Sustainability in Interior Design
7 Tips to make your design more sustainable
This subject is particularly close to my heart and that should concern us all! Our resources are becoming
scarce and we must be considerate in the consumption of raw materials and other treasures of the earth. But how can you incorporate sustainability into your home design?
Here are a 7 tips for you:
1. Quality - High quality and durable furniture. ![]()
As with fashion, the same goes for furniture, look that it's not 'Fast Furniture'. Quality furniture can last you years, if not decades. There is no need to refurnish your home every year.
2. Regionality - Short delivery routes 
As with food, make sure that your furniture does not have to be shipped halfway around the world. The craftsman's store in your area can also help you and you may even support a family business. If it is a piece of furniture from Italy, that is also okay. Awareness makes the difference.
3. Sustainable materials 
Pay attention with your purchase from which materials your piece of furniture was manufactured. Are these materials certified, tested and is the production transparent? Then you can buy your piece of furniture with a clear conscience. But what are actually sustainable materials? Bamboo is a very sustainable product. Bamboo wood also scores with very good properties in terms of hardness, elasticity and abrasion resistance.
4. Upcycling - Vintage 
As you know I'm a big fan of vintage pieces. They bring so much more character to the room, tell a story, and just give the room that extra something. Therefore, go to flea markets in your area, browse Ebay Kleinanzeigen or browse antique stores. I have already found some treasures there.
5. Recycling - reusability ![]()
You don't always have to buy everything new. Have you ever thought of having your suuuuuper comfortable but aging couch reupholstered or your dresser, repainted? Or even have your kitchen fronts foiled in a different colour? There are so many possibilities! You save money and do something good for the planet.
6. Fair produced fabrics 
Also with fabrics (curtains, carpets, pillowcases, etc.) you should pay attention to where and how they were produced, that the workers work in fair production facilities and that they do not get any health
damage from the work, such as from harmful substances.
7. Avoid tropical woods - FSC seal 
For tropical woods the rainforest is cleared and this has of course fatal consequences for the environment and the ecosystem gets out of balance. Therefore, please avoid furniture made from tropical woods. Tropical woods include acacia, bangkirai, mahogany, meranti, rosewood, teak and
wenge. And if it does have to be a piece of furniture made from tropical wood, make sure it has at least an FSC seal. This seal ensures that the wood used comes from sustainable and environmentally sound
forest management. In a future blog post I will explain more about the FSC seal.
*Images @Pinterest and @Instagram.