How to Get The Top Spring Interior Design Trends Without Harming the Environment

This Spring there are many fun and innovative design trends emerging that are redefining the ways people are enjoying their spaces. The eclectic tastes of Gen Z have provoked a big shift away from the mid-century modern style that dominated interior design in the Millennial era, towards design that is fun, funky and reflects a more personal vision about what brings solace, peace or escape. 

If you are embarking on home design or redesign you may be wondering how to play with the newest design trends while having a low impact on the environment. The good news is that this is getting easier than ever. Many of the newest design trends are inspired by a more harmonious, lived in and low-impact lifestyle. Here are a few of the top spring design trends, and a few ways to incorporate them into a green interior design project:

Fantasy and Artistry

There has been a distinct “vibe shift” towards the eclectic, personalized and even surrealism in design. The idea is to create a space that is an extension of your personal style and concept of home. During the pandemic, many people took up craft projects and re-envisioned the way they were living. Everything took place in the home, which meant many people began to use their creativity in every-day projects. The resulting trends included people drenching their homes in “mood” colors, or themes that offered the possibility of escaping to another world while still being at home. Unified design choices that focused on one theme or color like “Barbie-core” or “mermaid-core” were ways for people to put a more personal and evocative stamp on home design.

These design objectives can be achieved in an eco-conscious way by choosing second hand furniture pieces or upcycling existing furniture pieces. This could be furniture that evokes a certain design era. It could even draw inspiration from the world of a book series or a movie which has a rich, devoted fan culture. Furniture can be hand painted to make it more colorful or overlaid with mosaics made from broken tiles, mirrors or decoupage techniques from recycled paper or magazines. Wall art and murals are fun projects to undertake if you are of an artistic bent or have creative friends and family to help you. The paints can be non-toxic and along with house-plants, screens and strategic lighting, small spaces, such as hallway spaces, can be turned into spaces to retreat or “emotional escape rooms.”

Natural Materials

Some good news for those who want to decorate their home in an eco conscious way is that natural materials are a desirable centerpiece of many current trends. People are moving away from the disposable model of flatpack furniture. Durable natural materials like stone and reclaimed wood are a key part of many design trends, and they also fit in nicely with the aesthetic, which celebrates organic curved forms that can be found in driftwood, stone and natural materials. 

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design is another design trend that is emerging as a reflection of increased environmental consciousness and a desire to waste less and live in greater harmony with nature. Biophilic design is design that works in harmony with nature and also takes inspiration from nature. Many innovative materials that have sprung up from research into biophilic design are enjoying a moment. These include mushroom leather and AI designed furniture and objects that mimic natural forms. 

Complementary Colors and Stand-Out Colors

Paint preferences are moving away from the “white cube” art gallery aesthetic of presenting objects and art-work in the room on a blank substrate, and becoming deeper, more saturated and more atmospheric. Colors like pink and indigo are popular design choices. To balance the intensity of these colors, people are also choosing to decorate their homes using complementary colors from opposite ends of the spectrum. If you are choosing a new color palette for your home, you don’t have to choose toxic paint, you can choose paints that are free of volatile organic compounds (low-Voc paints or no-Voc paints). These are safer than paints that release solvents into the atmosphere after painting. 

Retro and Nostalgia vs. Clean Modernism

Instead of buying cheap disposable furniture that mimics the aesthetics of mid-century modern design, people are choosing to dive into eclectic eras to satisfy their need for comfort, escape and creativity. 70s design is making a comeback, and this also feeds back into the desire for big enveloping furniture that is cozy or mimicking natural forms. The retro aesthetic can also be found in the revival of more opulent trends from the 20th century like art deco and art nouveau. These design trends feature wrought metal, ornamental fixtures, curving forms, and unique and beautiful pieces of furniture and art objects. If you want to recreate aesthetics from historic design eras, this can fit very comfortably with eco-conscious and green interior design aspirations. For example, choosing unique pieces that last can reduce waste and help to support local artisans and crafts-people. The look can also allow for creativity and upcycling, such as in the trend for fabric or paper covered lamps. Some people may want to turn this into a DIY project and hand stretch lamps with recycled fabric or paper. 

If you are thinking of a home revamp for Spring but are wondering how to do it in a responsible, eco conscious way, our green interior design consultants can help guide you in finding innovative, eco-conscious ways to overcome design problems and bring vibrant creativity to your home. 

We have spent ten years researching the science behind green interior design and biophilic design. Green interior design can be a fun process that gives you space to be creative and stylish. It can include as much or as little of your own customization and creativity as you want. We can help guide you in the DIY aspects of home design or connect you with responsible eco-conscious crafts people and suppliers. We have offices in La, Jolla, CA, Brooklyn, NYC and Paris, France and can meet with you in person or consult with you remotely. Please contact us to learn more about our green interior design services.