Why Sustainability is No Longer a Choice but a Necessity in Interior Design

The climate crisis, resource scarcity, and growing awareness of human health impacts are reshaping the spaces we inhabit. For interior designers, sustainability is no longer optional, it is an urgent professional and ethical imperative. Interiors contribute significantly to environmental impact, from material selection to energy use, while also affecting occupant well-being. The time for incremental change has passed; sustainability must now be embedded as the baseline of design practice.

The Urgency: What’s at Stake

Globally, the built environment accounts for roughly 40% of carbon emissions, with interiors contributing through material use, short product lifecycles, and operational energy. Residential furniture is often replaced after a decade, and commercial fitouts can last as little as 5–7 years, generating millions of tonnes of waste annually.

Poor indoor air quality from VOCs in paints, adhesives, and synthetic materials
contributes to respiratory illness, allergies, and long-term health issues. Damp and mould in poorly ventilated buildings can trigger asthma and other chronic conditions. Interiors lacking natural light, ventilation, greenery, or tactile materials may fail to support mental wellbeing, cognitive performance, and emotional health.

Supply chains add another layer of risk. Many materials are sourced with limited
transparency, making it difficult to verify environmental or ethical claims. Unsustainable extraction, exploitative labour practices, and long-distance shipping contribute to carbon emissions and social inequities. Designers and clients may unknowingly contribute to environmental degradation and poor labour conditions.

Interior design now carries a dual responsibility: to mitigate environmental harm and address hidden risks in the spaces and supply chains that shape our lives, creating environments that are safe, resilient, and healthy.

Driving Forces Behind Change

1. Climate Policy and Regulation
Governments are tightening standards. In the UK, updates to Part L of Building Regulations and local sustainability requirements raise the bar for energy efficiency, material sourcing, and lifecycle impact. Many commercial clients now seek BREEAM, LEED, or WELL certification to meet ESG commitments. Familiarity with these frameworks is becoming essential for interior designers.

2. Client and Consumer Expectations
Clients are increasingly informed, and values driven. A 2024 PwC (Price Waterhouse Cooper) survey found 80% of UK consumers are willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods, with some accepting up to a 9.7% premium. Homeowners and commercial clients now expect transparency, lifecycle thinking, and sustainability embedded in every project.

3. Health and Wellbeing
Sustainability is inseparable from wellbeing. Low-toxicity finishes, breathable plaster, and natural materials improve indoor air quality and support mental health. Biophilic design; maximizing daylight, views of nature, natural textures, and greenery reduces stress, improves focus, and enhances overall cognitive performance.

4. Material Scarcity and Supply Chain Resilience
Global supply chain disruptions and climate-related events make local sourcing, reclaimed materials, and design for disassembly increasingly important. Reusing legacy pieces and working with local suppliers reduces transport emissions and ensures a more resilient project pipeline.

How Interior Designers Can Adapt: Practical Steps

1. Circularity and Reuse
• Integrate legacy pieces, vintage furniture, and salvaged architectural elements.
• Design for disassembly so furniture and components can be repaired or repurposed.
• Use materials that are recyclable, upcyclable, or part of a closed-loop system.

2. Biophilic and Health-Focused Design
• Maximize daylight, natural ventilation, and indoor greenery.

• Specify low-toxicity, breathable materials to support air quality and mental well-being.
• Incorporate tactile natural materials such as wood and clay for sensory richness and comfort.

3. Local and Ethical Sourcing
• Work with local artisans, makers, and suppliers to reduce transport emissions and support local economies.
• Choose FSC-certified timber, fair-trade textiles, and ethically produced finishes.

4. Low-Carbon and Energy-Efficient Design
• Opt for low-embodied carbon materials, including reclaimed timber or recycled metals.
• Integrate passive design strategies and renewable energy sources.
• Understand the full lifecycle impact of materials to minimize environmental harm.

5. Adaptive Reuse and Heritage Conservation
• Preserve and repurpose existing buildings and materials wherever possible.
• Reduce demolition waste while maintaining cultural and material heritage.
• Enhance building performance with modern sustainable technologies without compromising character.

Real-World Examples

Nested Living- Red Stones, Oxfordshire

The kitchen and bespoke furniture are crafted from 200-year-old locally sourced oak and designed for disassembly to enable future reuse. Vintage and upcycled elements such as antique lighting, reclaimed basins, and vintage furniture add character. FSC timber cabinetry, low-VOC finishes, and breathable lime plaster enhance air quality and longevity.

Shortlisted for the BIID Anna Whitehead Sustainability Award, the project champions low-impact, circular design. Every material decision honoured the home’s history, extended its lifespan, and proved that elegance, comfort, and eco-consciousness can coexist.

Nina+Co – Nina’s House, Tottenham
London’s Nina+Co, led by Nina Woodcroft, applies circular thinking, radical materiality, and ethical sourcing. Working with biobased and recycled materials such as algae, mycelium, hemp, and cork, they create non-toxic, recyclable, and biodegradable interiors. Nina’s House, a Tottenham retrofit using cork extensively, is also shortlisted for the BIID Anna Whitehead Sustainability Award.

The Time to Act is Now

Interior design stands at a pivotal moment. Policy, client expectations, and environmental urgency converge to make sustainable practices non-negotiable.

By embracing circularity, biophilic design, low-carbon materials, local sourcing,
and adaptive reuse, designers can create spaces that are healthier, more resilient, and deeply meaningful.

Sustainability is no longer a future aspiration it is a present imperative. Every choice, from legacy pieces to local suppliers, shapes not only the spaces we inhabit but the world we leave behind. The time to act is now.

Why Sustainability is No Longer a Choice but a Necessity in Interior Design

The Urgency: What’s at Stake

Driving Forces Behind Change

How Interior Designers Can Adapt: Practical Steps

Real-World Examples

The Time to Act is Now

Helen Gordon

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