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Making Your Home Both Trendy and Sustainable

Green homes are on the rise. So much so, that more than half of home builders expect that more than 60% of the homes they construct now are green and more sustainable. 

What makes a home sustainable? Everything from installing solar panels to using eco-friendly building materials makes a difference. But, what about when your home is already built? 

There are remodeling projects you can tackle, of course. Installing energy-efficient appliances, improving your insulation, and even sealing your doors and windows can reduce your energy bills and save you money while you do your part for the planet.  But, if you’re not exactly “handy” and you don’t have the time or money to hire someone, there are still ways you can make your home both trendy and sustainable. 

By following a few current design trends and adapting them with a greener outlook, you can turn your existing home into an environmentally-friendly haven. Let’s cover a few ways you can make it happen. 

Create an Eco-Friendly Outdoor Environment

If you’re going to “go green”, why not start outside for some inspiration? By creating a sustainable outdoor environment, you might find yourself more motivated to make changes inside your home, too. 

But, how can you make your natural surroundings more environmentally sound while staying with the latest trends? Take a look at what’s trendy when it comes to current landscaping designs and looks. Then, adapt those trends to fit a more sustainable lifestyle by: 

• Choosing native trees and plants
• Keeping your soil healthy with mulch 
• Conserving water
• Using eco-friendly materials
• Using eco-friendly fertilizers

The good news? Many popular landscaping trends today are already tied with sustainable efforts, including native plants. Pollinator gardens have also become extremely popular, as well as composting and using smart technology to create healthier, more eco-friendly gardens. By combining the latest trends with sustainable efforts, you can create a beautiful backyard you’ll feel good about spending time in and entertaining others. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

One of the simplest ways to make your home more sustainable is to reduce your waste. The average person produces 4.5 pounds of waste every day, and it’s becoming a major problem for our planet. Because more people are becoming aware of the waste they produce and how problematic it is, reducing your waste at home is extremely trendy right now. You can work it into your home design as well as your at-home habits. 

Not sure how to get started? 

The easiest thing to start with is reducing your food waste. It takes up more space in landfills than almost anything else. So, before you go shopping each week, take stock of what you already have at home. Avoid single-use items and compost as much as you can. 

When it comes to the design elements of your home, try purchasing second-hand furniture and repairing it or repurposing it in some way. The experts at Jackson Contracting Site also suggest focusing on regular repair and maintenance, especially for the parts exposed to extreme weather conditions such as your roof.  Donate items, rather than throwing them away, and try to breathe new life into things by reusing them in different ways or giving them to someone who might be able to turn your “trash” into treasure. 

Once you see how easy it is to reduce waste, you’ll quickly become motivated to eliminate as much of it as possible from your life and make your carbon footprint as small as possible. 

Make Your Dream Design More Sustainable

The good news is that sustainability itself has become trendy. Thankfully, it’s a trend that’s likely to stay as more people become aware of the importance of eco-friendly living. So, no matter what your dream design looks like, there are undoubtedly ways to make it more sustainable, from the furniture and artwork you choose to the way you paint your rooms. Some of the most popular home design trends right now include: 

• Earth tones
• Mid-century modern accents
• Metal accents
• Carved furniture

All of those trends can be adapted to a sustainable lifestyle. Choose eco-friendly paint that has lower levels of volatile organic chemicals. Scour antique shops and thrift stores for mid-century modern and metal accents. In doing so, not only will you stay on-trend, but you’ll find decorative pieces that no one else has right now. 

When it comes to carved furniture, check out artisan markets and craft fairs. You’ll end up with a better quality product that wasn’t massed produced in a factory and shipped across the globe – releasing carbon emissions every step of the way. 

Making your home trendy and sustainable is easier than you might think, and these suggestions are just starting points. Consider installing some “smart” gadgets around your house, like a thermostat to keep your energy levels in check. Install low-flow faucets and toilets. Choose to adopt greener habits whenever you’re home. The more sustainable you start to become, the more you’ll want to keep doing to protect the planet. The best part? Your home can look great while you’re doing it.