Sustainable Interior Design. It’s the hot topic of the moment and I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. I’ve also been putting some of my ideas into practice. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions.

Use what you have
The most sustainable thing we can do is use what we have for longer. When we shop our own homes and buy secondhand we don’t buy as many new items. This reduces our environmental impact by limiting our consumer demand for more production and, helpfully, reducing the amount of furniture being sent to landfill.

We’re frequently encouraged to rummage through our own wardrobes to find clothes we haven’t worn for a while. The same applies to furniture. Try moving a chair or side table to another room or re-hanging some pictures. In my experience this begets an escalating game of moving items from one room to another but it does give you a new perspective and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable way of spending an afternoon.

Quit fast interiors
If you’re carrying out a property renovation, seek out sustainable brands which will last forever, or for secondhand options. Don’t repeatedly opt for the current ‘must-haves’ in magazines and, ideally, don’t shop from those brands which create a high volume of items to sell quickly and cheaply.

Buy secondhand
This is how we satisfy the need for an item without spending a lot of money. Like shopping our own homes, secondhand shopping takes advantage of what already exists and reduces the demand for new production. Both furniture production and the end-of-life processes have a huge impact on the planet so extending the life of furniture is a simple yet incredibly effective practice.

Repair and update
Learning how to repair your furniture is both useful and sustainable. It means we can save our favourite pieces and continue to use them for longer. There are many online resources demonstrating repair techniques and you can also take advantage of your local upholsterer to give new life to cherished but tatty pieces.

In practicing what I preach I have recently re-upholstered a headboard using a couple of metres of end-of-line fabric and a staple gun. I’ve made several cushion covers with left-over curtain fabric. I have moved a pair of un-loved curtains to another room and re-sized them by adding a plain panel at the bottom and the inner edge and, I’ll happily admit, they look fantastic in their new setting! I’m also just about to embark on re-covering a couple of lampshades.

Take care of your upholstery
If we’re all going to keep our furniture in use for longer, taking proper care of it is a vital sustainable practice so clean your furniture gently, store your fabrics (lampshades, cushions, curtains) carefully, wrap items to avoid fading and deal with stains quickly. These little habits can keep your upholstery in great condition so that you can enjoy it for longer.