Reusing furniture, repurposing flooring and adopting sustainable materials and lighting that consume less energy, protect natural resources and lower emissions from the manufacture and delivery of new products is desirable. Natural materials like wood, rattan, clay and stone add warmth and lightness to home decor.

Wondering how to get into retro designing in an eco-friendly way? Try these tips:

  • Buy reclaimed. Reclaimed wood is an environmentally sound choice, given its versatility and growing popularity. It can be used for countertops, flooring and walls. It saves the time, money and energy that would be required to produce a similar and newer product.
  • Deconstruct your home. Before tearing down walls, see what you can salvage and reuse. Consider everything from light fixtures to flooring, tile, bricks, cabinets and molding.
  • Consider buying pre-owned materials — a cost-effective way to redo your home. Salvage shops often have high-quality cabinets in great condition.
  • Reface instead of replacing. Consider repainting cabinets. New doors and drawers can also give tired cabinets a whole new look.
  • Visit salvage yards and antique shops. Consignment shops are great places to visit for items such as doorknobs, light fixtures and even mantels.
  • Add skylights. If you don't like using lights in the middle of the day, install skylights to provide natural lighting. Strategically place them in the most frequently used spaces throughout the day, like the kitchen, sitting room or powder room.
    • Install shades to deflect sunlight when necessary. Skylights can help reduce your total energy consumption too.
  • Repurpose kitchen work tops, such as marble that has already been used.
  • Work with reclaimed hardwood panels. They are preseasoned, so they won't warp once placed. Scaffold boards are strong and reasonably simple to get, and they have a unique texture that suits both floors and display walls.
  • Consider cork, which has excellent acoustic and thermal characteristics, and when it is used as flooring, it is soft and springy, wipeable and waterproof.

Time to go shopping

Visit local flea markets, yard sales and antique stores to find one-of-a-kind pieces that have been redone with new upholstery or paint — ideal for a lived-in look at a fraction of the price of something new while supporting sustainability and eco-friendliness. The nonprofit Habitat for Humanity has stores that sell salvaged materials, furniture and appliances from remodeled or demolished homes, as well as items from store closeouts and surplus material from contractors, distributors and manufacturers.

The review site Yelp conducted research that shows that searches for reclaimed materials are up by 38%. Many home projects are currently being centered around getting back to the root of materials. Strip down lacquered cabinetry to expose the unfinished walnut underneath, or replace existing countertops with a marble slab with raw edges.

Using sustainable materials and lighting that consumes less energy looks good too. They bring a soft, modern aesthetic that is rooted in organic wood tones and clean, natural colors with the absence of excess, creating a positive impact on well-being and inspiring a sense of connection with nature.

Vintage or refurbished elements can add uniqueness and charm. With repurposed flooring, you can use pallets, copper pennies and recycled wood materials. Reusing furniture, repurposing flooring and adopting sustainable materials and lighting — current decor trends — stem from retro style reemerging in modern ways.