So at the beginning of 2020, I set out with the goal to make more eco-friendly choices with my skincare and cleaning products. I knew these two areas needed some work, I had fallen into the trap of convenience and wanted to make a change. I had already come across a couple of websites such as *Ethical Superstore and *Wearth London so I made some orders to get started. Then when scrolling through other products such as candles, cushions, and crockery, which both websites have a great selection of, it prompted me to wonder about my interior space. One of the main drivers for me to live an eco-friendly lifestyle is for the health benefits, and after doing some research I learned how unhealthy our interior spaces are.
Read here for some of the research I have come across so far: In this post, I will talk you through the areas of concern and what to focus on to achieve a more eco-friendly interior. But you can read here for some of the specific research I have come across so far:
When taking on making these lifetsyle change there are a few driving factors to consider:
1- Is it Eco Friendly/Sustainable? Is it eco-friendly, made from eco-friendly materials, or makes a smaller impact on the environment? Is it locally sourced or from a sustainably managed forest?
2- Is it ethically sourced? This is one that frequently gets overlooked but is an important factor. Unfortunately not as trendy as being eco friendly but is a major issue in the world. Unfortunately, a way to keep prices down for consumers means there is a huge number or people who are being used as slave labor, if you think something is a great bargain, that can sometimes mean someone else is paying the price.
3- Is it good for our health? Again another key area that can get overlooked, but so much of what we purchase can be harming our health. For example, flat pack furniture is the largest contributor to chemicals (VOCs) in our home along with carpets and paint.
It can be difficult to juggle all three of these at the same time and can feel slightly overwhelming, but if you make a conscious decision to ensure you are ticking one or more of these then it’s a really great start.
When it comes to our interior spaces, there are some main considerations to focus on.
Reduce: This is an obvious tip but reduce the amount of ‘stuff’ you buy. I have been guilty of making impulse purchases over the years, but I have really made an effort to stop and think twice before buying items. Many of the impulse buys are the items I have gone off very quickly, so before buying an item, make sure you really love/need it.
Reuse: One thing that I have been championing for a while now is to utilise the masses of solid wood furniture out there. This applies to many areas within our home but furniture can be a really good place to focus on as there is so much good quality furniture out there that can be upcycled to look as good as if not better than cheaper mass-produced furniture.
Quality, quality, quality: I know this can seem overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be overnight. I have said it before but I believe the best-designed spaces are ones that have evolved over the years, including pieces of furniture handed down through the family. But when you want to buy a new piece of furniture, then invest in getting good quality, sustainably sourced pieces you know you will love for a life time and not fall apart within a few years.
Greenwashing: This is a term I have only heard over the last few months, but be careful not to get sucked into brands who ultimately sell items that are not good for the environment, but try to sell themselves as being eco friendly in other ways (packaging, co2 use, etc). Although these things are also very important in the grand scheme of things they are going to make a huge difference. LTV flooring is a great example of this, a product ultimately made from plastic, is carcinogenic when in your house and will also take hundreds of years to get rid of, but in a bid to be eco-friendly companies will focus on how their factories produce less co2 and how they have looked at ways to make the production more eco friendly.
In a bid to not overwhelm you in one go, I will break down some of my favourite brands for interior products, such as furniture, carpets, and paint, which make a real effort to produce eco-friendly, chemical-free, and sustainable products in a future blog post.
If you want some inspiration on how to create an eco friendly home interior whilst looking styling then check out my blog posts below!
