5 Steps to Creating Bedroom Decors With Style and Sustainability

Have you ever wondered why there are some rooms that, when walked into, there’s a certain feeling of peace and relaxation? It was probably because of the aroma of the room, the mood lighting, the calming colors, or the furniture styles. Whatever it is, we cannot deny that a well-designed space boosts our mental well-being, especially in an intimate space like the bedroom.

Style has always been one of the priorities when people move into new spaces. However, as times have changed, we’ve also become aware of the consequences that the raw materials of our stylish decorations may bring to the environment. Now, people go for decorations that serve our needs and serve the environment.

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report shows that 9 million pieces of furniture are tossed yearly. That’s roughly 5% of everything disposed to landfills when you consider the food waste and packaging materials thrown out, which isn’t a good investment for most of us.

Sustainable decorating aims to benefit—rather than harm—the environment. Shopping second-hand, repairing older items instead of throwing them in the garbage, and focusing on slow and local shopping are all sustainable practices for decorating your bedroom.

The good news is that you don’t have to be an interior designer to create a beautiful and eco-friendly bedroom. All you need to do is follow these sustainable decorating tips, and you’ll be able to set up the stylish and sustainable bedroom you’ve always wanted to have.

Tips to Create a Stylish and Sustainable Bedroom

Add waste reduction management

There is a growing awareness of the need for sustainable practices to be incorporated into our daily life. Interior designers cannot justify discarding outdated products to get into trends anymore, which also applies to anyone. Creative ways of upcycling, recycling, and repurposing old-fashioned furniture are the new normal for most designers and individuals.

For example, choosing synthetic materials that can be recycled or made from recycled waste is an eco-friendly approach to furniture design. Through this, waste becomes the raw material for brand-new products, and a new manufacturing cycle forms, effectively minimizing or even eliminating waste.

Many homes also want to achieve Japanese aesthetics in interior design because of its “minimalist” approach. With the lack of heavy and elaborate furnishing, traditional Japanese interiors focus on the functionality of each piece of furniture, reducing waste in the sense that everything reduces to the bare minimum.

Choose eco-friendly materials

Being eco-friendly goes beyond installing solar panels, conserving water, or reducing electricity usage. While these are essential factors in ensuring a sustainable lifestyle, room decorations also play an important role in building a healthier environment by considering the raw materials used in your furnishings.

Examples of materials are wood, bamboo, and recycled materials. Since cutting down trees to make wooden furniture is not sustainable, reclaimed wood would be better for bed frames, coffee tables, and even flooring solutions. Bamboo is another sustainable choice. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that requires no fertilizer to grow.

Scrap metals reduce pollution, save energy, and effectively create sustainable industrial design aesthetics for your space, requiring less processing and fewer resources. Recycled plastics like polyethylene are heavy and dense enough to upcycle into sturdy and durable furniture.

Add sustainable lighting options

Furniture is not the only element that matters in space. Lighting is an essential element that sets the mood of a room, especially in a bedroom. You don’t need interior design expertise to make lighting “sustainable.” For example, LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than typical incandescent bulbs.

Another easy way to level up the lighting without harming the environment is to use stylish, adjustable curtains that block just enough sunlight to dim or fully brighten your bedroom. The sun is out for about 10-12 hours each day. You can pull back the curtains or opt for lightweight and sheer cotton options to save electricity while getting your dose of Vitamin D.

Incorporate “greens”

Skip the plastic plants and have real houseplants or nature-inspired imagery that offers a moment to reconnect with nature and add visual interest to your room. Plants can purify the air by adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide in your space.

Bedroom plants can hang from your ceiling, sit on a window sill or rest on the furniture. You can get free pots in some hardware and plant stores to save money and avoid getting new ones.

The colors you choose in your bedroom will also determine its ambiance. Nowadays, companies recycle unused paint and revive it instead of adding it to the waste stream. Some paints have soybean and sunflower oils and recycled plastic for the resin. For eco-friendliness, manufacturers have also incorporated vegetable matter, clay, and chalk into their colors.

Upcycle old things

You already have things in your home (candle jars, mason jars, glass jars, etc.) that can be upcycled into stylish designs and create a whole new purpose. You can also try reclaiming second-hand furniture and repurposing, refinishing, reupholstering, or reimagining it to your taste. Doing this keeps furniture out of landfills and reduces the massive carbon footprint generated today.

Going for vintage furniture is another way of giving these old-fashioned pieces new life. There are many recycling tips and tricks online on how to refinish an antique by yourself. You can also ask professionals for pointers so you won’t have to spend a dime on these upcycles.

Spaces of Style and Sustainability

Creating sustainable and stylish spaces requires attention to detail and knowledge of eco-friendly practices. “Going green” isn’t just an idea anymore; this is the first step in reducing your home’s carbon footprint. When it comes to the bedroom, it is possible to build a relaxing and fabulous space without breaking the bank and the environment.

Whether you’re an interior designer, engineer, architect, or an aspiring homeowner looking to create a more sustainable space, these tips can help you achieve a house with the area you want, while saving the environment and still suiting your taste.