Friday, January 27, 2012

Eco-Friendly Design Trends for Fall 2011

While at the Las Vegas World Market Center last week, it was obvious that eco-friendly design is a trend in interior design that is only getting stronger.  With 5 million square feet of showroom space, there was so much to see and explore.   In almost every showroom I saw examples of eco-friendly design, also referred to as sustainable, green, environmental, and recycled design.  It’s clear that manufacturers are attempting to leave a smaller environmental footprint by using recycled materials.  The trend is toward more natural materials that are made from reclaimed woods, recycled metals, and even recycled fabrics.
I saw lots of furniture made from reclaimed woods.  These are woods that were previously used for other purposes.  The woods have a rustic, weathered look, which has become very popular.  Many of the manufacturers who don’t use reclaimed woods are creating furniture that has the same rustic look and finish.
Reclaimed wood furniture
This reclaimed wood table is one example of the many I saw.  Note the grayed, rustic look of  the wood.  This finish creates a warm, inviting feeling, as if the table had been in your family for generations.  The wicker chairs are also made from natural materials.
Natural Wood Lamps
These natural wood lamps caught my eye in one showroom.  Their rustic, natural shapes create lots of personality.  And they’re not just for a rustic home.  These lamps would look fabulous in an eclectic living room that blends contemporary and rustic pieces.
I really enjoyed seeing the designs in one of my favorite area rug showrooms.  Their new introductions included area rugs made from recycled denim jeans.  Four by four inch squares of denim were sewn together to create a fun, one-of-a-kind area rug – perfect for your favorite teen’s room.  They also had an area rug created from recycled men’s ties.  The ties were sewn together to create a unique rug that is also a piece of art.  In another showroom I saw throw pillows sewn from recycled clothing.  Now that’s something I’d never seen before!
Anything we can do to minimize our carbon footprint improves our environment and helps save the earth.  Watch for more and more options in eco-friendly design.  Let me know what you find!  If you missed my post on Fall Color Trends Direct from the Las Vegas Market, just click here.
Until next time,

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