Be kind through design

The last couple of weeks has seen most of England both barbecuing in our flipflops and donning our thickest winter coat and gloves, and sometimes all in one day… The weather is crazy and that's because our planet has had about as much as it can take from us. With concern growing over Climate Change and crisis talks taking place, it's no surprise that our relationship with the environment is heavily under the spotlight at present and this is also very much reflected in the construction and interior design industries.

This season, design will be heavily focused on humanity and planet earth working together and will encourage people to take a more considered approach as they go about their lives. As a result, we're encouraged to ensure our homes are a nature-inspired, light-filled and peaceful environment. One key aspect to more sustainable living is to dispose of less. The most environmentally kind furniture we have is actually the items we already own.

Try moving furniture about to give a room a new look or upcycle tired furniture. Once again, the market has responded to consumer demand and a lot of good, affordable products are readily available, and you can use these for your upcycling project. From paints to panelling and knobs to knockers, it couldn’t be easier to give that piece of furniture a new lease of life and transform the look of your room at the same time.

With design delving into the palette of nature, the colours are set to reflect the environment around us, bringing dark green, lavender and natural wood into play.

However, if naturals aren’t to your taste, you can also expect to see colours of the 80s such as black, grey, red and white popping up. You'll probably have noticed how modern-day fashion and design often pull on trends of years gone by. These 80s-inspired colours are reminiscent of the political protests in the 1980s and as we find ourselves in political unrest now, these bold colours and high-gloss finishes will be making another appearance.

Whichever colour you choose, going for an ombre design which will induce a calming effect and keep you bang on trend this season. This Ombre Wool Rug in Rust is reminiscent of a beautiful summer sunset and also reflects the 80s shades of the season, combining key trends of 2022/23.

Think beyond your soft furnishings and you'll also find ombre-effect tiles which will create an unexpected, stunning statement wall. Turn your bathroom into a beautiful balmy summer sky with these Ripple Ombre Classic Blue Tiles for the ultimate in relaxation. For sustainable tiling you could go for 100% recycled and recyclable plastic, which doesn’t need grout or use extra materials, meaning they are completely waste free and bursting with environmental kindness. Designers such as Evan James offer a bespoke and sustainable range of tiles that will certainly make your space stand out in a crowd. For the all-natural look, bypass the ceramic and plastic and go for some impressive laser-cut birch tiles, instead. Going for geometric designs will include the 80s theme and create a truly unique look, whether zhooshing up furniture or by creating a feature panelled wall like no other.

If you're looking for something head and shoulders above the rest, look no further than Emily Hatton, a UK designer who refers to herself as a ‘Waste Conscious 3D Surface Design Graduate’. Her bio-degradable tile designs, made from the likes of sawdust, grass cuttings and eggshell, have to be seen, as do the three-dimensional birch ply tiles.

Most of us live in areas where external noise and disruptions such as traffic and the hustle and bustle of daily life surround our homes. Why not keep that noise outside with acoustic wall panelling? Form At Wood harness the natural beauty and durability of nature, bringing it into the home, ensuring ultimate tranquillity.

Finally, in the pursuit of maximising light and space, there's a growing trend for ‘Translucent Layers’, the method of creating translucency with hard materials. Designers such as Amron Architectural are leading the way using materials like wire mesh and chains to create awe-inspiring interiors without compromising light and space. This is perfectly represented in their Swansea Arena project in Wales.

So, it really is time to bring the outside in, for both your own good and that of the planet. If you'd like more help with sustainable design, please contact the Strive For Design team on 01223 622 688 or send us an email.

Leigh Hall from Strive for Design is an interior designer in Cambridge, so if you're contemplating refreshing a single room or your entire home, please contact us.