More than 99% of scientific papers agree that humans are accelerating climate change. At the current rate of emissions, we are heading for a global heat of 3°C by 2100, which would be disastrous for our planet.
So, what can we do? We can reduce our carbon footprint by changing how we travel, the food we consume, the products we buy and how we design our homes to use less carbon without compromising quality of life.
Eco-friendly interior design is a fun way to protect the environment and it can also improve your standard of living. Here are some top tips:
Use environmentally friendly paint
If you change the color of your bedroom, buy paints with the EU Ecolabel – these are made of clay, a natural material without VOCs.
Here are a few brands that produce EU Ecolabel interior paints:
Lakeland paints Earthborn TikkurilaIf you can’t find the colors you want, it’s best to choose a low-VOC water-based paint from Dulux, Leyland, Valspar, or Farrow and Ball.
Buy Pre-loved Furniture and Decor
If you need new bedroom furniture, pre-loved is the right choice for maximum environmental friendliness. Go to Gumtree or eBay to find second-hand furniture online, or Google to see if there are second-hand furniture stores near you.
You can get bargains on second-hand furniture, with discounts of 20-80% depending on when it was first bought and where you buy it. Charity shops are an excellent place to hunt, with the British Heart Foundation being the favourite.
Choose forests carefully
Some woods have a larger ecological footprint than others due to production processes, transport and CO2 absorption during their lifetime.
The more local wood where furniture is made, the better. In addition, fast-growing species such as pine trees are more durable than slow-growing species such as oak.
Here are some of the most environmentally friendly woods:
Bamboo White Ash Pine Maple Mahogany Black CherryChoose recyclable materials
Wood and uncontaminated metals are 100% recyclable, so you can safely buy a wooden or metal bed without worrying about its recyclability. Problems mainly arise with plastics and foam, which are not always recyclable in the UK.
For example, PVC, LDPE and Styrofoam are not widely recycled in the UK, and there are many more materials that are not recyclable.
Buy decor and textiles made in the UK
UK-made decors have fewer transport emissions than foreign-made decors, and many products also use local materials. Buying local goods is one of the easiest ways to create a sustainable, eco-friendly bedroom.
Upcycle furniture and materials
You can refurbish or disassemble bedroom furniture with paint and use the smaller parts for something else. You can turn old curtains into pillowcases and old clothes into rags so you don’t buy new ones.
Pictured: Julian Bowen Rebecca metal bed frame – Black, Buying a wooden or metal bed is a sustainable option. It can be given a second life later by painting it instead of buying a new one.
Look around your bedroom for items that you can give a second life. For example, if you fancy a new mattress, your old one might be fine for a guest room, old textiles can be used as a comfort layer, and old furnishings can be sprayed over.
Buy thermal curtains
Thermal curtains can make a huge difference in keeping bedrooms warm. If your windows are drafty or otherwise inefficient, thermal curtains help trap heat and keep the temperature in your bedroom from dropping.
Pepper in natural plants to purify and purify the air
Avoid plastic plants like the plague! Plastic plants look nice, but they do not filter the air and are not widely recycled.
Houseplants and bonsai trees are a brilliant way to purify the air in your bedroom, and they also give you something to cherish and grow. Nature is also known to benefit mental health, so this small adjustment can make you feel happier.
These houseplants are best suited for bedrooms:
Kentia Palm Lavender Rubber Plant English Ivy Pothos Peace LilyIf you prefer bonsai trees, you can’t go wrong with a Chinese Elm, Ficus Ginseng, Bird Plum, or the Tree of 1,000 Stars (Serissa).
This post Eco-friendly design tips for a sustainable bedroom was original published at “https://www.noobpreneur.com/2022/04/13/eco-friendly-design-tips-for-a-sustainable-bedroom/”
