7 Popular Eco-Friendly Design Trends For 2023
March 24, 2022Advances in technology and a focus on sustainability have increased access and options for sustainable materials and more eco-friendly materials. If sustainable materials are something you’re considering for your custom home, here are a few popular eco-friendly design trends of 2023 to inspire you:
1. Opting for Sustainable and Recycled Materials
One of the biggest eco-friendly design trends is opting for sustainable materials or recycled options. Bamboo and cork are eco-friendly flooring options that tend to be more sustainable and, in some cases, can be repurposed or recycled. These materials, as well as repurposed wood, can also be used in furniture, in decor, and even as wall options.
In fact, you can even repurpose pallet boards to include them in your home decor or have them finished and sealed for use as bathroom wall options. This trend isn’t just for wood or related products, it also extends into metal and fabrics.
Various metals can be a great fit for countertops, fixtures, and railings. More sustainable fabrics, like wool, hemp, jute, sisal, etc., can be a great choice for area rugs and more. As rugs, they are durable, resist shedding, and tend to trap fewer allergens.
Other sustainable options that really focus on recycled materials are bioglass and bioplastics, which are sturdy materials that repurpose recycled glass or plastic into something new. These materials have commonly popped up as material trends and make their appearances in sinks, flooring, and even walls.
2. Including Greenery
Adding some plants around your home has always been a way to add a touch of nature to it. There are several ways to decorate with houseplants, so you’ll be able to make whatever plants you choose work while also enhancing the look and feel of the room they’re in.
Plants are consistently one of the popular interior design trends and always make the list of eco-friendly design trends. Not only can they add texture to your walls with wall planters or hanging planters, but they also help create a more relaxing atmosphere.
Decorative houseplants are popular and so are indoor gardens. Whether it’s herbs and spices, vegetables, or more, another aspect of this trend is to focus on greenery you can eat and use in the kitchen. This is why herbs are one of the best houseplants for your kitchen.
3. Integrating Biophilic Design Elements
Another element of this trend is going beyond decorative when it comes to the greenery you add. As biophilic design continues to enter residential home design, nature, natural touches, greenery, etc. are becoming more integrated into the home design process to become features integral to the design instead of decorative afterthoughts.
This trend could show up in indoor vertical gardens, indoor water features or fountains, natural shapes integrated into structures, exposed wooden beams, walls of windows for natural views and light, and more. An element of biophilic design could also be including plenty of houseplants and making them the focal point of your interior design.
4. Taking Cues From Maximalism
Minimalism still reigns supreme in a lot of ways, but it’s also giving way to a more maximalist look and feel. Although minimalism has a reputation for being clutter-free and sparse, it’s really about everything serving a purpose. This is a trait it shares with maximalism.
Maximalism may, at times, lead to a cluttered look, but this is usually a misstep in decorating with it. At its core, maximalism is about mixing and matching styles that complement each other, layering styles, and making sure that whatever you add to the room has a purpose, has a reason, and fits with everything else. This opens up a lot of opportunities for repurposing items, upcycling items, and also buying and decorating with vintage furniture and items.
5. Making the Most of What You Have
When paired with sustainability in mind, taking cues from maximalism can often lead to looking at what you already have with fresh eyes. Instead of getting rid of things for superficial damage, you can repurpose and update items to give them a new look or turn them into something else completely. With a more maximalist approach, an old chair can be reupholstered and refreshed, or it can become one of the ideas for a new planter or something else.
6. Including More Natural Light
Another one of the eco-friendly design trends is to include more natural light. This is also a timeless home lighting trend. Large picture windows, skylights, the right window placement, and more can all help you take advantage of more natural light in your home. Using eco-friendly LED bulbs in the rest of your lighting in addition to natural light can help you make your lighting more energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
7. Upgrading Energy Efficiency With Smart Home Technology
In addition to building an energy-efficient custom home from the ground up, one of the eco-friendly design trends is to further upgrade energy efficiency with smart home technology. Smart lighting, thermostats, appliances, and more can all be integrated, controlled with settings and automation, and more to work better, improve energy efficiency, and save on energy costs while also increasing eco-friendliness. Using smart technology like this in the bathroom is also one of the most popular eco-friendly bathroom ideas.
These are just a few popular eco-friendly design trends for 2023 to inspire you as you think about what you want in your custom home. If you’re ready to start bringing your dream home to life, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!