Going green is all the rage these days, and for good reason.
Eco-friendly decor not only helps the environment, but it can also create a soothing, healthy atmosphere in your home.
The living room is a great place to start infusing some green.
This communal space sets the tone for the rest of your home, so fill it with sustainable materials, calming plants, and energy-efficient updates.
Below are TOP fabulous green living room decor ideas to refresh your space.
For each one, I’ll provide an overview of the concept along with tips to make it work in your own home.
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Display Found Objects from Nature
Bringing natural objects indoors is an easy way to enhance your living room’s eco-friendly style.
Not only are these decorations free, foraging for them gets you outdoors exploring.
Showcase your discoveries in glass bowls, on bookshelves, or hung on the wall.
Try framing pressed flowers or ferns under glass.
Display shells and coral on coffee tables or in shadowboxes.
Hang air plants or wreaths made from foraged materials.
Get creative with natural items.
Suspend pinecones from string for rustic mobiles.
Arrange seashells to spell words or shapes on mirrors.
Stack stones and crystals into Zen cairns.
Let nature be your guide when styling vignettes.
Mimic asymmetrical clusters, gradients, and scattered compositions from the outdoors.
This creates an organic look, as if decorating with items straight from forest floors and beaches.
Beyond visual appeal, displaying natural found objects sparks joy and relaxation.
Guests will delight exploring the treasures, reminding them of fun adventures outdoors.
Found objects teach appreciation for nature’s boundless creativity and demonstrate sustainable decor at its easiest.
Upcycle Vintage Furniture
Breathing new life into old furniture is a fantastic way to add character and sustainability to your living room.
Next time you’re thrifting or antiquing, keep an eye out for solid wood pieces that have good bones but need a little TLC.
With some sanding, staining, painting, or reupholstering, you can give castoff finds fresh purpose.
Upcycling saves quality items from the landfill.
It also retains the materials, craftsmanship, and history of older goods—things that today’s mass-produced furniture often lack.
The imperfections and signs of wear will add warmth and whimsy to your space.
Plus, you get to take pride in restoring something with your own hands.
When upcycling, consider Refinishing wooden chairs, cabinets, and tables with non-toxic stains and seals.
Reupholstering faded sofas and armchairs with organic fabrics or recycled materials.
Painting tired dressers, shelves, and side tables to update their look.
Just be sure to use no- or low-VOC paints.
Incorporate Natural Materials
Natural materials inherently create a sense of tranquility while their earthy beauty perfectly pairs with green decor.
Wood, stone, jute, cotton, wool, and bamboo are wonderful options to incorporate.
For flooring, hardwood oak or maple add organic texture.
If you prefer carpet, choose wool or cotton over synthetic fibers.
Stone and tile flooring are also eco-friendly options, especially when sourced locally.
Decorate with wooden furniture, whether distressed antique pieces or modern crafted designs.
Accent tables also look lovely in finished metal, reclaimed wood, or concrete.
Use wool or cotton area rugs layered over hardwood floors to define spaces with cozy texture.
Jute and sisal rugs are natural fiber alternatives.
accessories in ceramic, stone, metal, and wood bring nature indoors.
Try stone coasters, woven baskets, metal sculpture, or wood vases.
Add Eco-Fabrics
From sofa coverings to pillows and drapes, fabrics play a big role in living rooms.
When selecting eco-friendly options, look for natural fibers like linen, cotton, and wool.
Stay away from synthetics which are petroleum based.
Linen is a natural fiber revered for its durability, relaxed texture, and subtle luster.
Organic cotton has a clean, casual look and soft feel.
Wool offers comforting warmth and sophistication.
Other great fabric choices include hemp, silk, and sustainably sourced bamboo and rattan.
Consider buying fabric made from recycled materials like plastic bottles, old clothing, or even fishing nets.
Just check that they are free of harmful chemicals.
Fabrics with a “Oeko-Tex Standard 100” label have been tested for harmful substances and proven safe.
Look for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) logo to ensure fabrics were produced sustainably.
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Create an Indoor Garden
What could be more refreshing than living foliage?
Plants enhance mood, improve air quality, and reduce stress through biophilia—humans’ innate connection with nature.
Set the tone with large statement plants like fiddle leaf figs, palm trees, and banana plants.
Their sculptural forms make dramatic focal points.
Add oxygenating pots of snake plants, aloe vera, ferns, ivy, and philodendron.
Spider plants and pothos vines can trail from hanging planters.
Herb gardens provide fragrant greenery in kitchen windows.
Succulents are easy to maintain in bright sunny spots.
Try arranging varieties of echeveria, sedum, sempervivum, and aeonium.
Groupings of small plants make living wall collages.
Mount wooden box planters or vertical gardens to maximize space.
Place potted plants on bookshelves, side tables, and the floor.
Aim for a natural look with asymmetric arrangements.
Bring In Natural Light
Sunlight and fresh air are essential to a healthy home.
Maximize natural light through large windows, skylights, and glass doors.
To filter harsh glare, install bamboo shades, wood blinds, or sheer curtains.
Paint walls light hues like whites, greys, and pale blues.
Use mirrors to reflect and amplify light.
Glass lamps, vases, and tables also help brighten a room.
Strategically place plants near windows, where they will thrive with sufficient sunlight and illuminate spaces via their verdant hues.
Open windows regularly to circulate fresh air.
Consider installing ceiling fans to keep air moving.
Choose Sustainable Flooring
Green flooring options have come a long way in recent years.
There are endless eco-friendly possibilities that are attractive, durable, and healthy for homes.
Hardwood floors sourced from responsibly managed forests are a timeless choice.
Opt for low-VOC adhesives and finishes to install them.
Bamboo is a quickly renewable grass that makes a handsome floor.
Seek sources adhering to sustainable harvesting.
Cork is naturally antimicrobial and comfortable underfoot.
For a modern vibe, polished concrete retains and radiates heat well.
Tile made from recycled glass or porcelain is another smart option.
Just avoid grout sealants with harsh chemicals.
If carpet is preferred for softness and warmth, use natural fibers like untreated wool.
Install an organic cotton rug over hardwoods to define a sitting area.
Select Non-Toxic Paints and Finishes
It’s wise to avoid conventional paints and finishes which emit harmful VOCs.
Thankfully, environmentally-friendly options produce zero or very low emissions.
Milk paint is naturally VOC-free and compostable.
Derived from milk protein and clay, it adheres to many surfaces without sanding or priming.
Eco-friendly low- and no-VOC latex paints are available from all major brands.
Look for Green Guard or Green Seal certified options.
When staining or protecting wood, choose no- or low-VOC products.
Use natural waxes and oils like beeswax, tung oil, and citrus solvents.
For a zero-VOC option, whitewash creates a Scandinavian look with diluted white paint and visible wood grains.
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Install Energy Efficient Lighting
Energy efficient lighting helps reduce your home’s carbon footprint and saves money on electricity bills.
There are many attractive eco-friendly lighting options for living rooms.
LED (light emitting diode) bulbs consume up to 90% less energy and last far longer than traditional incandescents.
Warm white shades give off a natural glow.
Try placing Himalayan salt lamps around the room.
The soft pink rays create a soothing ambiance while purifying air.
Swing arm sconces, articulating wall lamps, and task lighting reduce the need for overhead lights to be on all the time.
Look for fixtures with natural materials like rattan lampshades, ceramic bases, and wooden details.
Dimmer switches let you control brightness.
Use Responsibly Sourced Furniture
Eco-conscious furniture brands are joining the sustainability movement.
Seek out pieces produced from responsibly harvested wood and natural or recycled materials.
Solid wood furniture built to last, perhaps even becoming heirlooms passed down generations, is better for the planet than cheaply made trendy pieces.
Look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification on wood furniture, indicating responsible forestry practices.
Reclaimed and locally-sourced woods are other good options.
Rattan and bamboo are abundantly renewable natural resources often used for eco-friendly furnishings.
Just ensure they are ethically sourced.
Companies like IKEA, Crate & Barrel, and West Elm now focus on sustainable materials and transparency in their manufacturing processes.
Do some research to find brands that align with your values.
Use Repurposed Objects As Decor
Give cast-off items from around your home or found treasures a creative new purpose by repurposing them as decor.
You will keep useful materials out of landfills and save money.
Turn an old printer’s tray into a holder for greenery or sculptures.
Hang a vintage ladder horizontally for towel storage or floating shelves.
Use glass jars, bottles, and containers found at thrift stores to hold cotton balls, q-tips, candles, or dried flowers.
Display collected rocks, shells, or geodes in glass apothecary jars or terrariums.
Fill vintage tins or boxes with natural accents.
Paint or decoupage colorful patterns onto plain wooden trays, crates, or cigar boxes for wall art.
Upcycle leftover wood scraps into rustic DIY shelves.
Choose Sustainable Home Decor
Eco-conscious companies are making it easier to find home accessories with sustainable origins and natural materials.
Supporting them makes an impact with your decor dollars.
Pottery, glassware, and ceramics from local artists keep dollars in your community.
Handcrafted pieces add artisanal beauty.
Purchase vases, organization bins, and trays made from sustainable bamboo, seagrass, jute, or rattan.
Recycled glassware is also widely available.
Look for pillows and throws made from organic cotton, linen, seagrass, and undyed wool.
Natural jute and rubberwood accent pieces create earthy texture.
Support fair trade when possible.
For example, handwoven baskets provide income to artisans while connecting cultures through decor.
Implement Smart Home Technology
Smart home devices not only add convenience to your life, they can also help your home operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Smart thermostats like Nest regulate temperature based on whether you are home, saving energy.
Smart lights can be controlled remotely via apps to turn off when not needed.
Multi-device hubs like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Homekit allow you to control lighting, music, and more with voice commands.
Smart plugs let you turn electronics on and off remotely to conserve energy.
Smart power strips make it easy to completely turn off groups of devices.
Security cameras, smoke detectors, and other smart sensors give peace of mind you’ll be alerted of any issues when away from home so you can prevent or minimize damage.
✨Click to Get My 101 FREE Designer Room Ideas
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Lastly, apply the tried and true “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra to your living room decor.
From the materials you choose to day-to-day habits, keep sustainability top of mind.
Buy less stuff whenever you can.
Utilize multi-purpose furniture and decor to get more use out of fewer items.
For example, poufs that serve as seating and tables.
When making purchases, consider longevity and if you could repurpose something already on hand.
Favor quality, timelessness, and versatility in new items you do buy.
Properly maintain furnishings and decor to maximize their lifespan.
Repair or repurpose when possible instead of replacing.
Recycle packaging materials, old textiles, scrap wood or metal, electronics, batteries, and lightbulbs.
Donate or sell quality used items instead of tossing them.
Creating an eco-friendly living room is incredibly rewarding.
Not only is it better for the environment, but rooms filled with natural light, fresh air, plants, and sustainable materials have a tranquil beauty.
Hopefully the ideas presented give you inspiration and a helpful starting point.
The basics like upcycling furniture, adding plants, and choosing non-toxic paint can make a big difference.
From there, keep building on your green design skills.
Try new materials, shop small businesses, support artisans.
Little changes implemented room by room transform homes into havens.
The planet will thank you too.
This is just the beginning of your sustainable decor journey.
Enjoy the creativity and mindfulness that come with consciously curating your living spaces.
Your future—and the future of the planet—will be all the greener for it.
