Sustainability in Interior Design

Sustainability is a top priority now. From governments and industries to consumers and homeowners, reducing CO2 emissions and protecting the earth is something that should concern us all. But what about your interior design?

Whether you are creating a new workspace or redesigning your home, the sustainability of your surroundings can have a major impact on your health and well-being. What is more – making sustainable choices when curating your designs can reduce the carbon footprint of your properties too.

Let us look at how the interior design world is becoming more sustainable and find out how you can incorporate sustainability into your own interiors:

Recycled and Reclaimed Materials

One of the easiest ways to make your interiors more sustainable is choosing furniture and décor that is crafted from recycled and reclaimed materials. Reclaimed wood is a popular example, with a wide array of furniture and hardwood flooring coming from reclaimed timber. However, you can also pick up other reclaimed materials and fabrics, such as leather, bricks, steel, and glass that require no processing before being refashioned into modern furniture or décor.

Alternatively, products made from recycled materials do require some processing, but this is typically still far more sustainable than purchasing items made from non-recycled counterparts. By making the most of the resources already in the supply chain, we can move closer to a ‘circular economy’, reduce waste and create a more sustainable society.

Remember – choose items that are recyclable too as this will enable you to dispose of them sustainably in the future.

Non-Toxic Paints

A new coat of paint can have a transformative impact on any space, particularly if you opt for a new colour palette or finish. However, paint can have a negative impact on the environment and may even affect your health. Fortunately, new paint technologies enable designers and homeowners to opt for non-toxic versions that are better for everyone.

Standard paint contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to air pollution. If you’ve recently painted a room and noticed an increase in asthma or allergy symptoms, it could be due to the VOCs in the paint you used. By switching to a VOC-free or low-VOC paint, you can improve the quality of your surroundings and create a sustainable interior design that feels as good as it looks.

New innovations, such as lime-based paints that absorb carbon dioxide, even help to purify the air in or around your home or workspace and highlight the potential of enhanced sustainability in interior design.

Increased Energy Efficiency

New buildings are typically more energy efficient, but you can always increase the energy efficiency of a space by implementing sustainable interior design. Adding a skylight or choosing sheer drapes over heavy curtains will allow maximum natural light to flow into the room and make you less reliant on artificial light, for example.

Reducing the carbon footprint of your property is easier than you think, particularly if you incorporate sustainability into your original design plan. Primarily, ensure that the materials you choose are coming from reputable, sustainable designers, craftspeople or companies, and design interiors for optimal efficiency.

If you want to use an array of statement lighting, for example, opt for fixtures made from reclaimed glass and use strategically placed solar panels to provide renewable energy to LED bulbs, rather than relying on incandescent bulbs powered from the mains energy supply.

Living Green Walls

Living walls are a great concept that show how easy it can be to incorporate sustainability in interior design. Each plant ‘wall’ is comprised of smaller components that provide the plants with the nutrient solution they need to flourish. The result? A living, green wall that provides a sustainable, biophilic, nature-inspired interior.

While larger living walls are ideal for workspaces and expansive foyers, smaller options can be an exciting addition to living spaces or dining rooms. As well as being eye-catching and adding visual texture to the space, the presence of greenery and foliage has health-enhancing benefits too. As plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide, they therefore improve air quality. In addition to this, integrating indoor plants into a sustainable interior design has been shown to reduce stress levels, calm anxiety and even boost productivity.

Long-lasting Designs

Trends come and go, which can make it tempting to update your interior design on a regular basis. Of course, choosing a sustainable interior design does not mean you have to eschew the latest styles or miss out on new design trends, but it can mean designing for longevity.

When you plan the next update to your interiors, think long-term and imagine how you want the space to evolve, both in terms of its purpose and its aesthetic. By doing so, you can incorporate this into your current design choices and facilitate a seamless transition. Furthermore, you will be able to choose décor and materials that will stand the test of time and require minimal intervention as your style evolves.

This gives you the flexibility to incorporate the latest interior trends without undertaking a major renovation every year! What is more – selecting sustainable materials and eco-friendly furniture when updating your interiors ensures that you are making choices that will benefit the environment, rather than cause it harm.

Low-Impact Fabric

Fabric is a key component of interior design. Whether you are selecting window treatments, sofas and chairs, area rugs or bedding, the fabrics you choose will have a significant impact on the overall aesthetic. However, some fabrics are more sustainable than others, which is why it is important to take this into account when designing an interior.

Sheep’s wool is a renewable resource that requires limited processing, for example, while hemp produces three times more fibre than cotton but uses half the amount of water in its growth phase. Similarly, felt is typically a low-impact fabric that is biodegradable, and jute is a hardwearing fibre that absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen.

Create a Sustainable Interior Design

Committing to sustainability in interior design needn’t limit your design choices or prevent you from embracing any style you choose. Instead, turning your mind towards sustainable materials and fabrics may even help you to discover previously overlooked options that will enhance your interiors. With a variety of options, including newly created innovations and traditional organic materials, creating sublime, sustainable interior designs can be easier and more exciting than you realise.

by Shalini Misra

Autumn Interior Design Trends 2022

As we bid farewell to the last of the summer sun, it’s time to embrace the cooler temperatures, warmer hues and blustery winds that are synonymous with autumn. From the crackling of a bonfire to the crisp leaves underfoot, autumn evokes a sense of a warmth and unity, even when the days are cooler, and the nights are drawing in.

If you’ve been planning to refresh your interior design, now is the perfect time to forge ahead with your plans. As a transitional season, autumn changes can take you from summer straight through to winter and ensure that your interiors remain in style all year round. For inspiration, take a look at these top autumn interior design trends for 2022:

Farmhouse Style

If there’s one autumn interior design trend to follow this year, it’s farmhouse interiors. If you’ve always assumed that farmhouse style is traditional, outdated or cluttered, think again. Modern farmhouse interiors evoke the same sense of warmth of comfort but strike a balance between modern minimalism and rustic living with elements of Scandinavian design.

Neutral colour palettes with white, beige or grey are a popular option in farmhouse interiors, but accent colours can add a brighter and more vibrant feel to your autumnal interior design. Wide-plank hardwood floors along with shiplap cladding or natural brick walls are also popular farmhouse features and they’re easy to integrate into modern homes.

While farmhouse interior design is often associated with kitchens, this isn’t the only room that can benefit from a modern rustic makeover. Perfect for living spaces and bedrooms, farmhouse interiors can be a fantastic way to make your space feel more welcoming this autumn.

Warm Colours

While cooler tones work well in summer, richer, warmer tones are perfect for autumn interior design. As it gets colder outside, you can make your interiors feel inviting and cosy by choosing a warm colour palette.

Burnt orange, terracotta, moss green, mustard yellow and deep rust are all popular autumn shades that can offer depth and will easily create a nurturing, cocoon-like feel. Pair darker hues with lighter shades, like light apricot, tawny brown, coral or light olive for a cohesive palette that will lift and soothe throughout the season.

Seasonal, Nature-Inspired Interiors

As we move into autumn and winter, you needn’t miss out on the great outdoors. In fact, nature-inspired interiors are a top autumn interior design trend this year and it’s a great way to make your home or workspace feel fresh and invigorating.

A colour palette featuring neutral and natural autumnal hues, such as cream, sand, sage green, dusky blue or buttermilk can be a stylish way to integrate the nature-inspired interior trend into your latest designs, for example. Using natural materials, like stone, wood and bamboo, in your interior design is also a super-effective way to bring a nature-inspired interior to life.

Additionally, create seasonal accents with natural or faux foliage to elevate your autumnal interior design. Dahlias and hydrangeas in earthy tones are ideal for autumn-inspired tablescapes, while fallen leaves, conkers and berries can be weaved into garlands or wreathes to add an autumn fall via transitional décor.

Textures and Layers

Adding texture to a room enhances its aesthetic but it also changes the way the space feels. With a range of textures, for example, a room can feel more welcoming and cosier, which is exactly what you’re aiming for with the latest autumn interior design trends. To make living areas feel more in-keeping with the season, try adding a woollen area rug, cashmere throws and boucle cushions to add texture and visual interest.

Similarly, use layers to give a room an autumnal update and incorporate the latest styles. Sheer drapes will allow you to make the most of the natural light before the shorter days arrive, for example, while fresh wall art adds another element of visual interest.

As well as enhancing the space, incorporating more textures and layers is also an easy way to revamp your home or workspace for autumn. With minimal effort required, you can change the entire feel of a property simply by modifying the textures and layers that are currently present.

Atmospheric Lighting

Updating the lighting in any space can have a transformative effect, particularly when you’re going to be more reliant on faux lighting in the autumn and winter months. Choose floor lamps and table lamps in materials and shades that complement your chosen colour palette or use warm metallics to lift the space.

Of course, statement lighting can be a great way to make an impact too, so don’t hesitate to update your main fixtures and fittings. Drop lighting is ideal for high ceilings or larger spaces, while recessed ceiling lights and wall lights can add cosiness to living spaces and bedrooms. If you want to make a room feel more inviting and soothing, opt for bulbs that emit a warm glow, as opposed to cool white bulbs that are better suited to brighter spaces and working environments.

Maximalist Interiors

If you’re ready to move away from the minimalist feel that has long been associated with contemporary interiors, you’ll love the maximalist feel that’s a top autumn interior design trend this year.

Maximalist design works on the premise that ‘more is more’ – but stop short of cramming as much into a room as possible! Instead, you’ll want to strike a balance between colours, textures and patterns to ensure the space doesn’t feel overwhelming or cluttered.

Bold patterned wallpaper can be an effective way to ease into a maximalist interior design style, for example, while plush carpets or mosaic tiles can complete the effect. A maximalist design should stimulate the senses, so opt for multiple textures and layers. If you’re worried that a maximalist interior may look haphazard or chaotic, don’t be. Repetitive designs can embody the maximalist mantra while retaining a sense of order and symmetry.

Make the Most of Autumn Interior Design Trends

With the season already upon us, there’s no time to lose if you want to make the most of this year’s autumn interior design trends. From major renovations to subtle upgrades, there are endless ways you can incorporate new and emerging styles to give your space an autumnal feel.

by Shalini Misra

Greek Style Interior Design Trends

The home of Western philosophy, the Olympics and spectacular architecture, Greece has had a major influence over how the world has developed. It should come as no surprise then, that Greek interior design has influenced architects, designers and landowners for centuries.

Whether you’re creating a modern idyll or a classical environment, incorporating Greek style interior design can elevate the aesthetic and create a cool yet welcoming feel. Read on to discover the top Greek style interior design trends and find out how to incorporate them into your own properties:

High Ceilings and Columns

If you’re designing a new home or renovating a property, take the opportunity to integrate high ceilings into your plans. Extra vertical height will add an expansive feel to any room and is reminiscent of the high ceilings seen in buildings throughout Greece.

Similarly, interior columns are a sure-fire way to embrace Greek interior design and give the space an unmistakeable Mediterranean feel. The simplest style, Doric, are wider at the base than the top and feature limited decoration, which can make them a great addition to today’s contemporary interiors.

If you want to enjoy classical Greek décor, opt for Ionic columns, which have scrolls on either side at the top of the column, or Corinthian columns, which incorporate scrolls and leaves from the acanthus plant as decorative adornments.

Rich Colour Palette

When you think of Greek style interior design, clean white and shades of blue probably spring to mind. While this colour palette is certainly still en vogue, don’t feel that it’s the only way to use Greek style interior design trends in your home or workplace.

Traditionally, Greek interior design has always made maximum use of the natural light that was available, so aim to imitate the sun-drenched style seen on the Greek islands. Rich shades, such as olive and terracotta, are truly authentic, but be sure to weave gold and metallics into the palette to lift the overall aesthetic and add a touch of glamour to your interiors.

For a contemporary twist, use blacks, browns or greys to contrast white and gold. This adds a dramatic feel to the space and utilises the brightness and decadence of gold hues to lift the space, add visual interest and deliver contrast.

Sculptures and Décor

Influenced by Egyptian and Near Eastern art way back in 800 to 300 BCE, Greek sculpture revolutionised the artform and created a genre of sculpture that is still widely emulated to this day. While genuine ancient Greek sculptures still remain, you’ll find that many modern artisans and craftspeople incorporate Greek styles into their own work.

With so many options to choose from, you’ll find Greek inspired sculptures to suit every space and décor. From life-size, life-like models of the human form to ‘relief panels’ that blend sculpture with the background, there are endless ways to integrate this epic Greek interior design trend into your own style.

Remember – decorative pieces should never be an afterthought in interior design. Architectural sculptures, such as perirrhanteria, friezes and pediments, have always been a popular feature in Greek style interior design and you can use these in your own space when you make them an integral part of your interior design.

Mosaics and Patterns

Mosaics are frequently used in Greek interior design, and they are still an excellent way to give an interior a Hellenic feel. Tiled mosaic flooring is ideal for Greek styled kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and foyers, for example.

Alternatively, integrate tiled mosaics as a decorative wall feature to add visual interest to the space and emulate this classical Greek interior design style. While traditional mosaics are typically created from stone, ceramic and glass, modern designers use a wide range of materials to add a contemporary twist to this eponymous style. Marble, porcelain and even recycled plastics can all be used to create vibrant and intriguing or soothing and relaxing mosaics that will complement your preferred interior design style.

Lighting Design

Lighting is always a key concept in interior design, and it is certainly a critical component when it comes to Greek style interior design. Natural light was used to lift interiors, with window shutters traditionally being thrown open to allow the sunlight to cascade into a room. Of course, you can’t always rely on a splash of Mediterranean sun to achieve this effect, but you can use striking lighting design to add the finishing touches to Greek interior design.

If you’re using metallics such as gold or bronze in your colour palette, why not select eye-catching light fixtures in these accent materials? Similarly, if a space has high ceilings to create a feeling of extra space, drop lighting can create a warm and nurturing feel that prevents the room from feeling overly spacious.

Materials and Patterns

Unsurprisingly, local temperatures had a major impact on the types of materials seen in Greek interior design. Natural materials, like cotton, linen and bamboo, were most effective at keeping the space cool, so you’ll often see these in traditional interior designs. While these are certainly a great option in a modern Greek style interior design, you needn’t feel limited when it comes to selecting materials. Richer and warmer fibres, such as velvet, can be a great option for modern Greek-inspired styles and statement pieces featuring these materials will add warmth to any room.

If you’re opting for patterned styles, remember to choose motifs that have a vertical orientation. These were used in Greek interior design to reflect the vertical space, high ceilings and decorative columns, and they are a highly effective way to incorporate the subtle elements of Greek interior design into the home.

Embracing Greek Interior Design

Greek style interior design continues to provide inspiration for today’s designers, artisans and homeowners, so you’ll find plenty of ways to bring this style to life when you’re working on your own interiors. With a range of elements to choose from, Greek interior design finds a way to make the most of any space and makes its easy to create an inviting, luxurious and relaxing aesthetic that draws you in.

by Shalini Misra