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Natural shades, natural materials and cozy decor, reminiscent of the surrounding nature — eco-style in the interior is especially popular now, when life takes place in a frantic pace of big cities and you want to slow down at least in your own home. In this article, we tell you what to consider when creating an eco-friendly design to make it relevant and convenient for life.

All about eco-interior design

Peculiarities
style rules
— Palette
— Materials
— Furniture
— Decor

Peculiarities

The name speaks for itself: the main feature of this direction is environmental friendliness. This is a fairly young style that appeared at the end of the 20th century as a counterweight to the sterile-technological hi-tech. Ecological problems came to the fore, more and more people began to lead a more conscious lifestyle. It is impossible to say exactly where and when this style originated, but Scandinavian and Japanese designers are considered the founders, who, like no one else, know how to combine natural motifs and functionality.

In the interior, eco-style is expressed more by content than through form. There are a number of key features, and their visual embodiment can be anything. Therefore, as a rule, eco-style does not exist by itself in its pure form, but includes elements of some other direction. The most popular combinations are with boho, scandi, minimalism, contemporary, loft.

Main style markers:

• Eco-friendly materials.
• Natural colors.
• Natural decor.
• Good lighting, lots of natural light.
• Conciseness, beauty in simplicity.

• Built-in appliances or models with a «soft» design.

Let’s look at them in more detail below.

Ecostyle in interior design

Let’s figure out how to apply all these rules in different interiors.

Color spectrum

This direction is characterized by a calm, mostly light palette. It is based on natural shades: all variations of beige, gray, brown, as well as white and black. But the choice is not limited to them, any natural tones that can be found in nature will do:

• Grassy, ​​olive, emerald and other green tones.
• Light blue, cornflower blue, azure, deep blue.
• Ocher, terracotta, lemon, straw, brick.
• Muted purple, grayish lilac, etc.

Brighter colors are best used as accents, and the base should be neutral. The space can be completely monochrome or include rich colors that complement each other well and are found in nature: for example, beige and blue, brown and green, terracotta and dark gray.

Thinking through the palette, focus on natural landscapes and what colors they have. It can be an ocean shore, a jungle, mountains, a hot desert or a garden with fruit trees. Pay attention to the textures, because on different ones the same color is revealed differently. Choose warm, tactile matte or semi-matte surfaces, avoiding cold chrome details and an abundance of gloss.

Decoration Materials

The main requirement for finishing is that it must be environmentally friendly. It is desirable to use natural materials, but their high-quality and safe alternatives are acceptable.

Suitable for walls:

• Paper, textile or vinyl wallpaper. The latter are suitable for almost all rooms, including wet areas (kitchen, hallway, bathroom), but take washable moisture-resistant models. Paper and textile canvases are suitable for a bedroom, nursery, office or living room. If you need a durable and safe coating with an anti-vandal effect (for example, when there are pets or active children in the house), pay attention to glass wallpaper. This is an artificial, but environmentally friendly material in which mold does not start, it is easy to wash and can be repainted several dozen times.
• Dye. Can be used in any room, for the kitchen, bathroom or hallway you will need a waterproof composition.

• Decorative plaster. A very versatile material: a large selection of compositions (a mineral base is best suited for living rooms), colors and relief. With the help of plaster, you can imitate anything: brickwork, rust, wood, silk, stone. It can also be smooth, like regular paint.

• Ceramics — can be both ordinary tiles and porcelain stoneware. These are strong and durable materials that are not afraid of moisture, temperature extremes and fire.
• Wall panels. Wooden or MDF are suitable, but it is better to refuse plastic and cheap chipboard in an eco-friendly interior. They can close all the walls, but most often the panels are used accentuated: for example, to decorate the wall behind the TV, sofa or headboard, as well as to zone the room.

For the floor, use:

• High-quality laminate — choose a high-class flooring, and also pay attention to eco-laminate. This is an analogue of the usual, but without formaldehyde in the composition.

• Parquet — wooden flooring will be the best option for eco-style, but it has a significant drawback. This is a high price compared to other coatings, so the parquet board is not suitable for a budget interior.

• Engineered board — differs from parquet in composition (only the top layer is wooden, the bottom layer is made of MDF), lower price and type of panel connection. For parquet, this is a lock, and for an engineering board, a tenon-groove.

• Cork is a modern eco-friendly coating made from natural wood raw materials. Thanks to this, cork is absolutely safe for health, while it costs less than solid wood. It can be used in a room where an allergic person lives, since ticks, harmful bacteria and fungus do not start in such a floor.

Furniture

There is no place for cheap plastic and acid shades in the eco-interior. Furniture should be a natural continuation of a calm finish, echoing it in color and texture.

Suitable materials — wood in any form, plywood, cork, wicker elements, eco-leather for upholstery. Choose models with a simple form, leaving sophisticated ornate silhouettes for classics, and futuristic metalwork for high-tech.

In the kitchen eco-style should have a concise and reliable set, a dining group with a table or bar counter and chairs, as well as, if necessary, additional storage systems. Wood, MDF, tile or backsplash paint, stone, solid wood or ceramics for countertops are suitable for the cooking zone. Wicker chairs, wooden or plywood shelves, country elements will look good.

In the living room sofa takes center stage. Choose high-quality upholstery, preferably washable fabric or eco-leather. A soft group can be supplemented with armchairs, poufs or even a hammock — especially if the interior is decorated in a boho style. You will also need a coffee table, a TV stand and a couple of storage systems: a rack, a sideboard, a wardrobe or open shelves.

For the bedroom you need a comfortable bed (the base can be made of wood, MDF, pallets or upholstered), bedside tables or shelves next to it, as well as a spacious wardrobe or a combination of open rail and chest of drawers. Optionally added workplace, dressing table, seating area. The simpler the furniture, the better — the main focus should be on decor and textures.

Hallway — if possible, abandon the standard massive cabinet with blind doors in favor of more compact light furniture. Use stylized wall hangers: for example, raw crossbars with branch hooks look organic.

In bathroom eco style is expressed mainly through decoration and decor. From furniture, you need the main storage system — it can be a vintage or simple cabinet under the sink, a rack or a locker. If the furniture is wooden, it will need a protective impregnation against moisture.

Decor

Details play a key role in this style — they complete the image of the room, create a relaxed atmosphere and form a connection with nature.

Required decor elements:

• Textile — its texture and color decide, if not everything, then a lot. These are curtains and bed linen made of natural fabrics, soft blankets, woven carpets, mats, tablecloths, napkins, towels in the kitchen and bathroom. Suitable linen, cotton, chintz, matting, wool.

• Ceramics — dishes in the kitchen, vases and decorative plates in the living room, bedroom and hallway, clay candlesticks in the bathroom.
• Figurines — can be ethnic or abstract. Figures made of unpainted clay look interesting.
• Beautiful wicker lampshades — for an eco-style chandelier in the living room, pendant lamps in the kitchen or a floor lamp in the office.
• Fresh flowers or dried flowers in vases.
• Mirrors — they fill the space with light and visually make it larger. Wooden or wicker frames look interesting.
• Pictures and posters — let them be on a natural theme.
• DIY decorations: for example, wall panels, painted plates, macramé tapestries or coasters.

And, of course, we must not forget about living plants, which must be in any eco-interior. It can be a couple of small planters with succulents or a whole home greenhouse — even the most modest flower will add an element of wildlife to the atmosphere, help you relax and bring natural bright colors. Arrange pots of your favorite plants anywhere from your kitchen countertop to your bathroom vanity. The main thing is to choose the right breeds so that they are comfortable in the conditions where you place them.