend is about the feeling of being immersed in a space that reflects the ecosystem your home is a part of. If your walls need a makeover, think plasters, natural paints in earth tones, or environmentally friendly wall coverings. Find wallpaper in patterns and textures that evoke grasses, trees, waves or other landscape elements that are local to you.
Minimalism
Minimalism is a design choice that emphasizes simplicity, balance and harmony. It’s a much beloved strategy in green interior design because it also creates beautiful spaces that don’t rely on buying and consuming a lot of things to pull off the look.
When your design is minimalist when it comes to stuff, you can maximize the sense of space, air and light in your home. Start by decluttering your rooms, finding new homes for items you don’t need or aren’t using anymore. Carefully curate the things you want to keep, remembering that less is more.
Your space doesn’t have to be barren, but everything in your space should be functional. If you’re feeling like your rooms are a bit cold, try natural materials and a few plants to add a bit of life and warmth.
DIY Décor
Since the pandemic started, folks have taken the time to learn all kinds of crafts and skills, whether out of boredom or because supply chains have been disrupted and it’s been harder to complete the projects we want to complete.
Reupholstering the dining room chairs, refinishing dressers and upcycling items that are already around the home are just a few examples of the ways people are redecorating and redesigning their spaces with a new measure of self-sufficiency.
It’s easy to see this trend continuing on into the future, too. Once we learn practical skills, it’s often easier and more satisfying to just do things ourselves rather than buy things pre-made. So if this isn’t a train you’ve jumped on board yet, consider trying out a new skill.
Sew a cushion. Sand down and repaint a cupboard. Make a bowl. The world is your oyster, and the more you practice a new skill, the sooner you’ll master it.
Happy decorating!
Feature image: Spacejoy; Image 1: Daniil Silantev
