Living a sustainable way of life is becoming more important, both to reduce our impact on the environment and to lower the cost of running a home. Making your home eco-friendlier is really about lots of small changes that add up to a big impact, a healthier environment for your family and cheaper bills at the same time. Like the sound of that? Here are our top tips to make your home more sustainable.
How Can You Make Your Home More Sustainable?
Make your home more sustainable by choosing eco-friendly materials and paints, buying pre-loved and local furniture, making the most of natural light and switching to LED bulbs, adding renewable energy like solar panels, and insulating against heat loss with rugs or carpet. Most of these changes are affordable, and several lower your bills as well as your carbon footprint. Small, steady changes are what make the biggest difference over time.
Opt for Sustainable Materials
Bringing in eco-friendly materials is one of the easiest ways to make your home more sustainable. Bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled metal, organic cotton, the list is endless. These materials will not break the bank, they have become much easier to source in recent years, and they look beautiful in a home.
Choose Eco-Friendly Paints
image credit: House Designer
Choosing eco paints in light tones helps reduce your need for artificial lighting. Lighter shades reflect more light around the space, making it appear brighter and less dull, which cuts the need for extra artificial light and the energy that comes with it.
Buy Pre-Loved and Local Items
image credit: House Designer
Buying vintage pieces is a fun way to find unique furniture, and it supports sustainable living by reducing the need for new materials to be sourced and processed. Buying local helps too, supporting local businesses cuts the excess waste and emissions that come with long-distance transport.
Make Use of Renewable Energy Sources
image credit: Fontan Architecture
Most of us take the basic steps like recycling, but there are many more ways to bring sustainability into the home. Start by making the most of natural light, many homes rely too heavily on artificial lighting, which consumes a lot of energy. Consider window treatments that are not too heavy, or installing skylights where feasible. For the artificial lighting you do use, replace halogen bulbs with LEDs throughout. Studies show LED light sources can save a home up to £1,000 over 10 years.
Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy will reduce your power costs and, ultimately, your carbon footprint over the long term.
Use Rugs or Install Carpet
According to the National Energy Foundation, the average British home loses 10% of its heat through uninsulated flooring. A good-quality carpet or rug provides insulation that helps prevent that heat loss. A carpeted room also feels warmer and cosier, which reduces the temptation to turn up the heating. You can go further by choosing a rug or carpet made from sustainable materials like recycled or organic cotton, or bamboo silk.
Sustainability runs through everything we do. If you would like a home that is both beautiful and kinder to the planet, our online interior design service builds these principles in from the start, and our sustainability page explains our wider commitment. Book a free consultation to talk it through.