It’s impossible to ignore the growing impact of climate change on our lives, especially when there's an extreme weather event.

Recent extreme weather events are forcing us to reflect on our personal impact on the environment

The only benefit of these global events is a greater awareness to make different choices. Inevitably, our responsibility to the environment extends to the design of our homes with consideration to the materials we use to build or renovate them to our energy consumption. 

Therefore, it's hardly surprising that sustainable design has been a top interior design trend for the past two years, and it also helps that these homes are proving to be such great investments as well. 

But how do we protect the environment without compromising on design?

Fortunately, most designers have been aware of the environmental, cost-efficiency and health benefits of sustainable design for some time and they have been slowly building on best-practice methods that were once considered innovative. We've compiled the following list of recommendations on how we can help the planet through sustainable home design:

1. Plan meticulously – The key to success in most ventures is in planning, and nowhere is that truer than in construction and interior design. One of the most effective ways of helping the environment is to reduce wastage and use environmentally-friendly materials - crucial design decisions that come into play in the early stages of the project.
2. Check out government initiatives and regulations. Before you start – especially if you are building a new home – check out the many ways our government is encouraging us to protect the environment. For a while now, there have been water-saving regulations - low-flow toilets, faucets, showerheads and rainwater tanks - but more recent initiatives include financial assistance for small-scale renewable energy systems, for example.
3. Research energy usage. Effective insulation is a huge consideration in Australia with our extreme temperatures. Areas to consider are windows, roof insulation and wall and floor materials. Certain heating and cooling methods, i.e. reverse cycle air-conditioning units, are better for the environment than others.
4. Buy locally. Sustainable design advocates use local craftsmanship and locally-sourced materials. Reducing unnecessary emissions and transport is one way to reduce our carbon footprint.
5. Choose a style that is sustainable - Minimalist, vintage, and Boho are all styles that work in sustainable homes because, ideally, you want to avoid unnecessary consumerism. Sustainable design advocates using recycled, upcycled, repurposed or natural materials that create a less challenging, more calming environment.
6. Recycle, upcycle and repurpose – These are also smart ways to get around increasing construction costs. Think about using reclaimed timber for your floors, rail sleepers for your garden borders, antique sinks and light fittings, vintage furniture and period features and even old paint. This approach also cuts down on waste.
7. Choose environmentally-friendly materials – Prioritise materials with low environmental impact, such as those made from recycled or rapidly renewable resources. Think long-term about durability and which materials can be recycled.
8. Extend your sustainable design outdoors. Pick native plants that require minimal irrigation. Use recycled or reclaimed landscaping materials.
9. Think about longevity – Recycled and durable materials are obviously a key consideration, but so is maintenance in terms of longevity.
10. Minimise surplus. Careful waste management is key to any successful sustainable design project and surplus is a dirty word. Do your calculations carefully before you order your materials. Don’t throw away any leftovers, sell them on a local marketplace or find another use for them, i.e., bricks make awesome barbeques. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
11. Pick the right team. Choose a team whose environmental goals and principles align with yours.

Planning and mindfulness are key to sustainable design

Fortunately, most architects and interior designers are on board with the benefits of sustainable design and inspiration for this style can already be found in most home and design magazines. It is certainly an approach that sellers should consider prior to renovating or selling their property.

Buyers’ priorities are changing. They are becoming much more mindful of the impact of their home on the environment and the cost to maintain it, not to mention their health.

Buyers’ priorities are changing

Sustainable properties are increasingly sought after by buyers. Preparing your property for sale is about balancing cost with return on your investment, but in this new, more socially-conscious world, any sustainable improvements you can make to your property - however minor - are worth your consideration. Double-glazing, water-saving devices, solar heating - any of these improvements can really help. 

If you're looking to sell and not sure of the process, we invite you to explore our free Seller Assist service. We remove the guesswork when it comes to selecting the best real estate agent to sell your property. Our seller concierge service matches you with the most suitable high-performing real estate agent that will help you sell for the highest price and with the lowest fees.