Design
6 Stylish Sustainable Design Solutions
Design
6 Stylish Sustainable Design Solutions
This season, make caring for the planet a habit that will last a lifetime.
Every day gives us a chance to reflect on how we impact the environment and to make lasting changes to protect the planet. The first principle is the easiest: buy less. Luckily, when that’s not possible, choosing sustainable and stylish design solutions is easy. These tips will get you started.
Photography, Stephani Buchman, Diana Bastone Design
Brighten up
Limit energy consumption around the house. One easy solution is to brighten our homes by increasing natural light. Use mirrors and paint walls in a light colour to maximize the reflection of daylight; and, of course, opt for LED bulbs, which consume far less energy than incandescent.
Upcycle
Photography, Mike Chajecki; Simply White Interiors
Give old furniture a second life. Reupholster and paint your tired pieces, and shop the garage sales and online for secondhand finds. Ambitious DIYers will want to rescue abandoned furniture left on the curb, which can result in amazing finds! Designer Victoria McKenney found an abandoned – and stunning – 1881 antique desk that now has pride of place in her home (shown on page 98), proving that one person’s trash truly is a design lover’s treasure!
Buy local
In Canada, the transportation industry is one of the largest sources of air pollution, so buying from local companies can really lower your carbon footprint. This practice also lets you test the comfort and quality of a piece in person (as opposed to buying online), reducing the chance that you’ll have to ship it back, which would double the carbon output. You’ll also cut down on packaging, stimulate the local economy, and create jobs in your community.
Shop for sustainable
Photography, Living4Media
Opt for items made from sustainable, natural materials, such as reclaimed wood, stone and bamboo, or even recyclable materials like glass and metal. For textiles, avoid synthetic fibres, which take decades to decompose; look for natural options like certified organic cotton, linen and hemp. It’s true these materials can be pricier, but they are durable: organic cotton sheets stand up much better over time and washes.
Plan for plants
Leafy green plants add colour and help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Check out the areca palm, sanseveria and anthurium for their fantastic foliage.
Paint safely
In 2009, Canada adopted regulations to counter the effects of air pollution, setting maximum concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between 100 and 800 grams per litre. Low-VOC (or no-VOC) synthetic paints are considered less toxic, but be aware that standard paint is made from products derived from petroleum or natural gas – industries that can negatively impact the environment. To protect the planet and our health, try paint made mainly from renewable mineral or plant materials. The latter are solvent-free and require low-energy consumption in their manufacturing processes. Lime paint is an option, as is – wait for it – recycled paint, which is made from leftover paint diverted from the waste stream.
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