Why Eco-Design?

In today’s world there is a greater focus on health, happiness and the future of our planet. Eco-friendly, green and sustainable are all words that can describe an item or a way of living that contributes to our air quality, energy conservation and decreased waste and consumption.

Many people focus on brand new and unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of great items go to waste whether it be perfectly good cabinets, a sofa, tile or lumber. You name it and I’ve seen it in a landfill. Eco-Design is a way that recycles those perfectly good items in a design – maybe they get repurposed, reupholstered, repainted or even donated so that someone else can put them to good use. But that’s not all.

Eco-Design also focuses on indoor air quality. In my opinion, everyone should spend as much time outdoors as possible. Breathing in the fresh air, the vitamin D from the sun and being in nature boosts our endorphins and give us a better outlook on life. The reality, according to the EPA, is that we spend 90% of our time indoors. That means we are spending 90% of our time breathing in high-VOCs that are used in paints, carpets, fabrics and furniture. In Eco-Design we use zero- to low-VOC paints, floorings and furnishings.

Local manufacturers, artists and fabricators are also widely used in Eco-Design.  The further products have to travel, the more fossil fuel consumptions and emissions occur which means it’s worse for our environment. Who wants to breathe in all those chemicals? So not only does shopping local continue to keep your own communities thriving, it’s better for the environment.

Renewable resources are widely used in Eco-Design as well because they are renewable. Renewable resources may be reclaimed wood, fast growing species of wood, recycled materials or natural stone.

When you are shopping for items for your home look for stamps of approval from third-party agencies such as:

*Energy Star
*EPEAT
*Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)
*Global Organic Textile Standar
*Good Housekeeping GREEN
*GreenGuard Environmental Institute
*Green Seal Certified
*Rainforest Alliance Certified
*WaterSense

If you’d love to have a more eco-friendly design but aren’t sure where to start you can always work with an interior designer or design consultant to come up with a plan. There are tons of amazing products out there that will help you breathe a little easier, literally!

If you are looking for an interior design consultant that can help, I help DIY clients choose what’s right for them. I can either offer e-interior design where I can show you photos of what your space could look like, I can offer mood boards and shopping lists, or I can just visit with you over the phone and offer sound interior design advice. If you are interested in learning more about my services, please feel free to contact me at bvstaging@gmail.com or 515.309.2838.