Eco-style (ecological style) is a modern trend in interior design which has recently become highly popular. No matter how widely synthetic materials are used nowadays, people still feel most comfortable among nature and surrounded by natural materials. Interior design in eco-style is one of the most harmonious and beautiful trends. Finishing with simplicity and a minimalist approach, using natural, eco-friendly materials and neutral colors create spacious, bright and convenient living spaces that are eco-friendly, pleasant and comfortable. Eco-style allows you to get maximum psychological relief, as it helps you to harmonize with nature and restore balance.
Eco-style interior design has some distinctive features:
- Use of natural materials
Eco-style is conductive to relaxation and rest so all the materials used in decoration should contribute to it. Natural materials – wood, stone, clay, cork, ceramics, glass, wool, cotton and linen – seem like the obvious choices when we think about an environmentally friendly interior.
- Use of eco-friendly and safe materials
Materials should be not only natural but also eco-friendly and safe for people and environment. In many cases it is better to use materials that were produced in accordance with safety norms and standards, than to harm nature aiming to use only natural materials.
- Color pallet
Color pallet in eco-style should be based on natural colors and shades. The main background should prevail bright or white. A good option can be milky color, ivory or other shades of white. It can be diluted with gray, brown, beige combined with pastel or deep shades of green, red and blue. Colors should be soft, bright or deep and tender to create a warm peaceful atmosphere.
- Shapes and texture combinations
Eco-style aims to recreate natural textures and structures, so materials and items used in decoration may have “rough” or “uneven” texture and simple, sustainable design. There are no complicated geometric lines and unnecessary décor.
- Resource-saving including re-usage and recycling
Responsible sustainable consumption of resources is among important topics as it generates less waste and saves the environment. For example, a synthetic floor or wall finishing made from environmentally friendly materials or plastic waste may be a more eco-friendly option than valuable wooden panels or floor made of a tree that is rare and grows on the other side of the planet.
The essential points of resource-saving are also heating and lightning. Room heating should be efficient and finishing materials used for decoration should have excellent heat insulation properties. LED or energy-saving lamps should be definitely used as one of the most efficient ways of saving electricity.
- Lightning
The best option would be to use natural light as much as it is possible. Windows can be used as a permanent light source during daytime. Use LED lights or energy-saving lamps for artificial lightning. It is recommended to have more than one source of light in the room to divide the area or brighten some parts of the room.
Finishing materials in eco-style interior design:
1. Finishing materials for walls
- Wooden panels. The first material that would come to our minds when we talk about eco-style is wood. Wood is a unique, versatile natural material that makes interior design look stylish, warm, inviting and cozy. Wooden panels can come in different colors and finishes. They can be used as a single wall finishing material or combined with decorative plasters, brick, stone or other types of panels.
- Bamboo poles or panels. Bamboo is a very beautiful sustainable natural material. Bamboo wall covering is easy to install, it doesn't require maintenance and is very durable. Color pallet of bamboo natural color varies from light beige to dark brown. Interior design with bamboo is distinguished by its elegance and excellent technical characteristics of the product, such as a high rate of moisture resistance, heat resistance and sound insulation.
- Cork panels. Cork wall decoration is not a very common yet, but surely worth considering. It is a sustainable, renewable, 100% eco-friendly material that has a number of benefits. It’s light, elastic, fire- and moisture-resistant, hypoallergenic and has excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Cork can be easily combined with other types of eco-materials.
- Paper wallpaper. Raw materials and glue should be natural and sustainable. The color or ornaments should match the pallet of eco-style and overall design.
- Brick or stone wall decoration. These natural materials are mostly used to place accents to a part of a wall or a room. These eco-friendly wall finishes harmoniously combine with snow-white plaster, creating interesting contrasts.
- Eco-paints. Eco-friendly paint, or natural paint, is paint that has been specially designed to be VOC-free or have lower levels of VOCs (volatile organic chemicals).It contains sustainable, non-toxic ingredients and/or is manufactured in ways that are less harmful to the environment. The color pallet is extensive and you can easily find producers of eco-paint nowadays as eco-friendly trend becomes more and more popular.
- Eco-friendly plasters and stucco. The main materials of eco-friendly plasters and stucco are clay or natural limestone mixed with natural mineral pigments. They are non-toxic, VOC-free, breathable and reusable. Clay plasters or stucco are also healthy as they purify indoor air quality by clay’s natural ability to remove VOCs and other harmful toxins from the air. With the simple application of clay stucco, you can achieve the Venetian style glossy surface very quickly. Clay plasters and stucco are excellent finishing options for eco-friendly interior designs.
- Silk Plaster decorative plasters. It is a
unique non-toxic eco-friendly material. The content of decorative plasters is simple: textile and cellulose fibers, decorative and mineral additives, adhesive / binding agent. The technology of production preserves the best qualities of raw materials, and no harmful substances are released in the process of production.
SILK PLASTERS decorative plasters are breathable, odorless, hypoallergenic, and have good thermal insulation, sound insulation properties and anti-static effect. You can easily
choose colors suitable for eco-style from the extensive color pallet.
2. Finishing materials for ceilings
Regardless of the height of the ceiling, it should follow the rules of simplicity and naturalness. You can make it suspended, but the surface should not be the glassy or shiny. The most common color is white and shades of white. You can also use shades of brown and green, olive, blue, beige, cream, etc. The high ceiling can be decorated with wooden beams or wooden panels. The most widely used finishing materials for ceilings are: wood, wooden panels, eco-paints and eco-plasters. You can also use Silk Plaster decorative plasters due to their excellent properties to create a unique design in eco-style.
3. Finishing materials for floor
- Ceramic tiles in natural colors (white, gray, beige or brown) or natural stone are perfect options for floor in kitchens, bathrooms or corridors. You can also choose tiles that mimic wood or lime texture.
- Wood is the most common option for eco-style. Wood can be a renewable resource if it is harvested and managed correctly making it a sustainable material. A good quality hardwood floor, that is looked after correctly can last a lifetime. This means that most likely you will not need to replace the floor at all.
- Cork is a relatively new flooring material but it is becoming more and more popular due to its eco-friendly nature. Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. The trees are not cut down to harvest the bark. It grows back every three years, making it an ideal renewable source. Cork has anti-microbial properties that reduce allergens. It is fire resistant, easy to maintain. It is durable and can be used in any part of the house.
- Bamboo flooring is another wood like option that is gaining in popularity. It is actually a grass that shares similar characteristics as hardwood. It is durable, easy to maintain and is easy to install.
Furniture, accessories and elements of décor in eco-style
Furniture in eco-style should be solid, and its shape should be as natural as possible in terms of geometry - either straight and even rough or smooth, imitating natural lines and curves. Natural materials like wood and natural fabrics should prevail. Choosing eco-friendly furniture made of wood, you should pay attention to glue and oil used in production. They must be free of toxic components. Usually hardwood trees, such as oak, ash and elm are used in eco-style, but they might be quite expensive. A more affordable option might be high-quality MDF if it is produced from natural materials. Wood fibers are dried, fastened by paraffin and lignin, bonded and formed in the form of a plate, which is processed by high pressure and high temperature. Natural paraffin and lignin are non-toxic so MDF is also an environmentally friendly material. You can also use elements of furniture in Scandinavian style that with its simplicity and functionality is also a variety of eco-style.
Accessories and elements of décor add uniqueness to your home, create atmosphere of warmth and coziness. They should create a feeling of “naturalness” and used in a minimalistic way.
Fabrics in eco-style interior design should be non-toxic, pure, raw, made from natural fibers, plant- or animal-based, and produced in sustainable way.
Most common fabrics in eco-style for curtains, dividing screens, blankets, other accessories and elements of décor are: linen, cotton, canvas, coarse, wool, sisal and jute.
Woolen carpet sare eco-friendly, natural, soft to walk on, comfortable to sit on and come in a range of colors and patterns. Wool was one of the first materials used as a floor covering. It is very durable and can last for years. Other natural materials used to make carpets or rugs are sisal, jute and cotton.
Indoor plants, vases made of clay or glass, an aquarium or an artificial waterfall, bamboo decorations and other objects of nature are ideal for decoration and, if used in moderation, will be great additions to eco-style interior design.
You can also give second life to old things and search for some furniture or elements of décor at antique markets or second-hand stores.
Eco-style in different rooms
Warmth, softness and use of natural or eco-friendly resources and materials are the basis of eco-style. It perfectly fits into design of any room but it is preferable to design your entire living space in one style otherwise the contrast between rooms will be significant.
Living room
When creating an eco-design of a living room you should keep in mind that the space should be not only stylish but also cozy. The room should remain spacious, bright and pleasant for living. The best choice is to use solid comfortable furniture with cushions, carpets and curtains in natural colors made of natural materials.
You can add some stylish design solutions like stone, brick, Silk Plaster or bamboo wall decoration or some elements of décor like vases, plants, mirrors and etc. The main idea is that they don’t contradict the general idea of eco-style.
Bedroom
A modern bedroom decorated in eco-style is a blend of simplicity, minimalism, beauty and comfort.Soft light, calm, pastel colors and natural materials should prevail.
A bed is the most important part of the room, so you should choose eco-friendly materials for your bed, mattress and bed linen.
Solid wood with its warmth and feeling of stability is the best option for a bed. Mattresses can be made from recycled materials, renewable, biodegradable resources such as cotton or coir fiber or from plant-based fibers such as coir, flax and cotton. Best materials for bed linen are: cotton, bamboo, linen, and Tencel.
Maximize the space in your room and spare the room from unnecessary things and add some décor details like a blanket and pillows, a mirror, plants or some other accessories to make your bedroom look stylish and unique.
Children’s room
Eco-style is suitable for children of any age and gender. Children’s room should be safe, pleasant, functional, modern and spacious. Your kids don’t need a lot of furniture: a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and some shelves. Your kids will be much happier to have a more spacious room with enough space to play and study.
Choose reliable producers of furniture and fabrics. Use non-toxic, eco-friendly finishing materials such as Silk Plaster decorative plasters to create a comfy, warm atmosphere. If your kids draw something on the surface of a wall or it gets dirty, you can easily renovate it or a part of the wall finishing.
You don’t need to buy all elements of décor as you can make them with your kids. Go outside and look for natural resources, paint and draw animals and nature, etc. It can be a great chance to spend more time together.
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