{"id":24085,"date":"2024-09-23T14:28:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T14:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/?p=24085"},"modified":"2024-09-23T14:28:26","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T14:28:26","slug":"sustainable-spaces-the-living-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anthonydidonato.net\/wordpress\/sustainable-spaces-the-living-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Spaces: The Living Room"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today\u2019s consumers want sustainable homes. Here are some eco-friendly living room solutions that go beyond \u201creduce, reuse, recycle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no denying it: Today\u2019s clients and communities are increasingly interested in sustainability<\/a>. In 2022, 63% of surveyed real estate professionalspdf<\/a> reported that mentioning energy efficiency in listings is \u201cvery\u201d or \u201csomewhat\u201d valuable. A 2022 Zillow report<\/a> found that eco-friendly homes also sell faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more green features a home has, the easier it is to sell. Real estate professionals can play a pivotal role in educating seller clients about boosting and emphasizing a property\u2019s sustainability. Pointing out eco-friendly features\u2014especially those that help save on utility bills\u2014can also help buyer clients understand the value of a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boosting an entire building\u2019s sustainability quotient can feel like an impossible task. So, why not take it room by room? Below, Brooke Moore, an interior designer with California-based presale home renovation company Freemodel, offers advice on sustainable living room design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable Living Room Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What makes a room sustainable? A combination of several factors, from recycled objects to furnishings made from sustainable materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood or organic cotton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are Moore\u2019s tips for designing a living room with sustainability in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop Secondhand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At one point, shopping secondhand came with a stigma. Now? It\u2019s recycling and reusing at their chicest. From antique pine bookshelves to vintage curved sectional sofas, secondhand furniture adds a one-of-a-kind design flair that is also sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether it is shopping at an antique store, vintage shop or estate sale, you can find some amazing pieces,\u201d says Moore. \u201cNot only is it sustainable because it is secondhand, but usually things that were made a while ago were more sustainable due to the time period they were created [in].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s world of mass production, furniture is often more cheaply made and has a much shorter lifespan than in decades past. More than 12 million tons of furniture and furnishings waste were produced in 2018 alone\u2014and about 18 percent of that waste ended up in landfills or disposal centers, according to Environmental Protection Agency data<\/a>. Buying pre-owned helps homeowners get great quality items without contributing to the waste problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose Retailers Wisely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vintage furniture is great, but what about living room items like sofa blankets and throw pillows? Or what if a client prefers to buy new?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShop at retailers that are committed to sustainability standards,\u201d Moore says. \u201cA company that is committed to sustainability means they are taking steps towards reducing their carbon footprint by taking steps like partnering with resources that are also committed to sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to furnish and decorate a living room sustainably is to buy items with third-party stamps of sustainability approval. Here are a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n