Home renovations are, by their very nature, resource-intensive. But they shouldn’t leave a trail of unnecessary waste in their wake. When you’re caught up in the planning stages, it’s easy to overlook the environmental impact of a revamp.
To learn more about eco-friendly home design (and how the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet could help) read on with Rehome.
Step 1: Look around the room: where are you starting from?
The best eco-friendly home design is built on what you already have. As they say, reduce, reuse and recycle! So, the first step is to take a look around the room: where are you starting from? A kitchen that’s just tired doesn’t need to be ripped out.
If the cabinet carcasses are still in good condition, a fresh coat of paint or new handles will do the trick! The same goes for existing tiles and furniture: sometimes a new finish is enough to give it a new lease of life.
Also remember, keeping what you have isn’t a bad thing - often, carefully chosen hardware can make familiar features feel brand-new.
Step 2: Rehome before you remove
Low-waste, eco-friendly home design is just as much about what leaves your space as what’s added to it.
To minimise our environmental impact as renovators, we must move away from the linear economy and focus on keeping valuable materials in active circulation. You might be surprised by what still has value!
Complete kitchens with sturdy cabinets, furniture and fittings could very easily be removed and given another life through a resale marketplace (like Rehome). Where possible, opt for deconstruction over demolition.
Kitchens, for example, are usually made from modular units that can be dismantled and rebuilt in a different space (in some cases, kitchens are bespoke to individual homes, but even these can be retrofitted with some clever tweaking).
It’s a relatively simple change in perspective, but one that can keep materials in circulation for longer.
Step 3: Make pre-loved pieces look intentional
If you’re interested in purchasing pre-loved pieces, you’ll want to know how to make them look like they’ve been in your home forever. Without creative vision, a kitchen full of furniture from different eras can start to look cobbled together.
(Interested in learning how to mix vintage and modern furniture successfully? Read our blog!)
A good starting point is establishing a limited material palette: you can give disparate pieces common ground by intentionally repeating a specific type of timber or accent finish throughout the room.
Don’t be afraid to mix eras, either. Hang a brand-new pendant light set from Laufen in your traditional, pre-loved Shaker kitchen, and you’ll have successfully mixed and matched multiple design eras!
Step 4: Refresh surfaces
It’s easy to look around your room and remove clutter, but what about the surfaces themselves? Is your cabinet paint peeling off in places? Give it a refresh (then use the leftover paint to add subtle accents to alcoves or shelving).
Look at other finishes with the same mindset - are your tiles chipped, just begging to be replaced?
The existing tiles could be rearranged or reused as a feature, or you could even add fresh upholstery to a well-made chair to bring it more in keeping with your new scheme.
When you need textural interest (but you’re sticking with an eco-friendly home design process), try to shop for reclaimed timber or natural stone - they’re great for adding impact without always having to rely on newly manufactured materials.
Step 5: When you do buy, choose things you'll want to keep
Following eco-friendly home design principles, and worried you’ll never be able to buy anything brand-new? That’s not the case: it just takes a slower, more intentional approach to purchasing.
Change your priorities - put durability and construction above trend-led designs that are bound to age quickly. Think: could I see myself living with this item for years? Before ordering larger purchases, like kitchens, be sure to measure carefully.
A well-made pre-loved or ex-display piece can offer premium craftsmanship for less than its original price. Overall, we recommend buying fewer things, and investing your money more thoughtfully.
Step 6: Design with the next renovation in mind
Ideally, low-waste eco-friendly home design should work for today and tomorrow.
When you’re in the planning stages, consider whether the investments you’re making can be retrofitted in the future. Can cabinets be re-painted, dismantled, or re-used somewhere else?
Flexible pieces that can evolve with your taste are less likely to be discarded when it’s time for another refresh. If you’re looking for your next eco investment, why not shop with Rehome?
As the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet, we’re offering customers a premium collection of ex-display and pre-loved luxury kitchens from industry-leading brands - Nobilia, Martin Moore, John Lewis of Hungerford and more.
