How To Approach A Home Aesthetic With Sustainability In Mind

When it comes to an overall aesthetic, our home is mainly a palette of white and black with wood. It's a great blank canvas for seasonal changes and pops of color...but also a minimal palette that I've always been drawn to and never tire of. I love incorporating natural elements (dried grasses and florals, rocks, and reclaimed wood) and always a mix of old with new–vintage textiles, unique finds from travels, and family heirlooms can be found throughout our home. I fall somewhere in-between a minimalist and a maximalist but like everything to serve a purpose or bring functionality to the room. I also keep my toddlers in mind when making any design decisions, as I don't want any areas of our house to be off-limits with anything too precious.

One area I'm conscious of and try to always consider when it comes to design is sustainability and making eco-friendly swaps whenever possible. Going slowly room by room is a great and easy way to start. I started in our kitchen a couple of years ago swapping our plastic for glass containers and being more conscious of our waste. Slowly I've been working my way through our house and, most recently, gave Rex's room a bit of an upgrade. We swapped out Rex's mattress and got him a new Avocado Green Mattress, pillow, and new bedding. Avocado Green Mattresses are made with nontoxic natural wool and organic cotton, they're eco-conscious (and both recyclable and biodegradable, so they're good for the planet), and they're handmade in California, which I love. Avocado Green Pillows are also nontoxic and made with natural and organic materials. They sleep cool and provide contouring support for all sleeping positions. They're also machine washable, a feature I can't live without when it comes to my kids. As a mom, I just want to feel like I'm doing everything I can to make my child's environment the best it can be, and that means creating an environment that reflects our green-minded values.

Making sustainable and eco-friendly design swaps doesn't have to be overwhelming or mean sacrificing style. There are so many areas in a home that can be easily reconsidered—from bedding and mattress purchases to natural material selection and incorporating vintage. Start with small changes or with one room, and slowly work your way through your home.