Sustainable Design Choices

By Ana Zuravliova

Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct

Wed 14 Jun 2023

As millions around the world become more aware of the importance of sustainable behaviour and limiting their impact on mother nature, many are reducing fossil fuel use, eating fewer animals but did you know there are steps you can take to be more sustainable at home? Today we’ll be looking at some of our top sustainable design choices which you can integrate into your home!

Why sustainability at home matters

Homes are places where we relax and while they need to be sanctuaries of peace, we need to minimise their input on nature. Not only is this important because a sustainable home will do its small part in keeping the environment healthy, but it can also help you save money during these difficult financial times. By investing in the right products for your home, you can rest assured that your property is better for the environment while saving money. Here’s how…

Use recycled materials in your interiors

Recycling is a cornerstone of modern sustainability practices, and by using recycled fabrics in your home, you can reduce its overall environmental impact. Our selection of soft fabric furnishings made from recycled linen fabrics or polyesters made from recycled plastics, come in a great range of styles, colours, and finishes. They are the ideal choice for adding ethical excitement to any space! As a result, you can be sustainable without compromising on style. Moreover, 80% of the packaging we use when packaging our products is made from recycled materials further limiting the impact of your new item on the environment.

Add sustainable, natural products to your decor

The natural world offers a fantastic array of materials which are perfect for use inside the home but it’s important to make sure they are sourced sustainably and responsibly. Let’s take for instance natural wood. A natural classic used around the world for millennia, only high quality natural wood is used to make our wooden Venetian blinds and shutters. At our factory here in the UK, we only use wood that’s sourced from responsibly managed forests which have sustainability and ethical practices at their heart. By adding the right wooden furnishings to your home, you can make sustainable choices and ensure the forests are looked after properly for future generations.

We also offer a range of soft fabric products crafted from cotton sourced from suppliers who are part of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the largest cotton sustainability program in the world, who endeavour to ensure cotton production that is better for the people who produce it, and better for the environment.

Maximise natural light

Sunlight, and the valuable vitamin D it provides, is very important for our health. As a result, we should all get as much natural light as possible to keep healthy and happy. What’s more, artificial light can cost a lot, both in terms of energy prices but also in its cost on the environment. Much of the electricity we use is generated using unsustainable methods so where possible, let in the sun and bask in its glow. That said, in some instances we have to sacrifice on privacy to let in the light, so how do we avoid this? Venetian blinds, voile curtains and day & night blinds are all excellent options for letting light flood into your room without letting people see into your home!

Choose energy efficient Products

Beyond energy saving light bulbs, draft excluders, and other energy efficiencies, you can significantly improve your home’s sustainable credentials at the windows. Any window furnishing will reduce heat loss, but with our ranges of Roman blinds and curtains, you can add a quality thermal lining for free! Thermal linings block cold air entering your home in the winter which, in turn, reduces heating needs. Moreover, in the summer, the same lining will limit the heat entering meaning less need for air conditioning or fans. Thermal roller blinds alongside thermal pleated blinds and honeycomb blinds will also reduce your energy use, and for best effects, layer your window with thermal blinds in the recess and thermal curtains above it.

Look after what you have

Whether it’s your blinds, furniture, devices, or anything else for your home, making the most of your purchases is one of the best choices for sustainable design. Blinds of all shapes and sizes are easier to clean and maintain than you might expect and by keeping them looking fresh, they’ll last even longer! Harder window furnishings like Venetian blinds and shutters can be looked after with soft cloths and a bit of elbow grease, but for soft blinds, you can find all the information you’ll need in these guides:

Re-use and repurpose

So, once you’ve made a sustainable design choice for your new window dressings, what to do with your old fabric blinds or curtains? There are numerous creative ways to repurpose old fabrics. Why not transform your old fabrics into unique kitchen sink skirts (seriously on-trend right now!), or a stylish tote bag for life, fabric bookmarks or even beautiful fabric-covered notebooks! Repurposing old fabrics not only reduces waste but also allows you to express your creativity and give new life to materials that would otherwise go unused.

By taking these sustainable design choices, you can make significant headway in reducing your home’s impact on the environment. Each of these steps is easy to do and if we all do what we can, we should be able to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.