Everything You Need to Know About Eco-friendly Furniture

About 77% of people want to choose a sustainable and ecologically friendly way of life, as reported by Forbes. Many businesses in the furniture sector have made a significant investment in producing eco-design and circular economy-based furniture, not only to create a sustainable product but also due to the numerous benefits of eco-friendly furniture.

According to research about homes of the future, 9 out of the 12 counties surveyed will see more use of furniture made from recycled, sustainable, or naturally-sourced materials. This shows how determined countries are to get rid of synthetic stuff.

 

 

So what are the benefits of incorporating natural materials in your home?

What are some natural materials that are used for home furniture?

Are there any challenges with using natural materials?

Let’s hop in!

 

Benefits Of Incorporating Natural Materials in Your Home

Using natural materials in manufacturing is not a new trend. It has been in practice since ancient times, partly because of the benefits it holds.

Let’s talk a bit about the benefits of incorporating natural materials in your home:

Good For Health

Furniture and other home accents made of natural materials have multifold health advantages.

Studies by the American Psychological Association have demonstrated the benefits of spending time in nature for both adults and children’s mental health.

Natural materials can make a person feel calmer and more centered while reducing stress and enhancing cognitive capacities.

Sustainable

Natural materials by nature are more environmentally friendly than synthetic ones. You may be sure you’re doing your part for the environment if you choose to use locally produced materials or, even better, repurpose something made of recycled or recovered materials. This explains why natural materials occasionally cost more.

Natural materials typically have more outstanding quality. This results in higher longevity attributed to their quality. Even when they eventually exhibit aging symptoms (often after many years), they still look significantly better than artificial materials.

Aesthetically Appealing Design and Style

Natural materials can be designed in a variety of diverse styles. They are fantastic neutrals that instantly infuse any environment with richness and style. Almost every color scheme can be complemented by the colors of wood, marble, clay, terracotta, and even concrete.

Wood and natural stone are the way to go if you desire rustic chic; bamboo and canvas work well for a minimalist appearance.

 

 

Natural Materials for Home Furniture

Natural materials that are frequently used for making furniture include:

Wood

Since ancient times, wood has been used to construct furniture, which is still quite popular today. It is the primary natural material used in homes and may be found in furniture, kitchenware, home décor, etc.

Additionally, a wide variety of woods, including pine, paulownia, acacia, and oak, to name a few, can be employed. Each will impart a certain feel or flavor to your interior design.

Due to its durability and natural beauty, oak is the most popular material for interior design. Walnut and cedarwood are also frequently used for furniture and flooring, with the former having a distinctive grain that makes it very appealing. Pine smells good, but it’s less potent than cedar. Pine is a common choice for wooden furniture because of its durability.

 

 

Bamboo

The golden tones of bamboo may be laminated to create flooring or wall paneling that is both incredibly resilient to impact and gorgeous. Furniture constructed of bamboo wood can withstand rough treatment much better than furniture made of hardwood or other woods.

There are numerous bamboo furniture options, whether in design, style or finish. As a result of changes in the atmosphere, most conventional furniture wood will shrink and swell, but bamboo can withstand these changes very well.

 

Hemp

Hemp wood is a hardwood that may be used to make cutting boards, skateboards, furniture, flooring, and other everyday items. Compared to oak trees, hemp grows 100 times more quickly. It is a rapidly renewable building material since it may be harvested in as little as 120 days after being planted from seed.

Compared to a treed forest of equal area, a hemp plot absorbs four times as much carbon in its brief lifespan. Scientific engineering has made it 20% tougher than oak.

 

 

Challenges/Problems

The benefits of furniture made from natural materials come at a price. There can be several challenges to incorporating natural substances in furniture, some of which include:

Cost & Availability

The cost of furniture made from natural substances is considerably higher than traditional furniture. This is because sourcing natural materials, growing, harvesting, and using them in furniture requires extra effort and time. Besides, natural substances make high-quality furniture, which is durable and sustainable, and hence their prices are higher.

Natural resources are available in limited quantities only. Not all natural substances are available for commercial use at all times. The availability of natural products determines the prices of the furniture made from them.

Vulnerable To Damage

Several pests may destroy through natural substances such as wood or bamboo. Carpenter bees, carpenter ants, termites, powderpost beetles, and wood-eating fungi are a few common pests that eat wood.

Besides, natural substances are also damaged due to moisture. Because of persistently moist conditions, even wood treated to tolerate moisture could develop wet rot and fungus.

 

 

Other Eco-Friendly Furniture Solutions

Besides using natural materials for your furniture, there are some alternative eco-friendly furniture options for you to consider.

Second-hand Furniture

Purchasing used furniture may seem weird to some people, but the advantages frequently outweigh the drawbacks. Used furniture is an excellent method to furnish your house without going over budget. It saves money while also being a more moral and environmentally friendly option.

Many people are prepared to sell furniture at meagre prices because getting it out of their hair is big and cumbersome. If you agree to pick up the item personally, you can lower the price or even obtain it for free. Since used furniture does not support destructive deforestation methods that cause biodiversity loss and soil erosion, it is more eco-friendly.

 

 

Furniture Made from Recycled Materials

Ordinary furniture is made with many chemicals, some of which may be hazardous to the environment. Using furniture made from recycled products can minimize the use of natural resources, reduce CO2 emissions, and support the circular economy.

For the use and enjoyment of their employees, more and more businesses are choosing environmentally friendly office furniture. By choosing sustainable furniture, you will be conserving the environment and your health because the furniture will not include any hazardous or harmful materials.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Eco-friendly furniture is made from natural materials which are sustainable, aesthetically appealing, and scientifically proven for health benefits. These materials may include wood, timber, bamboo, and hemp, among many others.

Natural materials, however, can be expensive and are subject to availability. They are also more vulnerable to damage because pests and microbes often reside in wood and hemp. Besides naturally made furniture, using second-hand furniture and furniture made from recycled materials are other eco-friendly options.