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Five tips for a more sustainable Interior

15 November 2019

Small steps towards a greener home.

As part of our new sustainability series we’ve been looking at some simple ways that you can improve the sustainability of your interior. From choosing eco-conscious designs and materials to lowering water wastage, we’ve got some ideas to help kick start a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

drift
Our Drift Pendant in oak, inspired by the perpetual Cornish tide, makes for an intuitive lighting choice. 

1. The importance of quality

Longevity is key. When designing a new interior, or even refreshing or updating an existing one, choosing quality pieces that will last for years to come is very important.

With ‘fast furniture’ becoming ever present on the high street and online markets, it’s easy to succumb to purchasing trend-led pieces with an attractive low price point. However, fast furniture tends to be of a much lower quality due to it's cheap materials and mas-produced nature, rendering it more susceptible to breaking. As a result, more homewares are ending up in landfills as waste... it's a vicious cycle! 

Making considered purchases of quality, timeless pieces that you’ll love for years to come is the most sensible way to sustainably invest in your home. Choosing well made designs that have been manufactured from consciously sourced, sustainable materials - such as sustainably sourced wood - will help reduce the demand for wood from areas of deforestation that is having a disastrous impact on our planet.


Our Urchin Pendants are a striking and unique design that will transform any space without costing the planet.
skipper-cluster
Our Skipper Pendant - Trio Cluster, available in sustainably sourced ash, oak or walnut wood is designed to be an heirloom of the future.

2. Eco-friendly materials

There are countless examples of more sustainable materials that can be used in interior design projects including wood, sustainable leather (a bi-product of the meat industry), recycled materials, linens, wool, ceramics and concrete. Bamboo has been identified as a highly-renewable and natural material for use in flooring and wall panelling. Hemp fabric uses half the amount of water as cotton to produce, with no pesticides and is far stronger. Recycled glass can be fashioned into a colourful, stain-resistant, low-maintenance counter top that is also completely unique and eco-friendly.

Opting to use natural materials in your home not only has health benefits (read more about biophilia here) but is also better for the environment. Synthetic materials not only use more energy to produce, but have damaging effects on the natural world and often need to be imported from different continents – hence, creating a lot of air miles and producing a lot of unnecessary carbon.

Many larger homeware brands are finally starting to do their bit by using 'recycled material' content in their products (read up on H&M's new conscious range) but there’s still a long way to go to reduce our carbon footprint in the industry.

bathroom
Using natural materials for panelling and flooring, as demonstrated in Tom and Danielle's bathroom, is better for the environment than synthetic materials, and creates a warm aesthetic.

3. Turn off the taps, switch off the lights

Aside from how we decorate our interiors it’s also important to consider how we use them, and what routines we carry out within their walls. There are many small things we can all do on a daily basis that, collectively, will make a significant difference to our carbon footprint.

Turning off lights, switching to LED bulbs, unplugging electrical appliances or using them on ‘eco mode’ and maintaining equipment rather than replacing it, are all easy ways to cut down on energy use (and bills!). Likewise, you can save money and help the environment by watching your water usage. Fixing leaks, taking shorter showers and using water-conserving products are great places to start.

Another way to be more eco-friendly is to ensure your home is well insulated. Good insulation will mean that the power you use to generate heat in your home won't escape through drafty roofs, walls or windows and, in the long run, will actually reduce your energy bills and overall consumption.

keel-pendant
Our Keel Pendant is handcrafted from one wide piece of sustainably sourced oak or walnut wood and held in place by three brass rivets. 
arame-off
Switch it off: our lights look great even when switched off, so save some energy and only turn them on when needed!
neap
Projecting light above and below, our Neap Wall Light is a welcome addition to any interior.
comber
Our Comber Range, like all of our steam bent designs, is inspired by the natural world that surrounds the Tom Raffield studios.

4. De-clutter, recycle

If you’re thinking about turning your interior into a sustainable paradise, why not start with a good clear out? Whilst resisting consumerist urges is a good way to be more sustainable from the get-go it's not always a perfect reality...we're all guilty of purchasing 'bits and bobs', that chances are, have been manufactured using unsustainable methods and transported thousands of miles.  

Removing excess clutter from your space and creating a sleek minimal interior will make you less likely to make impulse purchases, as you'll want to maintain your paired-back styling.

Remember - if you are having a clear out, have a look at what can be re-fashioned, reused or recycled. Your old chest of drawers could become someone else’s favourite new piece of furniture! Donating unwanted goods to charity shops or attending a car boot sale are good ways to ensure your homewares find a new home instead of making their way to landfill. 

scots
Our Scots Pendant is our most ecological light - made from the wooden offcuts of other lights and handcrafted to perfection.

5. Biophilia

Biophilia (using plants as part of interior design) is something we are very fond of here at Tom Raffield. Growing plants in your home brings a whole range of health benefits, including better air quality and improving your mood. Filling your home (or office) with plants also helps to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as they turn CO2 into oxygen as they photosynthesise.

As well as the benefits to health and environment, we think plants simply look great! Forget purchasing the new vase you've been lusting after... fill empty spaces in you home with luscious green foliage and enjoy propagating them to expand your collection. 

green
The hallway at Tom Raffield's Grand Designs home is a space where plants have been used to decorate and catch the eye.
morvah
Our Morvah Wall Hanging Planters give you the opportunity to turn your plants into art.
arame-shadow
A cascade of shadow - a stunning light display from our Arame Pendant.

Posted: 15.11.19
Updated: 08.06.23

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