Over the last few years I have really started to become more aware of my carbon footprint, and desired to implement a slow living lifestyle. As a result I have chosen to make more changes to my lifestyle, so that I can further reduce it.
One of the lifestyle approaches I’ve been attempting to adopt is Slow Living.
What is Slow Living
What is Slow Living? “Slow Living is a lifestyle which encourages a slower approach to aspects of everyday life, involving completing tasks at a leisurely pace. The origins of this lifestyle are linked to the Italian slow food movement, which emphasised traditional food production techniques in response to the emerging popularity of fast food during the 1980s and 1990s”. Wikipedia.
Lets Make a Change
Some of the changes I have made are to shop at home if I need something to complete a task. Firstly, I look at what I already have in my home and consider the possibility of using it as is or adjusting it slightly so that it will suit the task. I also try to shop in my local area and support small businesses.
Another change is that I allow some breathing space in my social calendar. This way I can enjoy and have quality time with friends and loved ones rather than rushing from one social event to the next.
If I desire to purchase something I stop, pause for a few days and spend some time considering where I intend to store the item in my home. What is its purpose? Do I need or want it? Is there something I already have that I could use instead? Could I rent it, borrow it, buy it pre-loved. Am I prepared to maintain the upkeep on the item and so on.
How Interior Design Helps a Slow Living Lifestyle
Then there is the challenge of working in a fashion-driven industry and thinking through how this impacts my work as an Interior Designer. I’ve come to realise that what I do minimises my client’s carbon footprint. In my opinion, the whole purpose of working with an interior designer is to minimise unnecessary purchasing.
How do we do this? We build relationships with our clients to learn and understand their unique lifestyles. We then design an interior that will suit their lifestyle and that they will love being in and using. Next we use our proven strategy to implement the design slowly over time and with intention. This process saves travel time too and from stores trying to work out which individual furniture pieces to purchase. This is due to the room being designed as a whole, not as separate pieces. It saves frustration when you discover the piece doesn’t fit in the intended space, due to miss measuring. Our design includes detailed drawings showing room and furniture measurements, allowing space for user movement through the room.
What is our Process
Our process will save you from becoming overwhelmed by all the decisions you need to make. We use a plan, design, and strategy that will result in you intentionally purchasing the right items once. Where possible these pieces will be quality investment pieces that won’t need to be replaced for many years.
All of this leads to our client’s homes interiors leaving a more minimal carbon footprint. Our client’s homes won’t become a revolving door of ‘latest trend’ or ‘in’ furniture and furnishings. Pieces won’t be all jumbled together, in a non-stylish or cohesive way only to be put out for council pick up in 6 months’ time due to chasing the next big interior trend.
We have used this approach to our interior design for well over ten years now. We find this more thoughtful and planned approach to interior design brings beautiful results that are full of a lot of heart and soul and personal meaning.
If you would like to discover more about working with us, please reach out to us here https://mydecorator.com.au/contact/, we’d love to have a chat and see if we can assist you.
Happy Decorating,
Prue
P.S. Have you accessed our Style Guide yet? It’s free. It’s a PDF that will help you determine your unique Interior Style that you can then use as a guide when making all your decorator decisions. Whether it is buying furniture, choosing a paint colour, picking a rug this guide will help you save time and money by giving you the know-how to confidently create your dream space. Get it here: http://eepurl.com/cEqrHL