4 Eco-Friendly Lessons Construction Can Take from Interior Design

4 Eco-Friendly Lessons Construction Can Take from Interior Design

Tipped as one of the hottest interior design trends at the moment, eco-friendly interior design continues to gain popularity, as many people look to reduce their environmental impact on the planet. Far from being purely aesthetic, the principles behind green interior design can offer value to those in the construction industry, too.

In today’s post, we’re delving into the world of ‘green’ interior design, looking at what the building industry can learn from this related sphere to adopt greener practices in the world of construction.

1. Create efficient spaces

With space at a premium for many modern builds, one challenge is to make these spaces as efficient as possible from both an environmental and functional perspective. For those with an eye on ‘eco-conscious’ design, the answer can be combining the use of areas, providing multifunctional spaces that are practical yet adaptable to cater for a variety of purposes.

Over the years, interior designers have been finding more effective and eco-friendly ways of using existing space, rather than opting to increase square footage. From carving out, downtime or work areas in unused nooks and crannies to redefining wall placement or incorporating multifunctional furniture, taking the lead from flexible approaches to interior design will go a long way towards improving the build’s green credentials.

2. Opt for sustainable building materials

Eco-friendly interiors place significant focus and attention on the materials used – opting for sustainable solutions wherever possible. While the use of sustainable materials in construction is becoming increasingly commonplace, some argue there is still room for improvement.

Designed to be affordable, durable and eco-friendly, sustainable materials offer a host of benefits, both environmentally and economically. Whether you’re embracing the latest innovations in sustainable concrete alternatives or incorporating sustainable natural materials like cork and bamboo, these will mark one big step towards reducing your construction’s carbon footprint.

3. Switch to reclaimed and recycled materials

Looking at the vintage and industrial interior design trends that continue to sweep the globe, we’ve seen growing demand for reusing and recycling old materials, which is a practice that can also be welcomed in construction.

Thanks to the ready availability of recycled building materials, the environmental impact of developments can be drastically reduced without compromising on build quality. Whether you’re using recycled metro tiles for a city-center apartment or reclaimed bricks and timber for a commercial development, switching new for old contributes to streamlining manufacturing and minimizing both transportation and depletion of resources (not to mention cost) – making this a win-win for contractors and the planet.

4. Embrace renewable energy sources

With eco-friendly interior design, there’s great emphasis being placed on creating spaces with improved energy efficiency and less reliance on traditional energy sources, like depleting fossil fuels. With this in mind, we’re seeing many homes and buildings embracing renewable energy sources to lower carbon footprints.

From harvesting and recycling heat within passive buildings to installing solar panels which generate their own energy, the future of construction should recognize and harness the value of building methods that make use of renewable energy sources and focus on planet-friendly alternatives.

While construction and interior design have their differences, it’s clear that lessons can be learned by applying progressive, planet-friendly approaches from the outside to the indoors. To help preserve our beautiful planet and our way of life, we will need to take these ideas and apply them to present and future building developments. In the end, it will be crucial to creating a truly sustainable world for all of us.