Non-toxic Carpeting

While the trend during the 2000s may have been to replace carpeting altogether with hardwood or tile, carpets and rugs still held on to 60% of the market share. Sustainably minded homeowners were quick to make the switch; however, many homeowners were reluctant to give up the comfort and insulation provided by carpet manufacturers.

Many older carpets indeed contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, and endocrine-disruptors. Even new carpeting is known to contain carcinogens, including formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene. While none of this sounds reassuring thus far, many carpeting manufacturers fashion non-toxic carpet from natural fibers and wool. Look for carpeting made from jute, seagrass, sheep's wool, and sisal that is not manufactured or treated with toxic glues and chemicals.

Give Fair Trade a Fair Home  

Cristina Miguelez also adds that in living rooms over the next decade, "It's all about the Fair Trade market. Sustainability is a broad term, and right now, the focus is on making sure that every item that you're acquiring is both environmentally friendly, but also produced in a fairly and sustainably. By looking for things labeled Fair Trade, you don't have to do as much digging" to determine the materials' provenance. 

Miguelez also reminds homeowners to stay vigilant in their use of fossil fuels in the living room. "Using window treatments to control heat and light, getting energy audits done to stop energy leaks, and creating that tight building envelope can ensure a home is more sustainable at all times." Sounds advice as we enter a new decade of mindful sustainability.

Made With Renewable Resources

When buying new furnishings, ask a lot of questions and find reputable answers to make sure your new couch or lounge, curtains or, carpet have been sustainably sourced and produced. What materials were used to make the item? "Bamboo is a wonderfully renewable resource," Miller says. "It grows quickly, is extremely sturdy, and does not need to come from any natural habitats of endangered creatures or the Amazon rainforest." 

In a Mydomaine.com article on 2020 living-room trends, Mikayla Keating, a designer with Decorist.com, said, "With wellbeing and sustainability on the rise, the biggest trend I see is the use of natural materials and textures. These humble materials like hemp, rattan, cane, and jute can add a huge impact to a space without feeling trendy or overdone." 

Keating goes on to mention "biophilia," a design process that brings elements of nature—from increased natural light and views to the outdoors, to natural materials and textures—into our homes. "I predict that this trend will take the next decade by storm with its organic nature." Keating said.