Your Villa - East Valley - August-September 2023

Continued from page 12. • Reuse: Avoid single-use products (especially plastics) by using metal or wooden alternatives wherever possible. • Recycle: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Make an effort to dispose of your trash responsibly by using recycling bins. • Repurpose: Utilize your purchases in different ways once they’ve served their original purpose. The following concepts underpin the main pillars of sustainable interior design: Energy e ciency Because most of the world’s electricity is still generated by burning coal, energy is one of the most significant contributors to climate change. Therefore, sustainable interior design aims to reduce energy consumption. Waste reduction Our natural resources are limited, and sustainable design seeks to make a little go a long way. It focuses on using the smallest amount of materials to insulate, build and decorate a building. Maximized space Making the most of your space goes hand in hand with energy efficiency and waste reduction. This is achieved by consciously and cleverly choosing materials and pieces (particularly furniture) that ensure a little goes a long way. Water conservation Although 70% of our planet is covered by water, less than 2% is safe to consume. Sustainable design works to decrease the amount of water we use to preserve this precious resource. Healthy environment As mentioned earlier, sustainable design promotes healthy living by making smart choices about temperature regulation, ventilation, and products when designing an interior. Longevity Sustainable design is focused on using extremely durable, high-quality materials that last longer. In this way, you lessen your need to toss out old items and buy new ones, which supports waste reduction. Eco-friendly materials and products Picking recycled or recyclable materials and products with a low environmental impact is the easiest way to achieve sustainability when designing your interior. Sustainable design examples Now that you know why sustainability is so crucial and what it aims to achieve, how can you accomplish sustainable interior design in your home? Here are a few tips and tricks: To make your home more energy e cient: • Maximize the amount of natural light in your home by installing glass sliding doors and even skylights. • Opt for compact fluorescent light bulbs, LEDs, and halogens when you do need to use electricity to light a room. • Utilize renewable energy sources like solar power if possible. • Paint your walls with light colors to help decrease the need for artificial lighting. • Use lined draperies, carpets, and blinds to improve insulation and thermal comfort, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home. • Arrange your furniture in heat and energy- saving configurations by opening up spaces around air vents to improve circulation. • Install smart thermostats that heat up or cool down a room based on outside temperatures so you don’t have to do it manually. Some include sensors that switch off heating or cooling entirely when people aren’t in the room. To reduce waste: • Choose linen, furniture, and other decorative items made from recycled waste or materials that can be recycled when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. • Pick products made from materials that are good for the environment. These include: • Responsibly produced or reclaimed wood. • Sustainably made natural fabrics like cotton, leather, and wool. • Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. • Recycled plastic, steel, and glass. • Hemp. • Cork. • Straw. • Felt. • Jute. • Natural stone. • Purchase adjustable and mobile furniture and modular flooring that can be reassembled and easily moved as necessary. This eliminates the need to buy new pieces. • Buy products with easy-to-clean surfaces as they require fewer cleaning products (detergents are often harmful to the environment). • Install water-conserving toilets and taps. To buy responsibly: • Select wooden pieces that are made from quickly renewable plants such as bamboo or those that have an FSC label on them. • Look for locally-produced products. Items produced internationally require long-distance shipping, which pollutes the environment. • Shop at antique and secondhand stores. Not only are many of these items rare and charming, but they also minimize the need to produce new goods. Plus, you know they’ll last a long time! If you’d like to make your home more environmentally sustainable but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in luck! Michelle Jett – Decorating Den Interiors is here to help. After you contact us , we’ll schedule a meeting either at your home or over the phone, whichever you prefer. Contact Michelle Jett - Decorating Den Interiors at 877-JETTDEC (538-8332) or www.michellejett.decoratingden.com to get started today! D E S I G N + B U I L D 18 | Your Villa Magazine