5 Ways To Make Your Interiors More Eco-Conscious

“Connect with the origins of an object and appreciate the energy and artistry that goes into something that is handcrafted,” says Olivia Thorpe, founder of glassware brand Vanderohe Curio. “That, in turn, gives a very real energy to a space or room. Fast interiors don’t hold that special significance and therefore don’t have the lasting and timeless value that pieces made by hand, by an individual, have. Each object in a room should be able to reveal a certain uniqueness and capture a moment in time that can never be recreated. If each person considers the emotional value of an object made by hand, there will be far less thrown away and replaced, and far more that is kept and cherished. There is so much beauty and meaning in something that has been created by an individual.”

“Sustainability is a high priority for many of my clients, and in all my projects I try to source ethically approved materials,” says interior designer Alexandria Dauley of Dauley Designs, who’s also a co-founder of United in Design, a charity championing diversity in the industry. “My bespoke joinery is created with ethically sourced materials and we regularly use upcycled or reupholstered furniture. We always try to fit renewable energy sources for power into our larger build projects, too. My advice to anyone renovating their property would be to research the origins of the materials and products you are using to ensure they are sustainable and have a low environmental impact. Buy the best-quality products you can afford to avoid single use – after all, high-quality furniture can last years and then be handed down.”

“Savvy homeowners have been shopping second-hand furniture for decades at markets or antique shops, but now it’s easier than ever,” says Rosanna Falconer, consultant and co-founder of FashMash. “Whether you call it second-hand, vintage, pre-loved or antique, it makes so much sense to rediscover older pieces in the home. Sometimes, their flaws make them all the more special, or they can be upcycled with a fresh coat of paint or reupholstered with a new fabric. The table and chairs I have used for all my dinners over the years are inherited from my great aunt, for instance. Clever design doesn’t date, and the fact the table can expand from six to 14 people (at a squeeze) is genius! I just reupholstered the chairs in a new fabric to match the curtains next to the table.”

“On a smaller scale, I’ve been trying to repair [pieces], which is a crucial part of the circular economy,” continues Falconer. “For instance, my antique cotton damask tablecloth had been through one wash too many and developed a gaping hole. I commissioned my creative friend Kila Carr-Ince to reimagine it into napkins, plus a smaller linen for my daughter’s birthday, hand-embroidered with her birth flowers.”