Green living is a straightforward philosophy to integrate into your home’s exterior and interior design. Some great eco-friendly examples include installing solar panels, buying furniture made from recycled or sustainable materials, and sourcing materials locally to reduce your carbon footprint.
All that it takes is some forward-thinking and planning. Before you know it, you will be saving on energy usage, reducing waste and pollution, and living a better, eco-friendly lifestyle.
The Benefits of an Eco-Friendly Bedroom
Incorporating eco-friendly designs into your bedroom and home is not only good for the planet, as there are several benefits for you too. Some of the most common benefits include:
- Reduced electricity and energy consumption
- Having a cleaner home and bedroom with improved air quality
- Improving comfort and internal temperature control
- Supporting eco-friendly and sustainable businesses that you buy from
- Purchasing quality bedroom pieces that last longer and won’t need replacing anytime soon
What to Focus on in Any Eco-Friendly Interior Design
When you are developing your eco-friendly bedroom design, there are five principles that you can use to guide you through the entire process. Keeping these five principles as your key priorities when buying materials and creating a fantastic bedroom design will allow you to reap as many benefits as possible.
The five key principles are:
- Focus on energy efficiency, from appliances to maximizing natural light sources
- Reduce waste by purchasing sustainable or second-hand products
- Prioritize health by making your bedroom clean, fresh, and free of items containing harsh chemicals
- Create a timeless space by buying things that last longer or that you can easily repurpose or recycle
- Reduce your carbon footprint by using locally-sourced materials
Now, let’s look at some of the best design ideas you can implement in your home.
4 Eco-Friendly Design Ideas and Tips for Your Bedroom
1. Choosing Sustainable Beds and Mattresses
When choosing your next bed base or mattress, focus on buying one that is either second-hand (and in good condition) or made from sustainable materials. Make sure you choose the right firmness, such as a medium-firm mattress. Also, match your mattress dimensions with the bed frame dimensions if you buy the two separately.
When you buy something second-hand, you aren’t just choosing a less-expensive option; you prevent a used item from going directly into a landfill. Etsy is one place to browse for second-hand, up-cycled beds perfect for any home. Etsy maintains high-quality standards on all its listings, so buying second-hand beds is easy and worry-free.
Many people prefer to buy their mattress and base brand-new rather than second-hand. Luckily, many bed makers focus on using natural, organic, and sustainable materials. Take a look at the Organica by Amerisleep, for instance, and look for beds that do not contain PVC or other plastics. Materials that you should look for include:
- Wool
- Cotton
- Hemp
- Bamboo
- Food-grade polyethylene
- FSC-certified wood
2. Sourcing Quality Bedroom Furniture
Like mattresses and bed bases, eco-friendly furniture needs to be made from sustainable or recycled materials or bought second-hand. Looking for sustainable furniture is also an excellent opportunity to buy locally to lower your overall carbon footprint.
When looking at the materials used to make your furniture, check to see if they contain materials such as FSC-certified wood or recycled metal. They should also have non-toxic, water-based finishes that don’t contribute to pollution, something to keep in mind if you plan on touching any pieces up yourself.
You can generally find quality furniture locally at yard sales by looking in local online forums and doing some quick research on local furniture suppliers to see if they follow sustainable practices.
3. Using Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lights
Before going out and buying all of the energy-efficient appliances to replace what you have, take a minute to consider what devices you need. Reducing waste involves cutting back on unnecessary items, so think first and only buy the things you really need.
For example, you can replace humidifiers and air purifiers with a range of indoor plants that filter the air while adding a touch of nature to your bedroom. Instead of using an air conditioner with a large carbon footprint, put up some additional blinds to reduce indoor temperatures or let in as much light as possible to warm things up.
Regarding lights, the most energy-efficient lights currently on the market are LEDs. You should replace all of the current bulbs in your home with LEDs as these use as much as 90% less energy and last 25 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.
4. Let the Natural Light In
Natural light works wonders for our health, improving mental well-being and sleep quality. Natural light should also be a central part of creating an eco-friendly bedroom. It warms the room during winter, prevents the need for additional lights during the day, and ensures that your indoor plants thrive and effectively filter the indoor air.
Natural light is also much more effective at highlighting the design details of your room, from wall colors and furniture to any art that you have. You can start by removing any furniture that may be covering windows and blocking sunlight. If there is not enough available sunlight, you may benefit from installing additional windows on any sun-facing walls or installing a skylight.
Utilizing and maximizing the natural sunlight available should be on the top of your list for an eco-friendly bedroom design. You will use less energy for lighting and heating, which reduces your carbon footprint. You will also help your indoor plants improve the air quality while improving your own mental well-being from letting the sun into your bedroom.
When you are thinking through your eco-friendly bedroom designs, remember to keep the five key principles in mind so that your designs and materials align with sustainable practices. By doing so, you will be able to create a bedroom space that is great for the planet while simultaneously nourishing your mental and physical health.