With all of the bad news and updates surrounding the climate issue, it can be hard to know where to start to help to make a difference. Many people feel they have to go all in, but the small choices make the real differences.
There are many big decisions you can make, but what if you just started with one room in your house?
Are you looking to make some changes in your home to help make it greener and more energy-efficient? Keep reading to learn more about eco-friendly furniture options for your home!
1. Reclaimed Materials
There is so much innovation out in the world, and the design and decor niche is no exception. From chairs made out of old fishing nets to side tables made out of reclaimed wood, there are many furniture options made with recycled materials.
If you already have furniture but are looking to incorporate reclaimed materials into your decor, you can look into home accents like pillows and tapestries made from reclaimed materials.
2. Energy-Saving Design
Pick one room in your house and find ways to make it modern and energy-efficient (looking to upgrade your living room? Check out https://www.moderndigsfurniture.com/modern-living-rooms.html).
Starting with one space is much easier than renovating your entire house, and it breaks down the project into more manageable chunks. Being environmentally conscious is all about the small steps. So pick a room and add some environmentally friendly furniture!
3. Making Room for Plants
A great way to improve the air quality of your home and decorate at the same time is to make room for plants! This can be a fun project for the weekend if you want to DIY something with your family.
Buying a large bookshelf for a living room or bedroom space can be a great statement piece. But after you’ve organized every book in the house and put out your candle collection, you probably still have some space.
Turning a couple of shelves into small indoor gardens is the perfect solution. You can grow anything from succulents to herbs to vines and flowers.
4. Energy Efficient Lighting
When buying light bulbs for your lamps, make sure you purchase energy-efficient bulbs. You can also invest in natural lighting and heating options such as candles, fireplaces, and furnaces.
Purchasing LED bulbs is a good option because they are durable, long-lasting, and energy-efficient.
These options will not only make your home more green, but they will save you money on your electricity bill! Being environmentally friendly does not have to cost you a lot of money–it can actually save you money!
5. Friendly Fabrics
Instead of couch cushions and curtains woven from synthetic materials, find pieces woven from renewable or recycled materials. You can also find pieces dyed with natural dyes!
Synthetic fibers often include plastics, which can end up in the oceans, partially degrade, and become microscopic yet deadly, pieces of plastic pollution. Choosing more natural fabrics can reduce this plastic waste!
6. Handmade Items
Big corporations are the largest polluters in the world. One great way to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy from local craftsmen and small businesses! This way, you support the local economy and avoid putting more money into large companies like Amazon or Walmart.
Handmade items take fewer resources to make and produce less waste than large factories.
7. Sustainable Woods
If you want to buy something brand new (like cabinets or a couch), try to buy items made with sustainable woods. Popular options are bamboo, white ash, oak, maple, teak, black cherry, pine, and mahogany.
Avoid woods like ebony, Burmese teak, wenge, and Merbau. These are woods that are either endangered or are only available in small portions of the world.
Buying furniture made of wood that is plentiful and easy to grow can help reduce deforestation in remote and biodiverse areas of the world.
You can even go one step further by using wood that has been salvaged from other parts of your home or other places.
You can make your home greener by buying furniture made from sustainable woods without compromising your vision or style.
8. Avoid Fast Fashion
One of the best ways to make your home more green is to buy less stuff. This doesn’t mean that you can’t buy what you want for your home. However, you should make sure that what you buy is high quality and will last you a long time.
Whether it is for clothing, accessories, or decor, fast fashion is one of the world’s worst pollutants. We buy things because they cost less money, but they do not last very long and end up in landfills. When looking for items like chairs, pillows, and more, consider spending more money upfront to avoid unnecessary waste in the future.
You Can Make A Difference with Eco-Friendly Furniture
Your home is your safe space, and how you decorate it is a reflection of who you are and what you care about. Our planet is our home as well. And how we treat it is a reflection of the human race.
Thinking outside the box with eco-friendly furniture items can help make your home a unique and welcoming place. No matter your budget and style, there are always options that are better for the environment.
Choosing one of these ideas to use for your home isn’t going to magically end global warming, but it is a great first step that you can take towards being more environmentally conscious!
