LOW COST DESIGN STATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

At the present moment we hear a lot about global warming, climate change, importance of health and safety and how these things are influenced by the products that we use in our day to daily life. Henceforth our society is becoming more and more aware of the urgent need for the eco-friendly building and interior design. Interior designers have enormous impact on the sustainability of the environment as they play a major role in choosing the materials and products and enable ecological interaction between the people and surrounding areas.

Buildings act as the major source for greenhouse gas emission resulting in drastic climate change. The interior designers can reduce energy consumption in the building to a great extent due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning without much intervention of baffling mechanism. Small changes in window shading, flooring, colour and materials can bring sustainability to your home.

WINDOW SHADING – Blinds, shades, shutters etc. are used for window coverings, out of them all curtains are most preferred. Curtains help in keeping away harsh sunlight, maintain cool interiors and protect furniture. The fabrics and textures of the curtain are crucial for determining the light entering the home. It has an ability to avoid glaring bright lights and allow mellow light into the house. Curtains are very flexible window covering, vast range of colour, fabrics, patterns, size, shape, are available based on the necessity of the space. These are budget friendly and one can change often and give a new look to their home.

FLOORING – Due to the short life cycle of some carpet, most of us go with the massive material such a concrete and tiles for our living spaces ignoring the sustainable features of the carpet. They improve the air quality by trapping the dust particles from the air and holding them until vacuumed and also reduce noise by sound absorption hence promoting wellbeing of the occupants. Apart from being excellent thermal and sound insulator, carpets are easily replaceable and have lower maintenance cost. Carpets retain the warmth in the room and act as the supplement for comfortable and cosy environment for the occupant.

COlOUR – When we think about sustainable interior design, the first thing that comes to our mind is the colour. The choice of right colour is far more important than just aesthetics. Instantly after we chose a colour without volatile organic compounds, we lay the foundation for the sustainable design. As a general rule, light colours make the rooms feel larger, brighter and airy whereas dark colours are sophisticated and make the room feel more intimate. Choosing more efficient colours can potentially help to lower energy by relying less on mechanical heating or cooling system.

MATERIALS – Nature has solution for all the issues of mankind. Keeping indoor plants not only reduces the temperature by releasing moisture into the air also removes volatile organic chemicals and other sources of indoor air pollution. Use of natural materials like bricks, stone, bamboo, Ferro cement, adobe, mud etc. are cooling element and a healthier choice for the interiors as they are non-toxic with little or no VOCs thus ensuring better indoor quality

Throughout the years, the way one grows and changes, expect their surrounding places to embrace according. In Vikram Design Studio, we consider the flexibility of spaces and their adaptation to fit the changing needs of the occupants and convert their home into more cosy, safe and enjoyable. From a sustainability viewpoint, we make sure to select the cost effective materials and products with low environmental impact and build for sustainable future.