Interior Designs Goes Green
Turning recycled materials into home furnishings
Have you ever taken something you purchased from a garage sale or found on a tree lawn and turned it into something useful for your home? The saying "another man"s trash is another man"s treasure" has become quite accurate in the world of interior design.
More and more interior designers - including those seen on popular TV design shows - are incorporating recycled materials into their everyday work. Why? By taking a more practical approach, designers with low budgets can save money and time while helping out the environment.
It"s easy for people with no real design experience to take so-called junk and turn it into something amazing to finish a room. Here are Green tips and tricks to successfully design your space using recycled materials.
The Green Ideas
Once you decide which space in your home you want to change, you"ll want to develop a few basic concepts without committing to specifics. Be willing to change your concept at a moment"s notice. Next, you"ll want to start searching for recycled items that will add beauty to your space.
Finding the Green Goods
Find recyclable materials by cleaning out your attic, heading to a garage sale, or even taking a ride through your neighborhood the evening before trash pick-up to see what"s worth salvaging. Your attic can be a great place to start. There, you can find items you haven"t seen or used in a while, or maybe the items have gone out of style. Either way, there"s nothing like refurbishing your old things back to new.
Heading out to garage sales could be a fun way to get your creative mind thinking. Besides the great buys, you can create a vision of your space with someone else"s things. Browse garage sales with an open mind; if you"re looking for something in particular, odds are you won"t find it.
Finding items on a tree lawn the night before a trash collection can be tedious yet exciting. Again, don"t leave your home looking for something specific. Look for the pieces-parts, items that can be used on multiple projects. Furniture is a great find on garbage night. Oftentimes, a table, chair or other piece needs a few minor repairs to make it your own. The objective here is to think outside of the box and always remember you"re helping the environment.
The Green Process
Once you have your ideas and materials in place, you want to figure out what you"ll need to refurbish or clean them up. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products, paints, polishes, and glues. These products are widely available online or at a local home improvement store. Once your items are put together, start thinking about where to place them in your room. Choose an area that best showcases the piece you"re working with. When your friends visit and are impressed with your space, you can say the entire room is made from recycled materials. It will make a lasting impression.
The Green Look
The main question people ask themselves is: Will the space look recycled? The answer: The space/room is what you of make of it. If you"re searching for a modern look, make sure your recycled materials are properly restored to fit your style. Adding some dings or imperfections to your recycled materials can give the space a warmer, classic feel. Another question people often ponder: Is it trendy for your furnishings to have a vintage look? The answer: It all depends on your personal style. If you want to go vintage, give your green materials a worn look. This can be accomplished by using a blotting technique after a fresh coat of paint is applied. If you"re looking for a fresher look make sure your recycled finds are polished and look new. Whatever you choose, there is no wrong way to design your own personal space.
Be creative with your recycled materials. Play around with some ideas while keeping in mind the theme of the room, but don"t shy away from trying something new. This will allow you to explore a variety of options while creating an environmentally friendly space. Best of luck with your projects and stay Green.
Are you interested in interior design? Harrington College of Design in Chicago can help you get the training you need to pursue exciting new career opportunities in this field. Contact us today for more about our Interior Design program.
Have you ever taken something you purchased from a garage sale or found on a tree lawn and turned it into something useful for your home? The saying "another man"s trash is another man"s treasure" has become quite accurate in the world of interior design.
More and more interior designers - including those seen on popular TV design shows - are incorporating recycled materials into their everyday work. Why? By taking a more practical approach, designers with low budgets can save money and time while helping out the environment.
It"s easy for people with no real design experience to take so-called junk and turn it into something amazing to finish a room. Here are Green tips and tricks to successfully design your space using recycled materials.
The Green Ideas
Once you decide which space in your home you want to change, you"ll want to develop a few basic concepts without committing to specifics. Be willing to change your concept at a moment"s notice. Next, you"ll want to start searching for recycled items that will add beauty to your space.
Finding the Green Goods
Find recyclable materials by cleaning out your attic, heading to a garage sale, or even taking a ride through your neighborhood the evening before trash pick-up to see what"s worth salvaging. Your attic can be a great place to start. There, you can find items you haven"t seen or used in a while, or maybe the items have gone out of style. Either way, there"s nothing like refurbishing your old things back to new.
Heading out to garage sales could be a fun way to get your creative mind thinking. Besides the great buys, you can create a vision of your space with someone else"s things. Browse garage sales with an open mind; if you"re looking for something in particular, odds are you won"t find it.
Finding items on a tree lawn the night before a trash collection can be tedious yet exciting. Again, don"t leave your home looking for something specific. Look for the pieces-parts, items that can be used on multiple projects. Furniture is a great find on garbage night. Oftentimes, a table, chair or other piece needs a few minor repairs to make it your own. The objective here is to think outside of the box and always remember you"re helping the environment.
The Green Process
Once you have your ideas and materials in place, you want to figure out what you"ll need to refurbish or clean them up. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products, paints, polishes, and glues. These products are widely available online or at a local home improvement store. Once your items are put together, start thinking about where to place them in your room. Choose an area that best showcases the piece you"re working with. When your friends visit and are impressed with your space, you can say the entire room is made from recycled materials. It will make a lasting impression.
The Green Look
The main question people ask themselves is: Will the space look recycled? The answer: The space/room is what you of make of it. If you"re searching for a modern look, make sure your recycled materials are properly restored to fit your style. Adding some dings or imperfections to your recycled materials can give the space a warmer, classic feel. Another question people often ponder: Is it trendy for your furnishings to have a vintage look? The answer: It all depends on your personal style. If you want to go vintage, give your green materials a worn look. This can be accomplished by using a blotting technique after a fresh coat of paint is applied. If you"re looking for a fresher look make sure your recycled finds are polished and look new. Whatever you choose, there is no wrong way to design your own personal space.
Be creative with your recycled materials. Play around with some ideas while keeping in mind the theme of the room, but don"t shy away from trying something new. This will allow you to explore a variety of options while creating an environmentally friendly space. Best of luck with your projects and stay Green.
Are you interested in interior design? Harrington College of Design in Chicago can help you get the training you need to pursue exciting new career opportunities in this field. Contact us today for more about our Interior Design program.
Source...