We could all afford to be more conscious of the environment at home. Here, Hayley Baddiley from Denby shares her favourite interior design ideas for a conscious kitchen.

Many aspects of our lives can have an effect on the environment, but one that is often overlooked is our interiors. Your homeware choices are just as important as your food and clothing so, if you’re looking at redecorating in the near future, it might be time to think about making more conscious decorating and styling decisions. In fact, conscious consumption and low waste living are set to be a major trend for 2020 (Pinterest).

Adding a quick lick of paint or some fresh wallpaper, and choosing stylish ceramics and homewares are quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive ways to transform your kitchen space, without having to refurbish the rest of the room. By focusing on style and reusability, and by recycling old pieces, you can quickly transform your kitchen into an on-trend, sustainable haven that’ll be the envy of your friends and family. If you’re looking for some interior design inspiration with a conscious twist, then consider taking on board the tips below.

Choose high-quality pieces

You want your home to be on-trend but, all too often, fast interior pieces are made to a low quality, which can break easily and need to be thrown away more often. Although they might be appealing in the short term, you could try to stick to durable pieces that you know are made to last.

When choosing your homewares, make sure you pick out high-quality ceramics, so they’re unlikely to break after a few uses. If you can, try to buy items with a guarantee, such as our Denby 10-year guarantee. This shows that the manufacturer has confidence in the durability and quality of your items, but is willing to replace them should there be any issues.

Choose timeless styles

Not only can fast interiors break easily, but they’re often trend-led, which means they can quickly go out of style and can end up being thrown away. So, try opting for décor and homewares in timeless, versatile styles that you’re less likely to tire of. If you can, choose neutral tones that can be mixed and matched with a wide variety of hues, such as primary colours and pastels. This way, they’ll blend in with your changing tastes and you can easily reuse your pieces if you ever decide to redecorate in the distant future.

Reuse and recycle key pieces

When it comes to interior styling, it’s always wise to pick out pieces that can be classed as multi-functional. So, look for homewares that can be used for more than one purpose, like ceramics that are freezer-safe and can be used to store your leftovers, or jars and jugs that can be reused as vases. This way, you won’t have to invest in as many pieces.

For your furniture, consider upcycling your current pieces by repainting or reupholstering your dining chairs, or adding a few seat cushions to incorporate a pop of colour and style, without having to invest in a whole new dining set. If you’re thinking of repainting your furniture, make sure you use water-based paints. These don’t contain any chemicals that can damage the ozone layer, such as volatile organic compounds, so they’re better for the environment.

If your furniture really doesn’t match your new style and a new lick of paint can’t save it, consider buying second-hand pieces. You can get some great finds on online marketplaces and in antique shops that are worth giving a new lease of life in your redecorated kitchen.

If you’re thinking of becoming more sustainable in 2020, these interior decorating ideas will get you off to a great start. All it takes is a few sensible decisions and you’ll have a stylish yet conscious kitchen in no time.