A major trend in interior design, eco-design is a concept that is winning over more and more people who are concerned about their impact on the environment. What is it exactly? What are its characteristics? Why go for an eco-design and how can you integrate the different types of old wooden furniture into your interior? You will find out everything in this article.
Eco-design trend
What exactly is eco-design?
Also known as ecological, responsible or sustainable design, the concept of eco-design has been developing in Europe since the year 2000. The objective of this trend is to design trendy furniture while respecting the environment through compliance with the principles of sustainable development. The eco-design approach thus integrates a notion of environmental management for all stages of the product's life, from its design to its distribution.
The concept of eco-design for interior furniture is a response to the effects of the excessive consumption of raw materials and the Earth's dwindling resources. Eco-design represents a great opportunity to select ecological and aesthetic furniture designed with sustainable, renewable, recycled or biodegradable raw materials. Wood, for example, is an essential material for the design of eco-design furniture. It is also perfect for interior design, even with old wood. Recycled, it can also be used to create high-end and innovative products.
What are the characteristics of an eco-design?
If one were to list the characteristics of the eco-design concept, the main ones would be the following:
- An eco-design significantly reduces furniture production and transportation costs
- It prevents the waste of the Earth's natural resources
- It encourages the circular economy
- It increases the quality of the products obtained thanks to the improved production process
- It enhances waste by allowing it to benefit from recycling and reusing
Why go for eco-design?
Many consumers are now taking greater care in choosing their furniture to reduce their ecological footprint. It is indeed no longer possible to close our eyes to the global challenges represented by the poor management of natural resources such as deforestation. Moving towards eco-design is therefore first and foremost a personal commitment. It is indeed necessary to choose to turn to furniture that meets this concept for its interior decoration. It is a way of favouring the common good without sacrificing design. Making the decision to opt for eco-design furniture also means integrating ecology into your personal lifestyle. Secondly, this concept is becoming increasingly popular and is no longer limited to professional decorators. It is now easy to find high-end furniture with original and contemporary designs that meet the expectations of the market.
Antique teak table Tonnel
The different types of antique wooden furniture to integrate into your interior
The advantage of using antique wooden furniture in your home is that it creates an authentic and modern environment that allows for fantasy, customisation and diversity. There are many ways to integrate them into your interior design.
Here are some ideas that are sure to inspire you.
Avoiding accumulation
Unless you like the all-wood country look, it's best to avoid an accumulation of old wooden furniture in different rooms of the house. Ideally, you should highlight one beautiful and functional piece of wooden furniture per room, for example a beautiful wooden table in the kitchen, a bookcase in the living room, etc.
Contrast with contemporary elements
To design an elegant environment with furniture that benefits from the eco-design label, don't hesitate to play the contrast card by mixing different styles and eras, for example. In a bedroom, an old wooden desk or wardrobe will perfectly match a modern bed and chest of drawers. In the living room, a beautiful wooden farmhouse table can contrast with industrial elements or urban furniture for example.
Antique desk in a modern interior
Opt for a suitable colour scheme
Old wood is attractive for its rather dark colours. To give your interior a boost, don't hesitate to bring light into your home by opting for white on the walls. For a touch of originality, you can also highlight your furniture by leaning it against a wall painted with a bright colour such as purple or turquoise.
Diverting old wooden furniture from its primary function
If you already have old wooden furniture, why not change its original function? For example, an old chest of drawers can become an elegant bathroom sink, an old cupboard can be reused as a kitchen sink, etc. Not only are you sure to end up with a unique and original piece of furniture, but you are also helping to continue the life cycle of old furniture.
Using a stool as a plant stand
Repainting old wooden furniture to soften its rustic character
If you have inherited solid antique furniture such as a large wardrobe, you can integrate it perfectly into your interior by using certain tricks. The most commonly used is painting. To give a second life to your furniture, repainting it offers the possibility to bring it up to date and to match your current interior. Give preference to pastel colours or black with a lacquered finish for a sophisticated effect. This choice should of course be made according to your taste and also your style.
Apothecary's counter made of recycled old fir wood
In conclusion, eco-design is based on a concept that aims primarily at respecting the environment. It takes advantage of ecological and sustainable materials since reusing old furniture ensures a longer life cycle to the pieces. It can also refer to new eco-designed products made of environmentally friendly materials. As the name suggests, this concept does not ignore design, since it is perfectly possible to integrate eco-designed furniture into your interior to give it a more modern and sophisticated touch.
