Environment friendly interiors

With the augmentation of environmental awareness, interior designing has witnessed a new drift that is concerned with eco-friendly designs. This trend has quickly become one of the fastest growing trends.

The sustainable factor has now become important in designing and many are becoming aware of the need to preserve the environment.

Sustainable interior design is all about incorporating environment friendly or “green” methods or practices. It can involve the inclusion of rainwater harvesting, solar panels, use of biodegradable materials such as bamboo, etc.

This design is not just about efficiency and attractiveness. It goes beyond such matters to bigger concerns. That have to do with our planet. The main objective is to find newer and better ways to eliminate toxic substances and promote environment friendly practices. Some of the practices adopted in sustainable interior design are:

By using one’s space efficiently, one could mitigate the use of construction materials and thus, the effect it has on the environment.

Use of energy saving and biodegradable materials such as bamboo for flooring, water-saving toilets, etc.

Use of recycled materials in the construction of tiles, carpets, fabrics, even sinks and counters and refurbishment of old furniture items.

The careful planning of lighting can make all the difference with the use of “windows and skylights to maximise the use of daylight and minimise artificial light. The artificial lights could be efficient too with the use of LEDs, halogens and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The use of toxic substances or materials need to be reduced and chemical-free materials made from organic and biodegradable substances should be encouraged.

Such a major movement towards sustainable development will ensurethat the trend will continue.

By: Sireesha Reddy
The writer is an assistant professor, department of architecture in Jawaharlal Nehru Fine Arts and Architecture University.