More than 99% of scientific papers agree that humans are accelerating climate change. At the current emission rate, we are moving towards a 3 ° C warming of the Earth by 2100, which would be catastrophic 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 eat less carbon without sacrificing lifestyle.
Eco-friendly interior design is a fun way to protect the environment, and it can also improve your quality of life. Here are some top tips:
Use eco-friendly paint
If you change the color of your bedroom, get paints with EU Ecolabel – these are earthy, natural ingredients with zero VOC.
Here are some brands that make EU Ecolabel Indoor Paint:
- Lakeland Paints
- Earthly
- Tikkurila
If you can’t find the color you like, the next best thing is to choose a water-based paint with low VOC from Dulux, Leyland, Valspar, or Farrow and Ball.
Buy pre-favorite furniture and decor
If you need new bedroom furniture, the most eco-friendly way is pre-favorite. Visit Gumtree or eBay to search for second-hand furniture online, or see if there is a used furniture store near you on Google.
You can bargain on used furniture, with 20-80% discount depending on when it was first purchased and where you are buying from. Charity shops are a great place to hunt, a strong favorite of the British Heart Foundation.
Choose wood carefully
Some wood carbon footprints are higher than others due to CO2 absorption in production processes, transportation and lifetime.
The more local wood, the better where the furniture is made. 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 eco-friendly woods:
- Bamboo
- White ash
- Pine
- Maple
- Mahogany
- Black cherry
Select recyclable materials
Wood and crude metals are 100% recyclable, so you can safely buy a wooden or metal bed without worrying about its recycling. Problems arise primarily 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 other materials that are not recyclable.
Buy decor and textiles made in the UK
Decorations made in the UK have lower transport emissions than those made abroad and many products also use local materials. One of the easiest ways to create a sustainable, eco-friendly bedroom is to buy local products.
Upcycle furniture and accessories
You can refine bedroom furniture with paint or break it down and use smaller parts for something else. You can turn old curtains into pillows and old clothes into clean rags, so you don’t buy new ones.
Look around your bedroom for items that can give you another life. For example, if you prefer a new mattress, your old one can be good for a guest room, old textiles can be used as a comfort layer and old decor can be spray painted.
Get the thermal screen
Thermal curtains can make a huge difference in keeping the bedroom warm. If your windows are cracked or otherwise inoperable, thermal curtains will help trap the heat and prevent your bedroom temperature from dropping.
Pepper in natural plants to purify and clean the air
Avoid plastic trees like the plague! Plastic plants are beautiful to look at, but they do not filter air and are not widely recycled.
House plants and bonsai trees are a great way to clean the air in your bedroom and they give you something to nurture and grow. Nature is also known for mental health, so this small change can make you feel happier.
These houseplants serve best for the bedroom:
- Kentia Palm
- Lavender
- Rubber tree
- English Ivy
- Pothos
- Peace Lily
If you like bonsai trees, you can’t go wrong with Chinese Elm, Ficus ginseng, Bird Plum or 1,000 Star Tree (Ceresa).
