Table of Contents
- Timeless Furniture
- Natural Materials
- Repurpose and Upcycle Existing Items
- Adopt a ‘Slow Decorating’ Method
- Use Vintage and Antiques in Your Home
- More Than Buying in Bulk
- Refreshing Rooms with Fabrics and Accessories
- Conclusion
Creating a fresh new look for your home can not only be a fun project but also an environmentally responsible way to express yourself through the thoughtful selection of timeless design and sustainable goods. When refreshing your home, avoid the temptation to follow the latest trends or fads, and instead focus on purchasing items that will stand the test of time to create a beautiful and functional space. You can shop affordable furniture at Decor Steals and then use these pieces to completely transform your space in an eco-friendly manner.
Making thoughtful selections based on quality over quantity, natural materials and taking your time to curate your space in a way that depicts your true self will create a home that has a welcoming atmosphere all year long. Whether you are revamping a room in your home or providing energy to an entire area, the principles of timeless design will allow you to keep your refresh, both affordable and successful for many years to come.
Timeless Furniture
Furniture that has a classic design serves as the basis for any room in your house. For example, an oak table, a wingback chair, or a mid-century modern style sofa can easily blend in with all of the decorating schemes you may use in your household. The agelessness and multiple uses of these artworks give you both attractive and investment value. By focusing your possessions on furniture made of durable materials and classic designs, you minimize the stress on you to have to keep updating your furnishings, as they are both timeless and will produce less waste for landfills. Architectural Digest suggests that by investing in classic designs, you will create space that will continue to look as good 5 or 10 years from now as it does today.
Natural Materials
Natural materials such as wood, stones, linen and leather are great examples of how you can bring nature into your home and establish an environment that is warm and calming. Each of these materials has its own natural beauty, in addition to being able to withstand the test of time. By using organic materials or finishes, you’ll be making an eco-friendly choice that benefits the health of your home and creates a healthier air quality. Experts at House Beautiful suggest that you use raw materials in the design of your home to introduce texture, warmth, and a connection to the outdoors. These materials will typically remain in style longer than modern trends of using contemporary materials.
Repurpose and Upcycle Existing Items
Repurposing and reusing items you already own is another way to furnish your home sustainably. Instead of buying new items, view your current collection through a new lens and think creatively about how you can repurpose them for different purposes. The idea of taking an old dresser and transforming it into a bathroom vanity, or painting a weathered bench, will be a simple DIY project; however, it can add character to your design. DIY type updates such as changing hardware, reupholstering cushions, or refinishing surfaces will also allow you to revitalize older pieces into prominent design elements for your home. By using these methods you not only get a unique piece of furniture for your home, but you help in keeping usable furniture out of landfills, which is an integral part of being resourceful in our homes.
Adopt a ‘Slow Decorating’ Method
Slow decorating is when you allow your space to evolve naturally, rather than trying to finish it perfectly and quickly like other decorators. With this method of decorating you can collect pieces that represent who you are now and create a space that works for you today, but may change in the future as you grow and develop. A different method of decorating develops a more thoughtful way to live and appreciate the beauty in the process of creating your space rather than focusing solely on the final look. Additionally through slow decorating, you will make better purchasing decisions and be less likely to make impulse purchases that may ultimately not last.
Use Vintage and Antiques in Your Home
Using antiques and vintage furnishings as part of your home design will add visual interest and character while being environmentally conscious. In yesterday’s world, many furniture pieces were handcrafted with a focus on quality and not mainly produced for high-volume distribution. Older vintage furniture was created using solid hardwoods, made by hand, and has been created in a shape that would be impossible for manufacturers producing at a mass level today. Incorporating vintage pieces into your home gives it a unique flair while also supporting the sustainable practice of reuse. To learn more about how to combine vintage furniture with current styles, refer to Better Homes & Gardens for some great tips.
More Than Buying in Bulk
Filling a home with high-quality and carefully crafted products that have had true inspiration produces a designer-style home that has an authentic yet chic style. Yes, when you load your home with quality pieces, they will cost more than if you had purchased many items from “big box” retailers; however their value is much higher because these items will still be in good condition, provide multiple functionalities, and will last throughout the many phases of your life while you live in the home. In addition to helping support ethical manufacturers, you will be decreasing the overall environmental impact that results from purchasing disposable or mass-produced products by continually purchasing quality furniture. By continually purchasing quality furniture, you will not have to replace these items as often, thereby providing a consistent look to your home throughout your time there.
Refreshing Rooms with Fabrics and Accessories
One of the easiest ways to give a room a facelift is with the addition of textiles. Simply changing out a few pillows, blankets, or rugs (in fun and/or eco-friendly textiles) will make the room look like a completely different room. As much as possible, choose textiles made from natural fibers, i.e., organic cotton, linen, and jute, as they have less of a negative impact on the environment and your indoor air quality. According to Real Simple, you can achieve great interest and a layered look in your home by mixing and matching textiles with soft goods each season.
Conclusion
You do not have to include every new current trend or buy high-priced furniture to create a home you will be happy with for years to come. To develop a timelessly designed home, rely on your timeless furniture, utilize vintage pieces and natural materials in your home, and ensure to add your own creative style (through a slow decorating process). Ultimately, the intentionality of your purchases will have provided you with a sustainable home in which you will be able to enjoy for many years to come.
