Smart Solutions: Keeping your home decor out of landfills

Earth Day may have come and gone, but efforts can always be made to better protect the planet. For example, a new report revealed that over 12 million tons of home decor is sent to landfills each year in the U.S. The study, from the interior experts at online custom framing service Level Frames, examined Sensoneo municipal solid waste figures to reveal per-capita home decor waste volumes across the nation.

Discovering that over 26 billion pounds of home decor items are sent to landfills in the U.S. each year (EPA figures) shows the scale of the disposal challenge. According to the latest figures, furniture and accent pieces dominated the category, while carpets and rugs also added waste to landfills in the same period.

Rugs were found to be the most commonly discarded item in U.S. households, with an average lifespan of just 4.5 years.

California, Florida and New Hampshire were said to be the largest contributors of decor waste per person, revealing geographic variations in disposal activity. Michigan placed among the states with the most sustainable home decor choices for disposal.

In a recent press release, Danielle Castagna, custom framing and interior design expert for Level Frames, shared the importance of choosing timeless solutions over trends.

First, to reduce waste and maximize value, select classic decor that will last. “As trend cycles speed up, it can be easy to feel like your home needs to be constantly updated, but when furniture and decor become nothing more than trend pieces, waste and environmental impact increase,” she says.

In order to step off the trend treadmill and decorate more sustainably, invest in high-quality pieces that are flexible. “Timeless design doesn’t have to be boring; it’s about choosing decor that can adapt and be styled in different ways,” adds Castagna.

Custom frames can add long-term value to your decorative selections. “A high-quality frame designed around your tastes can last for decades and you can change the art or photo inside as your style evolves,” she explains. “This way, you can refresh your room and limit waste at the same time.”

Homestyle caught up with Castagna who found the sheer amount of home decor that goes to landfills very surprising. “A lot of this comes down to the growing popularity of inexpensive trend-led pieces, similarly to what has happened in the world of fast fashion,” she says. “My hope is that more awareness around these stats will encourage shopping habits that are more sustainable.”

She also shared the following tips:

“If it’s time to let go of a home decor item, let landfills be the last resort,” adds Castagna. “Instead of throwing items away, consider passing them on to someone or donating so that their stories can continue.” Her suggestions include local thrift stores, community groups and other organizations that accept these pieces and can give them a second life.

Lastly, she says: “If your home decor item is damaged in some way or just showing lots of wear and tear, consider repairing it before replacing it. Sometimes you can revive a treasured item with a lick of paint, a light sand or a tightened screw.”

For the full study, go to: https://www.levelframes.com/blog/home-decor-report-fast-furniture-in-america.

Jeanine Matlow is a Metro Detroit interior decorator turned freelance writer specializing in stories about interior design. You can reach her at jeaninematlow@earthlink.net.  

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Home decor waste: Tips for sustainable choices