Going green is not only about planting a big tree in the middle of your living room or switching off you lights for an hour everyday just to say you care for the environment. Although those are pretty good ideas to make a statement that you really want to start saving the planet in your own home, there are still a lot of ways in which you can support the "green revolution".
Make sure you dodge the fruit when it falls
Many interior designers agree that the current trend are inclined to sustainable, environment-friendly designs. It is not very popular a few years back but then more and more people have seen the plethora of benefits that green design provides. This includes (but not limited to) increased comfort of the inhabitants, healthier environment, and (surprise!) lower bills.
Rooms which are designed to be eco-friendly are also pocket-friendly because they reduce your electricity usage. Examples of this are installing dimmer light switches (so you can choose the just the right brightness you need in a specific time of the day), and putting windows in appropriate places (which allow natural light to flood into your room).
The main theme for green interior design is minimalism. Less is more. Filling your room with a lot of furniture (most you don't really need, you just want them there) can make a clutter and make your room look smaller than its actual size. The minimalist design also makes your interior cool - literally and figuratively. Less clutter will you give more open space for air to flow freely. You can ask your designer to have less doors and partitions so that you can keep your home cooler. This way you promote proper ventilation.
Speaking of ventilation, you might want to consider using a ceiling fan instead of an air-conditioning unit since it uses less power and a nice ceiling fan can actually be a very nice looking ceiling ornament if it matches well with the theme of the room where it is located.
Practicality is also a key factor to really achieve a sustainable interior design. Buy furniture that has multiple functions like a sofa that can turn into a bed for your occasional guests. Or you can ask your designer to create a cupboard that can can make your wall look more interesting and at the same time, can be a storage.
Cabinets can also be multi-tasking
Materials that you will use can also be planet-friendly. Wood is the best option if you want your interior to look more closer to nature. But to make it sustainable, use mature wood instead of a new one. Reclaimed or recycled wood has a tone that can't be matched with any other new wood plus you also help decrease killing of new trees. An alternative is to use a bamboo which is beginning to be more popular. It is very refreshing to look at and it promotes very good ventilation plus it is very stylish and gives you a very oriental themed space. Just a reminder, when you buy wood furniture, make sure it has Forestry Stewardship Certification which means that the wood material is from a sustainable forest.
Wood looks and feels fresh.
Finally, the best furnishing that you can use which is also the most biodegradable are the plants. They are living things so it makes your room look more lively. It also makes your room "green" literally. They generate oxygen that humans need and they absorb carbon dioxide which humans excrete that's why the more plants you put inside your home, the more you can breathe fresh oxygen. OK, so maybe putting a tree in the middle of your living room isn't a bad idea at all.
Credits:
Story based on "Going Green", Designers of Choice Magazine, Nippon Paint
Photos from:
www.freshome.com
www.reztnrelax.com/portfolio.php
