What is sustainability?

Sustainability encompasses various approaches that balance environmental, social, and economic factors to ensure long-term well-being for both people and the planet. Sustainable interior design applies these principles to create functional, life-enhancing spaces that minimise environmental impact while supporting health and human well-being.

Eight key concepts of sustainable interior design are described below, each featuring 3 key principles:

Circular Design

1. Focuses on minimizing waste through reuse, refurbishment, and recyclability.
2. Encourages designing for disassembly, modularity, and upcycling.
3. Emphasizes material selection that support a closed-loop system (e.g. cradle-to-cradle products).

An important term as part of sustainability is ‘circularity in design’ which moves from a linear economy where the products bought are sent to landfill at the end of their life to a circular approach, that ensures that materials and products remain in continuous use, focusing on extending the life cycle of products and materials.   

Instead of waste being the endpoint, materials flow through regenerative loops that maximise their value over time. Items no longer required can be re-processed to be re-reused again, such as sold second hand, repaired, revitalised and resold. Remaining materials can be sorted into individual material types and recycled and turned into other materials or products.

Biophilic Design

1. Enhances human connection to nature within built environments.
2. Incorporates natural light, ventilation, indoor plants, and organic materials.
3. Uses patterns and textures that mimic nature to improve well-being.

Biophilic design strengthens the connection between people and nature within built environments, fostering well-being, creativity, and overall health. By integrating natural elements into interior spaces, designers can create environments that reduce stress, enhance cognitive function, and improve overall quality of life.

Studies show that exposure to natural elements improves mood, reduces anxiety, and enhances productivity. By designing spaces that bring nature indoors—whether through direct or indirect connections—biophilic design nurtures a deeper relationship with the natural world.
Maximizing daylight through thoughtful space planning, skylights, and large windows supports circadian rhythms and reduces dependence on artificial lighting. Natural ventilation improves indoor air quality and thermal comfort, while integrating indoor plants helps filter toxins and increase oxygen levels. The use of organic materials such as wood, stone, and clay contribute to a sense of grounding and authenticity within a space.

Nature-inspired design elements—such as fractal patterns, flowing water features, and biomorphic shapes—evoke the calming effects of natural landscapes. Textures that replicate tree bark, rippling water, or organic movement create a multisensory experience, further enhancing relaxation and focus.

Health & Well-being

1. Prioritizes indoor air quality, natural lighting, and non-toxic materials.
2. Focuses on ergonomic and psychological comfort in design.
3. Aligns with standards like WELL Building and Fitwel for healthier environments.

The connection between the built environment and human health has never been clearer—or more important. We spend over 90% of our time indoors, making it essential to design spaces and interior products that enhance our health, creativity, comfort, and overall well-being.

With an expanding body of evidence, we now understand how to create spaces that support, rather than compromise, our well-being. We can measure and improve essential factors like light, water, and indoor air. Thoughtful design can energize our bodies, encourage movement, foster connection, inspire creativity, and promote restful sleep. Ergonomic support, toxin-free materials, and a well-balanced environment can reduce stress levels, enhancing our sense of calm, resilience, independence, and inspiration.

Low-Carbon & Net-Zero Design

1. Reduces carbon footprint by using low-embodied carbon materials.
2. Identify, Verify, and Measure Product Impacts. 
3. Optimizes energy efficiency through passive design strategies and incorporates renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal). 

The most sustainable materials are those that already exist. Prioritizing reclaimed, repurposed, and locally sourced materials significantly reduces the carbon footprint by avoiding the high emissions associated with new production.  Understanding the full lifecycle impact of materials is essential. Selecting low-embodied carbon options minimizes environmental harm, while responsible sourcing ensures healthier, more durable spaces.

Thoughtful design can optimize both sustainability and performance. Strategic space planning harnesses natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and heating/cooling systems. Passive design strategies, such as thermal massing and natural ventilation, improve energy efficiency, while integrating renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or geothermal further enhances sustainability.

Ethical & Socially Responsible Design

1. Supports fair trade, ethical labour practices, and local craftsmanship.
2. Utilizes socially responsible sourcing and supply chains.
3. Aims for equitable access to healthy and sustainable environments.

Interior design plays a vital role in shaping not just aesthetics but also the ethical and social impact of the built environment. A responsible approach to design prioritizes fair trade, ethical labour practices, and local craftsmanship, ensuring that the materials and products used in a space contribute positively to both people and the planet.

Supporting artisans, small-scale manufacturers, and companies that uphold fair wages and safe working conditions fosters a more equitable global supply chain. This includes sourcing handwoven textiles, handcrafted furniture, and other goods from cooperatives that empower marginalized communities.
Responsible material selection goes beyond sustainability—it ensures transparency and ethical accountability. This means for example choosing FSC-certified wood, conflict-free metals, and textiles free from exploitative labour practices, as well as working with suppliers who prioritise environmental and social responsibility.

Interior design should be inclusive and accessible to all. Sustainable design should not be a luxury but a standard that benefits all communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by environmental and social inequalities.

Adaptive Reuse & Heritage Conservation

1. Preserves and repurposes existing buildings and materials.
2. Reduces demolition waste and maintains cultural heritage.
3. Enhances building performance with modern sustainable technologies.

Adaptive reuse and heritage conservation are key strategies in sustainable interior design, ensuring that existing buildings and materials are preserved, repurposed, and revitalized rather than discarded. By breathing new life into old structures, designers can honour cultural heritage while reducing environmental impact.

Retrofitting and repurposing existing structures extends their lifespan, preventing unnecessary demolition and reducing the demand for new construction materials. Salvaging and reusing architectural elements—such as reclaimed wood, bricks, metal fixtures, and decorative details—helps retain the character of a space while lowering its embodied carbon footprint.
Adaptive reuse minimizes construction waste by keeping valuable materials in use, preventing them from ending up in landfills. Preserving historic and culturally significant buildings maintains a city’s identity, fosters a sense of place, and connects communities to their heritage. Thoughtful interior interventions can balance old and new, celebrating craftsmanship while meeting contemporary needs.

While adaptive reuse honours the past, integrating modern sustainable solutions improves functionality and efficiency. Upgrading insulation, incorporating energy-efficient HVAC systems, installing smart lighting, and utilizing renewable energy sources (such as solar or geothermal) can significantly enhance a building’s performance. Retrofitting with passive design strategies—such as natural ventilation and thermal massing—further reduces energy consumption while maintaining aesthetic integrity.

Water-Sensitive & Resilient Design

1. Minimizes water consumption with efficient fixtures and greywater systems.
2. Uses drought-resistant landscaping and rainwater harvesting.
3. Designs for resilience against climate change-related challenges. 

Water-sensitive and resilient design ensures that interior spaces and surrounding landscapes minimize water consumption, adapt to environmental challenges, and contribute to long-term sustainability. By integrating efficient water management strategies, designers can create spaces that are both resource-conscious and climate-resilient.

Selecting water-efficient fixtures—such as low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, and water-saving showerheads—significantly reduces indoor water usage. Greywater recycling systems repurpose water from sinks, showers, and laundry for non-potable uses like irrigation or toilet flushing, further conserving freshwater resources. Rainwater harvesting systems, including rooftop collection and permeable surfaces, help capture and store rainwater for reuse, mitigating reliance on municipal water supplies.

As climate patterns shift, interior and architectural design must adapt to increased risks such as flooding, water shortages, and extreme weather. Flood-resilient flooring, and elevated design strategies can protect buildings in flood-prone areas. Smart water monitoring systems can detect leaks and optimize water use, while passive cooling techniques reduce dependence on water-intensive HVAC systems.

Regenerative Design

1. Ecosystem Restoration and Regeneration
2. Closed-Loop Systems (Circular Economy)
3. Holistic and Systems Thinking 

Regeneration is a transformative, higher-order approach that goes beyond sustainability, restoration, and net-positive targets to actively design for health, resilience, and the thriving of life. It is a holistic worldview that recognizes humans as an integral part of nature, not separate from it, and redefines how we approach design, materials, impact, and processes.

This approach focuses regenerating the health of ecosystems—soil, water, biodiversity, and air quality—aiming to regenerate natural systems that heal and thrive. It encourages the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of materials, eliminating waste and creating circular systems that continuously cycle resources back into the economy, mimicking natural processes. Regenerative design recognizes the interconnectedness of natural, social, and built systems, working to find opportunities that work in harmony across these systems to foster positive feedback loops, enhancing the overall health and resilience of the environment.

Are you interested in joining the BIID Sustainability Committee? Find out more here.