Interior Design with a Conscience: Sustainable Practices from a London Interior Designer

The built environment now accounts for 34% of global CO₂ emissions and consumes 32% of all global energy¹ — and the gap between where we are and where we need to be is widening. Emissions from the sector have increased by 5% since 2015, moving in the opposite direction of the 28% reduction required by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets.²

As a luxury interior design studio that London-based clients have trusted with their most significant properties, our decisions carry real environmental consequence. This is not peripheral to our work — it is central to it.

Below, we set out the five principles that guide our approach on every project, using our Chelsea, Fernshaw commission as a live case study.

1. Reduce, Re-use and Recycle

The first question we ask on any project is not what needs to be added, but what can be retained. Research consistently shows that refurbished buildings exhibit the lowest carbon footprint of any construction type, owing to the sustainable practice of reusing existing materials and the benefits of thoughtful retrofitting. That principle shapes every decision we make from day one.

As interior designers in London working across some of the city’s most architecturally significant addresses — from interior design Chelsea commissions to projects in Kensington and Belgravia — we encounter a consistent pattern: perfectly good materials being discarded simply because they no longer suit an aesthetic. We approach every project with the intention of reversing that.

On this Victorian apartment, the existing kitchen was in perfectly good condition, but no longer suited the character of the space. Rather than sending it to landfill, we found it a new home — carefully removing the units to prevent damage and arranging collection directly from site. The same discipline was applied throughout: wardrobes in the principal bedroom and third bedroom were renovated and redecorated rather than replaced; existing ironmongery was assessed, reclaimed and reinstated wherever possible; and a perfectly functional shower room was refreshed with new brassware and a mirror rather than stripped out entirely.

What this takes is method, not magic. There are well-established channels for responsibly rehoming cabinetry, appliances and fixtures, and we use them consistently. The result is a meaningful reduction in both waste and the embodied carbon embedded in new materials.

2. Address Embodied Carbon — Not Just Energy Efficiency

When our practice first began writing about sustainability, the conversation in high end interior design was focused almost entirely on operational energy — the carbon generated by heating, lighting and running a home. That remains important, but the profession has since developed a much clearer understanding of embodied carbon: the emissions locked into the materials we specify, from raw material extraction through to manufacture, transport and eventual disposal.

Embodied carbon accounts for 11% of total global emissions. Crucially, the cyclical nature of interior renovation means the cumulative embodied carbon of repeated refurbishments can ultimately exceed that of the original core and shell construction.³  This is why material selection is not simply an aesthetic decision — it is a carbon decision.

For any luxury interior design practice, this tension sits at the heart of every specification. The materials that define a high-quality finish — stone, bespoke joinery, artisan tiles — all carry significant embodied carbon. Our responsibility is to specify them with precision, avoid unnecessary replacement, and choose lower-impact alternatives wherever they meet the standard our clients expect.

On Fernshaw, this shaped choices at every level: composite stone work surfaces over quarried marble, fabrics with high natural fibre content to avoid the carbon-intensive FR treatment process, and low-VOC, plastic-free, carbon-neutral paints. Every specification is now evaluated not only on quality and longevity, but on its environmental footprint.

3. Ensure Energy Efficiency

Period properties are not known for their thermal performance, but there is always meaningful progress to be made within the constraints of an existing building. On Fernshaw, we installed a smart heating system with individual room thermostats to allow precise, responsive temperature control and eliminate unnecessary energy use. Roman blinds were fitted throughout — reducing heat loss in winter and providing UV protection in summer, minimising overheating without mechanical cooling. Every light fitting is LED and dimmable. Acoustic underlay was installed throughout, which serves the dual purpose of soundproofing and adding a further layer of thermal insulation.

As an interior design studio working across London — including interior design Kensington and interior design Belgravia projects where listed building constraints frequently limit structural intervention — we are clear-eyed about what is achievable within the fabric of an existing property. On a new build or standalone home, a far more comprehensive programme of energy measures becomes possible. The principle, however, is the same: take every available opportunity, and do not leave easy gains unrealised.

4. Supplier Suitability

Supply chain decisions have a significant bearing on a project’s overall carbon footprint. For interior designers in London, where the luxury interiors supply chain is international and often complex, this requires active management rather than passive assumption.

We work with freight and logistics partners who operate on a carbon-neutral basis. We specify materials that prioritise lower-impact production processes — composite stone over quarried marble, natural fibre textiles that require no additional chemical treatment, paints that are low-VOC, non-toxic and plastic-free. Where suppliers offer verifiable Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and transparent sustainability credentials, we prioritise them.

This is an area where standards are rapidly evolving, and greenwashing is prevalent. Our role is to ask the right questions and hold the supply chain to account — something we consider a core responsibility of any serious interior design studio operating at the luxury end of the market.

5. Rigorous Project Planning and Waste Minimisation

Waste is a carbon problem as much as it is a cost problem. Over-ordering means materials go unused; under-ordering means additional deliveries and a doubled logistical footprint. On every project, quantities are calculated, verified and cross-checked before any order is placed.

This discipline is one of the things that distinguishes a considered interior design London practice from a reactive one. Efficient projects are well-planned projects. The two are inseparable.

6. Design and Make for Keeps

The most sustainable specification is one that does not need to be replaced for a generation. This is a principle we hold to be as relevant in high end interior design as it is in sustainable building — perhaps more so, given how frequently interiors are refreshed in comparison to a building’s structural fabric.

We design for longevity, selecting materials and methods that will endure, and we work with a timeless sensibility specific to the character of each property rather than chasing short-lived trends. At Fernshaw, this meant restoring original ceiling heights where dropped ceilings had been installed, removing unnecessary boxing to return rooms to their original proportions, and reinstating Victorian detailing that had been lost over time.

At the end of every project, we issue a full Client Handover File — a complete reference document containing all appliance manuals, maintenance guidance, and a full colour and materials specification map. This ensures the property can be properly maintained, promptly repaired and precisely matched, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary intervention further down the line.

The built environment will not decarbonise without designers, contractors and clients making better decisions at every stage of every project. As an interior designer Chelsea and wider London clients rely on for full refurbishments of significant properties, we take that responsibility seriously — and we are always refining how we do it.

If you wish to peruse the complete Fernshaw project in our portfolio, I invite you to discover it here.

¹UNEP

² Climate Villain

³ Perkins&Will