Sustainability meets interior design

2024 is all about nature, calmness, and sustainability when it comes to home interior design as people want to bring the outside in. Textures and materials like wood help to achieve this feel while also being more environmentally friendly, which is something that is now at the forefront of a lot of homeowners' minds when they’re redecorating and renovating. Here are some ideas that customers conscious of the evironment may want to try out in the coming months.

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Flooring

Wooden flooring is a popular choice this season as it’s an easy way to bring nature into your home and can be effective in any room. Some homeowners may also think of looking at reclaimed wood and recycled materials rather than purpose-cut wooden floorboards or vinyl wood-effect options. There are also options like bamboo and cork that can be used on floors and walls which are better for the environment, durable, and help to add warmth and texture to a space.

Energy efficient lighting

Many homeowners are turning to LED light fittings and bulbs as a result of rising costs, helping to save money in the long run, but it’s also worth considering the positive effect they have on the environment. LED lights use up to 90% less energy than regular bulbs, lowering your customers’ carbon footprint by up to 50kg per year if they replace all their bulbs. You can also switch to smart light bulbs which can be controlled using an app or even with your voice, so you can monitor if you’ve left a light on even when you’re out and turn it off using your phone. Check how energy efficient bulbs are by looking at their rating when purchasing.

Home renovations

With a lot of people tuned into sustainability, home renovation trends are now taking this factor into account. This includes investing in energy- and water-efficient appliances, sourcing more sustainable materials, or revamping furniture you already have instead of buying new. Here’s how the three ‘R’s can fit into your next renovation project:

Reduce: To save water, you can invest in shower heads that come with water-saving devices to help reduce your water usage by 50% without compromising performance. You can also get heat reflecting foil to place behind your radiators and secondary glazing film for your windows to prevent heat loss and reduce household energy bills.
Reuse: Just because a piece of furniture is starting to look a bit shabby or doesn’t fit in with your new décor doesn’t mean it needs to go to the dump. Instead, freshen it up with a lick of paint or some new upholstery.
Recycle: Whether it’s giving reclaimed wood another life as a kitchen worktop or using some unused bedlinen for an upholstery project, home renovation doesn’t mean everything needs to be brand new. However, you can still have a positive effect on the environment when buying new, as lots of wood products from Wickes are FSC® or PEFC® certified, meaning they are responsibly sourced and environmentally conscious.