Choosing a living room furniture set to compliment your sustainable home improvement

Earth Day, held on April 22nd each year, is rarely celebrated or mentioned in mainstream media these days. But, with it just having passed, it is a good time to be thinking of ways that you can reduce your own energy use, water conservation, and other waste. There are many home improvement projects that you can do to reduce your energy usage and choose biodegradable yet durable materials. 

Any sustainable home improvement projects should be complimented by an equally sustainable and generally eco-friendly furniture. Choosing furniture of natural, long lasting materials, particularly those that are easily renewable, can help you make a positive impact on our environment.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while choosing furniture for your remodeled home or room addition.

Most durable and long-lasting materials

There are some natural materials that last a long time, even though their crop can be harvested annually. One might wonder why these materials do not seem to be as popular. The fact remains that there are three main types of furniture that will last a long time, then eventually biodegrade and return to the earth safely.

Rattan wicker

There is a lot of confusion as to whether something is rattan, wicker, or both. In truth, rattan is the material used to create the furniture, but wicker is the weaving method in which it is constructed. Rattan wicker is extremely strong. With proper care it can last decades. In fact, King Tut’s tomb had an obviously unused rattan wicker chair that was still strong and useable centuries later. 

Since rattan is a natural fiber it will be biodegradable to reduce waste. Rattan is also a renewable resource that can be harvested annually. 

Bamboo

Bamboo is one of the strongest stalks known to man, and furniture constructed of high quality bamboo can last many decades with proper care. Bamboo crops turn around about every 9 to 12 months. When the bamboo is beyond use, it will eventually biodegrade back to the earth.

Bamboo is a great choice because it is often cheaper than other sustainable options.

Solid wood heirloom furniture

Traditional furniture, and other heirloom furniture designed to be passed down through generations, often relies on a hardwood construction. The most commonly used woods for heirloom furniture are cherry, oak, walnut, and mahogany. While the living room furniture set may need to be reupholstered and the cushions replaced at some point, the furniture can last many years. 

Choose upholstery of easily renewable resources

Instead of getting synthetic polyesters and poly blends, look for these fabrics made from cotton, hemp, linen, or other fabrics of purely natural fibers. Using biodegradable upholstery and cushions makes them easier to dispose of when no longer of use. When combined with metal frames, this type of living room furniture can be completely recycled or will biodegrade harmlessly on its own. Although wood frames will last much longer than metal, they are also harder to dispose of.