Green interior design

In the present economic climate and with every day bringing new evidence of the climate crisis, green interior design just makes sense. "Green interior design" is about reducing or eliminating a negative impact on the environment through skillful, sensitive design decisions.

As a diploma-qualified interior designer, Design Institute of Australia member, and co-founder of Dezinery (Australia's marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares), I apply circular economy principles to every project. This guide explains how to make your renovation truly sustainable.

The Five Pillars of Green Interior Design

1. Quality Over Quantity

A well-designed and well-made piece of furniture has the potential to last several lifetimes, whereas if 'you buy cheap, you buy twice'. Furniture made from good quality materials will acquire value, character, and patina over time. So buying things that don't have to be replaced is one of the greenest game plans you can have.

What this means in practice:

• Invest in solid timber furniture rather than particle board

• Choose natural fibres (wool, cotton, linen) over synthetic

• Select classic designs that won't date

• Prioritise craftsmanship over trends

• Consider longevity in every purchasing decision

Example from our projects: In residential renovations, we often recommend retaining existing solid timber furniture and refreshing with new upholstery or refinishing. This saves money whilst preserving quality pieces that will outlast cheap replacements by decades.

My Diploma in Interior Design (Interior Design Institute, 2024) taught me to assess furniture construction quality, material performance, and design longevity, enabling clients to make informed investment decisions.

2. Reducing Consumption

Just like "fast fashion" in the clothing industry is going out of fashion, so is "fast furniture". Classic designs and furniture pieces are well made, withstand trends, and can be handed down from generation to generation.

Modular furniture is a similar example as its dual functionality means longer periods of use, as well as higher resale values.

Re-using, repairing, or re-purposing what you already own or have salvaged is a key tenet of sustainable design as it doesn't involve using virgin resources or generating additional carbon emissions.

Practical strategies:

• Reupholstering sofas and armchairs (cheaper than buying new, avoids landfill)

• Refinishing existing cabinetry instead of replacing

• Repurposing furniture for new uses

• Salvaging materials from demolition for feature elements

• Selling or donating items that don't fit new design

Example: In kitchen renovations, we frequently recommend retaining existing cabinet boxes and replacing only doors, hardware, and benchtops. This saves 30-50% versus complete replacement whilst achieving updated aesthetic and diverting materials from landfill.

From our Saravanaa Bhavan projects: We specified retaining and refinishing existing infrastructure where possible, reducing waste whilst meeting commercial requirements.

3. Ethical Production

Consider where items are made and how materials to produce them are sourced. Cheaper goods generally rely on an underpaid workforce and poor working conditions, and/or materials being sourced and manufactured through non-sustainable manufacturing processes.

Seek out pieces that are certified fair-trade and carbon-neutral, opt for organic fabrics, furniture made from certified FSC wood (Forest Stewardship Council).

What to look for:

• FSC certification for timber products

• Fair Trade certification for textiles

• B Corp certification for furniture manufacturers

• Organic certifications for fabrics

• Transparent supply chain information

• Australian-made products supporting local manufacturing

Red flags:

• Extremely low prices (often indicate exploitation or poor quality)

• No information about manufacturing origins

• Lack of environmental certifications

• Vague "eco-friendly" claims without substantiation

As co-founder of Dezinery, I understand the importance of verifying sustainability claims. True sustainable design requires evidence-based material selection, not marketing buzzwords.

4. Sourced Locally

Consider how far materials and other items need to be transported from production to your site. As all modes of transport rely on fossil fuels, it is best to select local products from local suppliers where possible.

Benefits of local sourcing:

• Reduced transport emissions

• Supporting local economy and craftspeople

• Easier quality verification

• Shorter lead times

• Better after-sales support

• Connection to place and context

In our projects: For Saravanaa Bhavan restaurants, we specified locally sourced timber meeting commercial fire ratings, reducing transport emissions whilst supporting Australian suppliers. For Moves International office, we sourced locally manufactured workstations.

5. Natural and Organic

Since so much of our time is spent indoors, it is important to consider the materials we are bringing into our homes and workspaces. Organic, renewable, and recyclable products have little or no harmful effect on our health. For example, low-VOC paint is less likely to trigger asthma or allergies.

Prioritise materials that:

• Are natural and renewable (timber, wool, cotton, cork, bamboo)

• Have low or zero VOC emissions

• Are recyclable at end of life

• Don't off-gas harmful chemicals

• Support healthy indoor air quality

Material specifications we use:

• Low-VOC paints meeting Australian standards

• Natural fibre carpets and rugs (wool, jute, sisal)

• Solid timber flooring or sustainable alternatives

• Natural stone with low environmental impact

• Organic cotton and linen soft furnishings

• Non-toxic finishes and sealants

For commercial projects: In Saravanaa Bhavan restaurants, we specified low-VOC finishes appropriate for food service environments, ensuring both health and regulatory compliance.

Fighting Greenwashing: Dezinery's R.A.T.I.N.G. System

As co-founder of Dezinery, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate sustainability claims, especially with so many misleading "eco-friendly" labels flooding the market. That's why we developed the Product Sustainability R.A.T.I.N.G. system that is based on verifiable product-level sustainability claims, not vague broad ESG or marketing claims. Each letter stands for an aspect of greenwashing, making it comprehensive yet easy to remember.

Sophisticated enough to fight greenwashing. Simple enough to assess any product anytime, anywhere.

What R.A.T.I.N.G. Stands For:

R - Recycled Content - Low: 0-49%, Medium: 50-84%, High: 85-100%

A - Assembly Location - Where the product is assembled or manufactured (Australia/Overseas)

T - Traceability of Materials - Origin of materials (Local/Imported)

I - Impactful Design Origin - Where sustainability begins in the design process (Australia/Overseas)

N - Next Life Options - Can the product be reused, recycled, or returned through take-back programs? (Yes/No)

G - Generational Use Lifespan - Low: 0-3 years, Medium: 3-7 years, High: 7+ years

Each product includes supplier verification date, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Why R.A.T.I.N.G. Matters

Fights greenwashing: Six criteria give a quick, complete evaluation. If a product claims to be "green" but scores low in multiple categories, the facts speak for themselves.

Empowering and memorable: Easy to remember, so you can assess any product anytime, anywhere to make informed, eco-conscious choices.

Transparent and non-judgemental: Highlights trade-offs for consumers, opportunities for suppliers and micro-manufacturers without expensive accreditation.

Supplier-verified: Data is provided and confirmed by suppliers. Dezinery controls all updates with date stamps showing when information was last verified.

Built for the long term: Designed to shift how people think about consumption, not just sell products.

How I Use R.A.T.I.N.G. in Design Projects

When specifying materials and homewares for 360 Design Studio clients, I apply the R.A.T.I.N.G. framework:

Example 1 - Residential Kitchen:

• Storage containers: High recycled content (R: High), Australian-made (A: Australia), long lifespan (G: High)

• Textiles: Organic fabrics (N: Yes for recycling), traceable materials (T: Local)

• Homewares: High generational use rating ensuring longevity (G: High)

Example 2 - Commercial Fit-Out:

• Products with verified recycled content meeting commercial requirements (R: High)

• Australian-made where possible reducing transport emissions (A: Australia)

• Durable products with extended lifecycles (G: High)

Why this matters for designers: The R.A.T.I.N.G. system helps me distinguish genuine sustainability from greenwashing. Instead of vague "eco-friendly" claims, I can explain exactly why specified products meet environmental criteria whilst also meeting performance requirements and building codes.

At Dezinery: We only list products that can be transparently rated using the R.A.T.I.N.G. system, ensuring our marketplace offers genuinely sustainable homewares. This practical marketplace experience informs my design specifications at 360 Design Studio.

Circular Economy Design in Practice

Beyond the R.A.T.I.N.G. system for product selection, I apply circular economy principles to entire projects:

Circular economy means:

• Designing out waste from the start

• Keeping materials and products in use

• Regenerating natural systems

How we apply this:

• Material life-cycle assessment

• Waste reduction strategies

• Upcycling opportunities

• Durable material specification

• Design for disassembly

• End-of-life planning

Example: In our projects, we've saved clients $5,000-15,000 through upcycling existing items whilst diverting materials from landfill and reducing embodied carbon.

Energy Efficiency in Green Design

Lighting: LED lighting achieves 70% energy reduction compared to halogen. In Saravanaa Bhavan restaurants, LED lighting met commercial lux requirements whilst dramatically reducing energy consumption.

Natural light optimisation: Studying space orientation to maximise natural light, reducing artificial lighting needs.

Thermal performance: Specifying appropriate window treatments, insulation, and materials to reduce heating and cooling requirements.

Water efficiency: Selecting WELS-rated fixtures (5-star where possible).

Common Greenwashing to Avoid

Vague claims:

• "Eco-friendly" without specifics

• "Natural" without verification

• "Sustainable" without evidence

• "Green" without certifications

What to demand instead:

• Specific certifications (FSC, Fair Trade)

• Quantifiable data (VOC levels, recycled content percentage)

• Transparent supply chain information

• Third-party verification

• Systems like R.A.T.I.N.G. that provide complete evaluation

The 360 Design Studio Green Design Approach

Qualifications:

• Diploma in Interior Design, Interior Design Institute (2024)

• Design Institute of Australia member

• Professional indemnity insurance

• 24 years financial and project management experience

• Co-founder, Dezinery (marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares)

Our sustainable design services:

• Application of R.A.T.I.N.G. system for product evaluation

• Material life-cycle assessment

• Circular economy design principles

• Waste reduction strategies

• Upcycling and repurposing existing items

• Specification of products with verified recycled content and longevity

• Local sourcing prioritisation

• Energy-efficient lighting and fixtures

• Low-VOC finishes and organic materials

• Design for longevity not trends

Service Areas:

• Most Sydney suburbs (in-person)

• Remote design services Australia-wide

The Bottom Line

Green interior design requires quality over quantity, reducing consumption through reuse and repair, ethical production verification, local sourcing prioritisation, and natural organic materials for health.

True sustainable design requires formal training in material science, life-cycle assessment, circular economy principles, and building performance. It means using systems like R.A.T.I.N.G. to verify sustainability claims and specifying materials that are both environmentally responsible AND meet performance requirements.

Sustainability should never compromise function, durability, or building code compliance.

If you are planning your next renovation, contact us to find out how we can make your space greener whilst ensuring it's beautiful, functional, and code-compliant.

About the Author: Vinti Verma holds a Diploma in Interior Design from the Interior Design Institute (2024) and is a member of the Design Institute of Australia. She specialises in sustainable commercial interior design and cosmetic renovations with environmental focus. As co-founder of Dezinery (Australia's marketplace for recycled and reusable homewares), she developed the Product Sustainability R.A.T.I.N.G. system to fight greenwashing and bring practical expertise in circular economy principles and sustainable material specification. Based in Sydney with remote services available Australia-wide.

Contact 360 Design Studio: Email: info@360designstudio.com.au | Phone: 0411 086 116 | Web: www.360designstudio.com.au

Learn more:  Commercial Interior Design | Project Management 

Learn more about the R.A.T.I.N.G. system: www.dezinery.com.au