In today’s world, where environmental concerns are at the forefront, shopping for furniture with sustainability in mind has never been more important. As we seek to create beautiful, functional spaces in our homes, we also have a responsibility to make choices that have the lightest impact the planet. From selecting materials to considering the lifecycle of each piece, our Interior Designer’s guide will help you navigate the process of choosing furniture that aligns with your values, ensuring your home is both stylish and sustainable. Whether you’re furnishing a new home or simply updating your decor, making informed choices can lead to a healthier planet and healthier homes.
Shop Local + Support Local makers
The shop local movement is a win win – support small, local businesses and also reduce the carbon footprint of your purchases. We fully support this idea and would suggest taking it one step further by tapping into the amazing network of fabricators, artists and designers in your area to create one of a kind pieces for your home. As San Francisco interior designers, we rely on local Bay Area woodworkers, metalworkers, upholstery workrooms and lighting designers to help bring our design vision to reality. A huge benefit to working with local makers is that you have control over and transparency into the materials used in their products. If a local woodworker doesn’t typically use sustainably harvested wood, don’t be afraid to ask! As interior designers we specify the exact materials and finishes that we want in a custom furniture piece for clients homes. Many craftspeople are happy to work with the public in a similar fashion. Shopping local also reduces the need for excessive packaging, which is huge issue in the furniture industry.
Pro tip: When reaching out to local craftspeople be sure to start off the conversation by asking if they work directly with homeowners or if they are limited to working with the trade only (meaning design and construction professionals).
Avoid the fast furniture trend
It’s time to collectively move past the disposable/fast furniture trend. Instead, look for quality furniture and invest a little more into items that will serve you for many years. Spend time discovering what you actually love and invest in pieces that will stick with your family. Earmark design magazines with rooms that inspire you and create inspiration boards on Pinterest and find a common thread in the pieces that you gravitate towards. When shopping for furniture, whether it’s from a local or online retailer, or furniture showroom, there are a few essential questions to ask to help guide you towards more sustainable choices.
1. Ask where the piece is made. Make it a goal to only purchase furniture made in the United States, and ideally within your state. This not only reduces the carbon footprint but also helps support local manufacturers and craftspeople.
2. Is the wood FSC certified? The Forest Stewardship Council is an international agency that tracks and certifies sustainably harvested wood. By purchasing FSC certified wood, you are supporting responsible forestry practices that help protect forest ecosystems. Whenever possible opt for FSC certified, sustainably harvested or reclaimed wood flooring, cabinets, and furniture. Forests create oxygen, protect biodiversity, filter pollutants, and help mitigate global warming. It used to be hard to find FSC certified products at mainstream retailers, but thankfully that is no longer the case!
You can find a wide variety of sustainable furniture manufacturers and narrow your search by product type on the Sustainable Furnishings Council website. https://sustainablefurnishings.org/company-search
Invest in quality pieces that last
Our team of Bay Area interior designers created a cheat sheet to help you evaluate the quality of furniture pieces, ensuring that the pieces you invest in will last for many years instead of ending up in a landfill.
Upholstery
• Look for kiln dried hardwood frame with 8 way hand tied springs.
• Lift test – Is it super lightweight? Can you easily move it by just bumping into it? Most likely it is not a high quality piece. High quality, well constructed upholstery is made with hardwood frames which are much heavier than low quality pieces.
• Once you’ve found the right sofa, it’s time to select a fabric that is appropriate for your family and will hide spills. Start by looking at the content of the fabric – ideally, the fabric will incorporate some natural fibers. Most retailers will rate their upholstery fabric as light use, medium duty or heavy duty. I would recommend avoiding light use fabrics and looking for fabrics that feel sturdy and soft to the touch.
Pro tip: Do a stain test on the free fabric sample! See how well you can remove common stains and how visible they are after cleaning. I also like to rub my dogs coat with fabric samples to see how much his fur is going to show on a sofa. I’m not saying you should design your room around the color of your pets, but I will say that considering your everyday lifestyle and habits and factoring that into your buying process will lead to smarter choices and furniture that will last for many years.
