Sustainable Interior Design: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Sustainable interior design is much more than a passing trend. It is a driving force behind dynamic innovation and progress, developments that profoundly shift the focus of the industry. Namely, interior design has been perceived as a one-dimensional practice with the sole focus on enhancing aesthetics. Yet, grave environmental problems and proliferation of green movements have stirred the winds of change, and now designers have many more elements to weigh: energy savings, environmental pollution, emission reduction, consumer’s health, etc.

Green light

Green buildings are popping up across the globe, and the upward trajectory is as clear as a day. The new way of thinking has penetrated the mainstream, and we are breaking new ground as we speak. No market is immune to the breath of fresh air, and we can notice the exciting changes occur worldwide, including the regions like the Middle East and Latin America. Alas, the problem is that the current figures do not match the real needs and demand for sustainable design. Green efforts are still to gain full momentum and deliver on the promise of the better future.

State of interconnection

This is due to the yawning gap between the flawed practice and sublime theory, and bridging it has become an obsession of the whole generation. On the one hand, this is a problem of awareness, the fact that many people do not understand the benefits of sustainable materials. Thus, the foundation for implementing sustainable design is the realization that there is a strong interconnection between communities, buildings, and people. Therefore, sustainable design is twofold: It focuses both on people issues and global environmentalism. This notion impacts our very experience and interaction with the living space.

Visual appeal  

It is worth noting that the success of sustainable design also depends on its ability to inject visual bliss into our homes. Now, the beauty of this undertaking is that it allows green solutions to be seamlessly integrated into our homes. Take the example of Scandinavian design school, which echoes the longing for a deeper connection with the natural environment. The inspiration, ideas, and design solutions are drawn from majestic nature as well, which shows in the form of minimalism, color choice, and striking Scandinavian furniture, the epiphany of novelty design philosophy.

Practical concerns

On the other hand, the green home features are widely acclaimed. They are acknowledged as a prerequisite for psychologically and physiologically safe indoor landscape, one which is also designed with the environment in mind. This suggests that perhaps the problem is in the real-life implementation. Take the example of modern technology.  Although it has come a long way, in real practice, we are not advancing by leaps and bounds. Designers do make sustainable choices, but this practice is limited in many areas including material use, the bedrock of green practice.

Inch by inch

Sustainable design can be implemented to every part of interior landscape as it possesses the capacity to infuse every inch of space with green essence. There is a multitude of sustainable products out there and they flood the market on a regular basis: window treatments, fabrics, flooring, walls, surface materials, and ceilings. The manufacturing process has undergone dramatic modifications, and we are turning to locally-sourced materials, salvage yards, tons of reclaimed wood, green insulation, and other possibilities to show care for the environment.

Hurdles on the road

Yet, the major hurdles we face are high initial costs of material procurement and green home improvement projects, as well as a lengthy process of sourcing environmentally-safe materials. Of course, the trick is to look beyond the upfront financial unpleasantness and take into account savings that are attainable over a long haul. Some of the most prominent trends that are worth your money are energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy sources, photovoltaic cells, water-saving features, recycled furnishings, low VOC paints, etc.  

Plant the green seeds

We must not let the world of sustainable design be torn asunder by the division between theory and practice. The picture is not as bright as we would like, and the clouds are amassing on the horizon, casting the shadow of what could become a perfect storm. A silver lining is that progress is well underway, albeit there are still many roadblocks on the path to greatness. It is hard to predict the innovation and techs the future will bring, but there is room for cautious optimism: A grain of green hope has been planted and it is up to us to nurture it diligently.