The world of interior design is always changing. Trends may come and go, but there are many timeless interior design elements that have stood the test of time. At Sugar House Furniture, we prioritize the classic designs of mission furniture to create warm, authentic, and sophisticated spaces that will never go out of style.

#1. Craftsman Elegance

Known for handcrafted architectural details and handcrafted pieces, craftsman-style design rose to popularity during the arts and crafts movement of the 20th century and remains popular to this day. Craftsman homes incorporate natural materials, cozy spaces, fireplaces, built-in shelving, exposed ceiling beams, neutral color palettes, and lots of natural light.

Mission furniture is another element of craftsman style. It first appeared in the 1890s as a simpler alternative to the heavily ornamented art nouveau design style and prioritizes timeless elegance, making it a perfect fit for craftsman homes.

#2. Handcrafted Wood Furniture

Natural wood is always in style. For timeless sophistication, invest in high-quality, handcrafted wooden furniture instead of inexpensive particle board alternatives. 

Mission furniture is traditionally made from oak, but can also be made of maple, walnut, ash, or cherry wood. All of these varieties have stood the test of time and are not going out of style anytime soon.

To ensure your wood furniture lasts a lifetime, you have to take good care of it. Avoid exposure to moisture and wipe up any spills immediately. With a little extra TLC, your timeless wood furniture will have a place in your home for decades to come.

#3. Timeless Earthy Colors

When choosing a color palette for your home, consider incorporating earth tones and neutrals. Colors found in nature — shades of brown and green, deep oranges and yellows, and rusty reds — are both classic and cozy. 

#4. Functional Simplicity

Instead of cluttered, crowded spaces, opt for functionality without sacrificing style. Mission furniture is perfect for functionally simplistic designs; its clean lines make it an excellent choice for people who want to streamline their space while still prioritizing elegance.

#5. Natural Textures

Incorporating a variety of textures into your home’s decor is a great way to add depth and visual interest to your designs. Natural textiles such as cotton, wool, linen, and leather are great options for upholstery, draperies, tablecloths, pillows, bedding, and more. Look for wicker baskets, jute rugs, and rattan chairs along with furniture made from wood or bamboo. 

Natural materials and interesting textures are the perfect way to complement your mission furniture and will remain stylish for years to come.

#6. Statement Lighting Fixtures

Lighting fixtures perform an important function in your home, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Instead of standard can lights or cheap desk lamps, make your space pop with statement lighting fixtures. 

Look for a unique buffet or table lamp to illuminate your desk or bedside table. Arc lamps are a great space-saving design for living rooms, and their angle can be adjusted to your needs. 

#7. Mix and Match

Mission furniture blends seamlessly with many different design styles, so you don’t have to feel constrained to one specific aesthetic. You can incorporate elements from many different styles into your timeless design, such as industrial, farmhouse, or even mid-century modern. 

However, when mixing and matching different styles, you need to be careful to still create a cohesive look. Choose a throughline that all your decor follows, such as color, material, or texture. This ensures your space doesn’t look too cluttered or overwhelming. 

#8. Sustainable Design

Sustainability is timeless. Natural materials, waste reduction, and renewable energy use are all incredibly important elements in any home. To ensure the future of the planet, you need to carefully select materials and products for your home to reduce negative environmental impacts.

High-quality mission furniture is a great way to incorporate sustainability into your home. Because it’s made of natural materials, it is biodegradable, meaning it will return to the earth at the end of its lifetime instead of sitting in a landfill for millions of years. It will also last a long time, so you won’t have to replace it, therefore reducing demand for new products. 

Timeless Mission Designs from Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture is Utah’s premier destination for high-quality, handcrafted wooden furniture. With almost four decades of experience, we are experts in creating furniture and decor that can work in any home. Browse our website or visit our showroom today to find timeless pieces you’ll love!

When you’re building, renovating, or designing your home, you may not be thinking of the environmental impact of your choices. The fact is, the products we use have a significant impact on the planet, whether for good or for bad. Sustainable interior design involves carefully selected materials and products that reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the health of the environment.

The U.S. General Services Administration outlines suggestions to reduce the negative environmental impacts of the whole home and building design process, from architectural design to construction to furnishing. This blog will focus on sustainable interior design and help you create an attractive home that you want to spend time in while reducing the amount of harm to the environment. 

#1. Use Natural Materials

One of the easiest ways you can incorporate sustainable interior design principles into your home is by using natural materials whenever possible. Synthetic, man-made materials are usually not biodegradable and are hard to recycle, meaning at the end of their lifetime, they’ll spend millions of years in a landfill. You can reduce your environmental impact by furnishing your home with natural materials whenever possible.

Textiles

Textiles are used in many ways in your home. Towels, sheets, curtains, upholstery, and pillows are all categorized as textiles because they are made out of soft materials. To make a more sustainable choice, look for products made of naturally-occuring materials such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, and leather. 

Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, nylon, and acrylic. Not only are these materials not biodegradable, they actually shed microplastics whenever they’re washed, polluting the water system and harming wildlife.

Furniture

Instead of buying cheap furniture made of plastic, look for pieces made of wood, wicker, bamboo, cork, jute, and other naturally-occurring materials. However, just because something is made of natural materials doesn’t automatically make it sustainable. It’s also important to make sure the materials are ethically sourced in a way that does not damage the ecosystems in which they are found. Research the sources of furniture before buying to ensure that the business engages in responsible environmental practices.

#2. Reduce Waste

High-quality products often cost more than lower-quality options but will last much longer. If you invest in products that will last, you’ll reduce waste and ensure that you won’t need to replace them very often, which is better for both your budget and the environment.

Another way to reduce waste is to not buy things you don’t need. The more stuff you accumulate, the more you will end up throwing away eventually. Before making a purchase, think about if you really need it, or if it will be tossed out within a year. 

#3. Reuse and Recycle

Sustainable interior design often incorporates reused and recycled materials. Instead of buying new furniture and decorations, check thrift stores, online marketplaces, and yard sales to find something that will work for you. These secondhand items often need a bit of care and sprucing up, but many people enjoy breathing new life into these old products and customizing them to their taste. Plus, it’s a great way to save money! 

Once your items are too worn out to use anymore, or you want something new, try turning them into something else instead of throwing them away. Cut up old towels to make washrags, make a mosaic out of broken dishes, or sew your old curtains into clothing. There are endless ways to reuse things you already have instead of buying something new.

Once you truly can’t get any more use out of something, try to recycle it instead of throwing it away. There are many textile recycling programs across the United States that allow you to mail in your used textiles to be broken down and turned into new products. 

Whenever you can, buy products made with recycled materials. Along with recycled textiles, you can buy accessories made from recycled plastic, paper, metal, and concrete.

By using products that already exist instead of increasing demand for new products, you’re promoting circularity and reducing your impact on the environment.

High-Quality Products at Sugar House Furniture

If you’re looking for high-quality wooden furniture to use in your sustainable interior designs, turn to Sugar House Furniture. We offer mission-style bedroom, dining room, living room, office, and bathroom furniture that will last a lifetime, along with unique decor and accessories. Come visit us in Salt Lake City, Utah, or peruse available products on our website.