With Earth Day just around the corner, we’ve been taking some time to reflect on ways that we can make our homes a little greener. This can come from being more selective about the materials you purchase and paying attention to where your pieces are coming from. But, when considering interior design, a huge part of reducing our home’s impact on the environment is by investing in items that will stand the test of time and work with your style as it evolves over time. Keep on reading for our tips to investing in the right furniture, as well as some information about materials and simple swaps you can make at home to help reduce your impact on the environment!
INVEST IN LONGEVITY
Let’s be honest, when designing and decorating your home, you ideally want to create something that you’re going to love for a long, long time. In order to ensure your home feels perfect to you for as long as possible, it is crucial that you not only purchase high-quality pieces, but also pieces that you see as being timeless and true to your personal style. By selecting pieces that follow these two important rules you will end up with a home full of pieces that you’ll love for as long as they last (which will be a long time!)
Your investment in quality now will prevent you from cycling through countless cheap pieces which produces unnecessary waste. The best part about high-quality furniture is that even if you decide at some point down the road that you’re looking for something new, your furniture was built to last which means you can pass it along or sell it to someone who is ready to love it the way you once did!
PHOTO: Here you'll see the Graphic Sideboard from LD Shoppe, which is made of FSC Certified wood
MATERIALS MATTER
We’d wager that every reader of our blog has heard this infamous environmentally conscious saying before: reduce, reuse, recycle. We’re going to focus on the last word of the saying for a moment and draw your attention towards reclaimed wood as a great material to consider when furniture shopping. The wood used in these products has had a past life in another structure or application, but has since been processed and given a new chance as beautiful furniture. We love the way reclaimed wood can hold history in it’s grain and helps reduce waste in the furniture industry. See how beautiful reclaimed wood can be at LD Shoppe.
Another way you can be more intentional when selecting the materials of products, wood in particular, is to look for products that are FSC certified. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit entity that advocates for environmentally and socially responsible forest management and wood harvesting. We’re proud to carry many products at LD Shoppe that are built of FSC certified wood and we hope that you’ll consider choosing FSC certified products next time you shop.
PHOTO: This is the Aubrey Coffee Table, which is made of reclaimed wood, styled in our Sunroom Project
SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS FOR RUGS
When thinking about reducing waste and reusing materials, we can’t ignore P.E.T rugs! P.E.T, the acronym for polyethylene terephthalate, is a material that is made of recycled plastics that have been processed into fibres that can be used to make many different items. Though the material derives from petroleum-based materials, P.E.T rugs are a great way to recycle the material into something beautiful and give it a second (or third, or fourth!) life as a different product. We love P.E.T rugs not only because they’re made of recycled materials, but also because they are SO durable and easy to clean. Seriously, these rugs will last through a lot of wear and tear, can be used both inside and outside, and really are a great product to consider if you’re looking for a new rug!
Rugs made of natural fibres are also a great option if you’re looking to be more conscious about the materials you are purchasing. Rugs made out of natural materials like jute, wool, sisal, and bamboo allow you to buy a beautiful rug without buying into petroleum-based materials. But, it is important to remember that each natural fibre has it’s individual strengths and weaknesses. So, make sure you’re buying the right rug for your space by exploring this blog post of ours.
PHOTO: This is the dining room in our LA Project. For this space we chose the Omen Grey Rug from LD Shoppe, which is made predominantly out of natural fibres like jute and wool.
BUY LOCAL WHEN POSSIBLE
We’re lucky to be able to have access to products from all over the world, however, when considering a product's environmental impact we cannot ignore the impact that comes as a result of shipping goods around the globe. We know it’s not easy to always find a local alternative for products, but when you can purchase goods from a local maker you not only support someone in your community, you also reduce your environmental footprint as a consumer!
PHOTO: This is the Banya Step Stool from LD Shoppe, which is made locally by Nordic Wood.
MAKE SOME SIMPLE SWAPS
Last, but not least, there are many simple swaps you can make in your home to help reduce the amount of waste you produce! The kitchen is often the most impactful place to start, and so consider what the most common items that you are - is it food waste, paper towel, plastic wrap, or plastic bags and packaging? Well, the food waste has a simple solution: adopt the practice of composting at home! As for those other pesky items? We can recommend some LD Shoppe products that will make reducing waste in your kitchen (and in your shopping) both simple and beautiful. Shop biodegradable cloths, reusable bags, and environmentally friendly wrapping!
PHOTO: This Sponge Cloth, by Ten and Co., are 100% biodegradable and compostable - such a great alternative to disposable sponges and plastic dish brushes!