Are you searching for the perfect mid-century modern living room design but also one that is environmentally responsible? Look no further. You're in the right place!It's no secret that sustainability within the interior design industry is becoming increasingly important, and for a good reason. 

Designing a living room that incorporates sustainable principles helps to reduce our environmental impact. Thus, creating a healthier, more responsible home. Achieving sustainability in a mid-century modern living room is easier than you think. It's a simple matter of choosing:

• Renewable materials and furniture
• Selecting a sustainable color palette and lighting
• Bringing nature indoors
• Minimizing waste and consumption

Follow these tips and you can create a living space that's both stylish and eco-friendly. 

Designing a sustainable mid-century modern living room is more than feeling good about reducing your environmental impact. It will also increase your home's value and can save you money in the long run. So let's dive into the details and discover how to design a stunning living room that's both timeless and eco-friendly.

Choosing sustainable materials and furniture

When it comes to designing a sustainable mid-century modern living room, one of the most crucial aspects to consider is the choice of materials and furniture. 

Sustainable material

Sustainable materials have a minimal environmental impact, in terms of both production and at the end of their lifespan. Opting for sustainable materials reduces your carbon footprint and promotes a healthier living space for you and your family.

One excellent option for sustainably-built furniture is GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD's eco-friendly furniture. At GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, we selectively harvest teak from our own tree farms, providing a renewable option to our customers. Our unique Seed To Seat process replenishes deforested cattle lands, converting them back into ethically managed forests. All of our furniture is handcrafted from solid teak, sustainably sourced from our farms in Nicaragua. Our handmade, solid wood furniture is designed to last for generations, meaning it doesn't need to be replaced. Designing with longevity in mind is another way to minimize environmental impact.

When it comes to materials, look for products made from renewable resources, like sustainably sourced teak. These materials have a lower environmental impact than traditional materials like wood felled from virgin forests or synthetic materials like plastic, metal, or concrete.

Teak wood is an excellent material for designing a sustainable mid-century modern living room. Teak has long been used in the design and fabrication of classic mid century modern furniture as it has excellent characteristics in terms of stability, durability, and rich color. Teak trees grow in tropical regions around the world and are well-known for their oily wood that’s naturally resistant to water and rot. 

The natural oil found in teak repels insects, making it an ideal choice for indoor and outdoor furniture. Additionally, teak wood harvested from sustainably managed forests, like reforestation projects, allow it to be a renewable resource. When your furniture is made from teak wood it's not just aesthetically appealing, but also long-lasting and environmentally friendly.

Production and transportation

Shipping from Central America plays a crucial role in reducing overall fossil fuel emissions due to its shorter shipping distance than from countries like China. 

China’s fast-growing economy and high energy demand have made it the largest consumer of primary energy in the world, with much of its dependence on fossil fuels. 

In contrast, Central American countries like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama have been actively working towards reducing their carbon footprint. These countries have been accomplishing this by promoting renewable resources and eco-friendly practices. 

Choosing a sustainable color palette and lighting

A true mid-century modern home goes beyond balancing vintage and modern pieces. It's also about selecting a sustainable color palette and lighting.

Durable and long-lasting materials

Consider buying furniture made with natural materials like wood and cord to add warmth and texture. These materials are durable, long-lasting, and have minimal environmental impact. Shades of green, brown, and blue create a calming and inviting atmosphere, while patterns inspired by nature, such as leaves and flowers, can add a touch of personality and whimsy. Explore the unique patterns and color palettes found on our woven chairs to find a scheme that works for you. Did you know our Mot Mot pattern is inspired by the national bird of Nicaragua?

Energy-efficient lighting

Regarding lighting, choosing energy-efficient LED bulbs can significantly reduce energy consumption. The mid-century modern style often incorporates statement lighting fixtures, so be sure to choose pieces that are both stylish and eco-friendly. 

Look for fixtures made from renewable materials like teak or recycled glass, and choose bulbs with the Energy Star label.

Natural light

Additionally, you can take advantage of natural light. Natural light sources like large windows or skylights can also help eliminate or reduce the need for artificial lighting. Not only does natural light create a warm and inviting atmosphere, but it's also great for our health and well-being.

Smart home technology

Another way to incorporate eco-friendly lighting into your living room is by incorporating smart home technology. Smart thermostats and lighting systems can help reduce energy consumption by automatically adjusting to your preferences and schedules.

Bringing nature indoors

Bringing natural elements indoors is a great way to create a calming and soothing environment in your mid-century modern living room. 

Natural materials and plants

Plants and natural materials, like teak wood, can help improve indoor air quality, reduce stress, and add a touch of hygge, coziness, and warmth to your living space. However, when choosing plants for your living room, it's essential to consider which species will thrive indoors and require minimal care. Some great options for indoor plants include snake plants, pothos, and peace lilies. These plants are not only beautiful but also help purify the air by removing harmful toxins and improving humidity levels. 

Not only do they promote sustainability by bringing the outdoors inside, but they also provide a sense of serenity and calmness that can benefit your mental health.

In addition to plants, natural materials like jute rugs, stone accent walls, woven baskets and teak can add texture and warmth to your living room while promoting sustainability. 

These materials are often made from renewable resources and come with a minimal environmental impact. They also provide a natural aesthetic that can add character and a touch of personality to your living space.

When choosing planters and pots, consider renewable options made from recycled materials or natural fibers like clay or terracotta for their biodegradable properties. Alternatively, consider upcycling existing containers by painting them or covering them with natural materials like twine or moss. At GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD we try not to waste any parts of the trees we harvest. We turn sawdust from our mill into biofuel. We also make beautiful planters and accessories out of our teak wood scraps. 

Colors and patterns

If bringing in plants and sustainable teak indoors isn’t possible, you can bring in some of that natural outdoor serenity with natural colors and patterns. Shades of green, brown, and blue can help create a calming and inviting atmosphere, while patterns inspired by nature, such as leaves and flowers, can add a touch of personality and whimsy.

One of the most effective ways to incorporate nature is by looking for furniture, like that from GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, that uses earthy tones and vivid colors. Shades of green, brown, and beige can help create a calming environment reminding people of lush forests and rich soil. 

These earthy tones can provide a solid foundation that helps ground the area, while incorporating vivid colors can help represent the vibrancy of the great outdoors. A solid balance would be to find furniture that uses an earthy color palette as the base and uses shades of bright green, blue, orange, and yellow. 

These bright colors work well because they’re found in various elements of the outdoors, such as bodies of water, flowers, and various birds and insects. The combination of vivid colors and earthy tones can help create a dynamic space that celebrates the beauty and diversity of nature. 

For example, our Izapa Armchair handcrafted in Nicaragua with handwoven polyester cord, features a wide range of solid colors and unique patterns. From a deep blue to remind you of the depths of the sea to a pattern incorporating all the earthy tones reminiscent of sitting on rich soil under a clear blue sky. 

Incorporating natural elements into your mid-century modern living room is an excellent way to promote sustainability and create a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

Whether it's through plants, natural materials, or colors and patterns, there are many ways to bring the outdoors inside and make your living space a sanctuary of peace and tranquility.

Minimizing waste and reducing consumption

Making furniture selections that minimize waste and reduce consumption are crucial aspects of designing a sustainable mid-century modern living room. By being mindful of our consumption habits and reducing waste, we can reduce our environmental impact and promote sustainability.

One way to minimize waste is by choosing durable, high-quality furniture and decor pieces that are built to last. Invest in quality pieces that are made from eco-friendly materials and designed to withstand wear and tear. Choosing quality reduces the need for constant replacement and disposal of furniture and decor.

Another way to reduce waste is by repurposing or upcycling existing furniture and decor pieces. By giving new life to old items, you can reduce the need for new purchases and reduce waste. 

In addition to choosing sustainable materials and upcycling existing pieces, we must be mindful of our energy consumption. Choosing energy-efficient appliances and light fixtures can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. 

Smart home technology, like smart thermostats and lighting systems, can also help reduce energy consumption by automatically adjusting to our preferences and schedules.

Reducing single-use plastics and other unnecessary waste is another important part of designing a sustainable living room. When shopping for decor and furniture, look for renewable items packaged with minimal waste. Opt for reusable containers, water bottles, and shopping bags, and products without excessive packaging.

Where to buy sustainable modern furniture

When it comes to buying sustainable modern furniture for your mid-century modern living room, it can be challenging to know where to start. With so many options on the market, choosing a company that prioritizes renewability and ethical production can be overwhelming.

At GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, we believe sustainable modern furniture is the industry's future. Our furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans in Nicaragua using our Seed to Seat model, to ensure that each piece has a minimal environmental impact. In a world where most things we buy are made out of energy-intensive materials like plastic, concrete, and metal, we consciously choose wood. Selectively harvested wood isn't just fully renewable, but it's also less energy intensive and less polluting than other options. 

Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our materials. Our commitment includes the following:

• Prioritizing ethical production practices.
• Reforestation - We plant hundreds of thousands of trees each year. By annually planting more trees than we harvest, a replenishing cycle is established providing both environmental and economic benefits.
• We have created tree farms in Central America on previously deforested land and have planted over 1.2 million trees to date. Each tree we plant captures carbon and positively impacts the air, water, soil, and climate.
• We boost local economies in economically depressed regions of the world by creating jobs that pay fair wages and offer safe, comfortable work conditions.
• Using environmentally responsible practices throughout our process.

When you buy eco-friendly modern furniture from GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, you're investing in a piece that's not only stylish but also eco-friendly and responsible. Our furniture is built to last. We use durable materials and timeless design to ensure that each piece is a statement of both sustainability and style. In addition to GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, other companies are making strides toward sustainability in the production of home and living goods. Look for companies that prioritize eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices when shopping for renewable modern furniture or any product for your home.

By choosing eco-friendly modern furniture, you can create a mid-century modern living room that's both stylish and sustainable. Invest in high-quality, sustainably-built pieces that are handmade, and prioritize companies that adhere to sustainable and ethical production practices. At GLOBAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT LTD, we're committed to creating renewable modern furniture that's as beautiful as it is environmentally responsible. By investing in eco-friendly modern furniture, you're not only creating a stylish living space but also supporting smaller companies that prioritize sustainability and ethical production practices.

We encourage you to use the tips and ideas provided in this post to create a stylish and eco-friendly mid-century modern living room. By making small changes and being mindful of our consumption habits, we can create a more environmentally friendly future for ourselves and our planet.