Every interior decorating decision, from your furniture to your flooring, can have an impact on the environment. We all love a freshly redecorated room - but what happens to your furniture when you change your style and throw it away? Usually, these pieces are sent to landfill or incinerated, both of which release harmful greenhouses gases into the atmosphere. But there is a more sustainable way to approach your interior décor.
The slow interior movement involves picking out quality pieces of furniture that will last for decades to reduce waste and combat a throwaway culture. Nick Acaster, Managing Director of Rugs Direct, explains how you can embrace slow interiors in your home.
Choose materials carefully
To help make sure your furniture will last, try to invest in pieces made from durable and sturdy materials, like hardwood that's been responsibly sourced from British forests. Or, look for eco-friendly and hardwearing fabrics like organic cotton, wool or bamboo.
Wood flooring can last a lot longer than carpet in high traffic areas, like your living room, and you can help to protect them even more by laying down rugs that will take a lot of the footfall. Just look for durable materials like wool, jute, polyester, polypropylene or nylon rugs.
If you buy your furniture and soft furnishings from reputable sellers or manufacturers, you can be confident that your they will be made to a high standard. This means they’re likely to last you a lot longer than poorly made, fast furniture pieces.
Upcycle old pieces
It's expected that, over time, your furniture will start to show signs of wear and tear. But, if you think something is ready to be thrown away, take a second look over it and come up with ways it can be recycled or upcycled into something new. For example, you could repaint old wooden tables and dressers or reupholster old dining chairs. Or, you could be a little more creative and transform an old mirror or picture frame into a tea tray. With a little creativity, there's no end to the things you can make!
Embrace sustainability in your home with these three top tips. Just remember to focus on quality over quantity to get the most out of your slow interiors.