Skip to main content

These are interior designers’ favorite green design trends for your home

The choices we make while renovating and decorating our houses affect more than just ourselves; they have a global environmental impact as well. Now more than ever, people are thinking about how their actions impact their homes and the world around them. With this shift toward eco-conscious thinking comes plenty of new trends and advancements in eco-friendly, green design.

To learn more about the best trends in sustainable design, we consulted a few interior design experts. Angela Higgins, a mindful home designer and the owner of Nourished Home, and interior design architect Saloni Ingle of Nitido Design told us about a few of their favorite aspects of environmentally friendly home design. Read on to discover some of the most exciting green interior design trends of 2022.

Living room with design inspired by nature

Design inspired by nature

Green design is all about minimizing environmental impact, so it’s no wonder that so many designers gain inspiration from the natural world that they’re trying to protect.

“A trend that I’m so happy to see is the increased use of organic elements that help keep us connected to the natural world,” Higgins said. Stone, wood, linen, and more are common features of many trendy aesthetics, from laidback boho to upscale Japandi.

Nature-inspired colors are huge this year, too (ahem, sage green). Higgins is especially partial to neutral color palettes that “make the perfect backdrop to enhance any space” and “soothe us as we’re reminded of nature.” When shopping for wall paint, Higgins recommends looking for eco-friendly low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints.

Locally sourced materials and decor

Both designers appreciate the emphasis on shopping locally, buying items from artisans and secondhand shops in your neighborhood. “You may reduce your carbon footprint by using locally sourced products and decor,” Ingle said. She suggests checking out local pop-up shops and marketplaces and purchasing materials for more extensive renovations from local manufacturers whenever possible.

Higgins agreed, stating, “Not only are you supporting a small business, but also reducing the environmental impact that comes with shipping from overseas or from factory emissions.”

Shopping locally is a fantastic way to find unique pieces for your home, too. “I love incorporating artisan soaps, beeswax candles, hand-carved wood bowls, and one-of-a-kind artwork,” Higgins shared.

Vintage furnishings in a nature inspired room

Secondhand and upcycled furniture

In addition to shopping locally, Higgins also loves furnishing homes with reclaimed and upcycled pieces. Giving new life to an old piece extends its usability, keeping it functional and out of the landfill for longer. Plus, you can reduce your carbon footprint even further by avoiding purchasing and shipping newly manufactured pieces.

Decorating with upcycled furniture and decor can add character and a one-of-a-kind touch to any home. “I love mixing the old and new together in a single space,” Higgins said. “Reusing existing pieces in new and interesting ways can also keep you connected to your past while embracing the present with an eye on future functionality.”

Sustainable lighting

LED lightbulbs may be better than incandescent ones for both the environment and your energy bill. However, there’s an even better light source that’s freely available in your home and completely sustainable: natural light. “Think of enormous picture windows and skylights,” Ingle said.

Sunlight doesn’t cost a thing, and it’s already readily available in your home! Embracing sunlight in your home design can make your space feel bigger and brighter and may even improve your mood and energy levels. Take Ingle’s advice: “Throw open the drapes and shutters and let the sun do its thing.”

Live greenery

One of the best ways to use sustainable design is to literally “go green.” Fill your house with live plants for an easy and effective environmentally friendly touch. “Incorporating plants to our homes adds life, vibrancy, color, and texture while providing a soothing connection to the great outdoors,” Higgins said. Some plants even purify the air in your home, ensuring you and your family can breathe a little easier.

Ingle agreed, stating that adding greenery is “a terrific way to exercise your green thumb while also improving the air quality of your home.”

But don’t think you have to be a master gardener to take advantage of all the benefits of lush greenery.  “Try simple solutions like moss compositions and even dried plants and flowers if you’re not up to the chore of keeping plants alive,” Ingle recommended.

Sustainable interior design will never go out of style. Bring the beauty of the great outdoors into your home with nature-inspired materials and colors, live plant life, and natural sunlight. When shopping, prioritize goods from local artisans and manufacturers. Don’t overlook the benefits of buying secondhand either! Upcycled pieces can add natural character to your home without creating a huge environmental impact. With these designer-approved green interior design trends of 2022, you can transform your home into a stunningly stylish and eco-friendly space.

Editors' Recommendations

Shannon Cooper
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Shannon Cooper has written about everything from pet care and travel to finance and plumbing in her seven years as a writer…
These are the best online sites to buy thrifted furniture
Snag your next thrift find from one of these amazing online vintage stores
Vintage decor with grandmillenial chaise lounge and traditional cabinet

When it comes to snagging amazing thrift finds, we often head straight to our local shops. However, while local thrift and vintage stores can be a great way to save money and find unique pieces, they can also be a bit hit or miss.

Thankfully, online marketplaces offer us a chance to find original pieces for affordable prices and from the comfort of our homes. These online stores provide all the benefits of thrifting without the hassle of driving to your local store and sifting through the decor section for hours, only to walk away empty-handed. So, here are some of the best online places to buy vintage and thrifted furniture.

Read more
5 easy ways to spruce up your living room for spring
The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. Here's how to bring that energy into your living room
Living room with warm yellow curtains

Spring is here, and we couldn't be more excited! This means temperatures starting to warm, birds chirping, flowers beginning to bloom, and spring cleaning. There are so many ways to introduce spring into your home, and — as a place where family and friends gather to watch movies, play games, and relax after a long day — the living room is the perfect place to start.

If you're thinking about updating your living room this spring, you may want to start by decluttering. It can help give you a sense of what to keep, donate, or throw away, and will help you see the space more clearly.

Read more
It’s official: Study says this is the most stressful IKEA furniture to assemble
Have you been stressed out by this Ikea furniture yet?
ikea shopping tips to save money sign

If you love everything there is to love about IKEA (the prices, the selection, the tasty meatballs) but wince when it comes to their RTA (ready-to-assemble), flatpack furniture pieces, and the often confusing, wordless instructions that come with them, know you're not alone. It can be overwhelming to say the least, especially if you don't consider yourself handy.

If you're looking to avoid that frustration, hotukdeals created the Flat-Pack Stress Index — basically, they got 100 participants to assemble flatpack furniture and tracked their heart rate and heart rate variance to see how much they stressed and exerted themselves putting together some of IKEA's most popular furniture items. Which IKEA furniture is the most stressful to put together? Here's what they found.

Read more