Timeless Eames Lounge

As interior designers my husband and I have been talking a great deal about the trends and values of our current culture and how they impact our industry.  The truth is, a lot of people would feel rather guilty for making a significant investment in home furnishings, especially in light of the poverty and suffering we see across the globe.  Wouldn’t it be more responsible to buy inexpensive interiors products and spend the rest of the money making the world a better place?

There are a few problems with this way of thinking.  The first and most obvious is that when we save money on one expense we generally forget to spend the equivalent dollars by making charitable donations.  The more complex issue is that this thinking fails to take into consideration the life cycle of what we buy.  The old adage “You get what you pay for” is still true, and more expensive furnishings are typically better constructed and will last far longer than their cheaper counterparts.  This means that in the long run, spending more at the front end can very well mean you spend the same amount of money in the long term because that item lasts twice as long before needing to be replaced.  Furthermore, half the amount of objects are taken to the landfill, because half as many are being used.  Cheap paint is typically not only thinner but more toxic than its higher grade, no-v.o.c. counterparts.  Cheap wallpaper is usually made of vinyl and may contain pvc, one of the most toxic and problematic materials ever created by man. Cheap cabinets, carpet and carpet padding often off-gas a disturbing stew of chemicals into the air we breathe.

And what about social justice issues?  How are the manufacturers of cheap furnishings able to produce those products at such low prices?  There may be exceptions, but typically it means they’re made in third world countries.  There’s no oversight or accountability to tell us for certain that the workers have been paid a fair living wage and treated ethically.  The materials used were produced in the cheapest manner possible, which means significant quantities of pesticides and herbicides were used, and the least sustainable manufacturing processes were employed.  Cheap upholstery stuffing is arguably one of the most toxic interior materials commonly sold today.

Ikea, being rooted in Scandinavian culture, is the exception to the rule, having at least established some basic environmental protocols including the use of formaldehyde-free glues and finishes.  Of course, not all expensive products are made using non-toxic materials, but chances of better construction and materials increase with quality products.  Buyers need to educate themselves on what to look for, or hire interior designers educated regarding environmental issues.  In terms of life-cycle and environmental cost, isn’t it better to purchase (for instance) a timeless sofa that’s eight-way hand-tied and will last for 20 years, needing only to be reupholstered in the interim, than to purchase something that will look shoddy within five years, go into the landfill, and need to be replaced?  Our society’s issues have grown so complex that we can no longer afford to look at ethics and economics in a simplistic manner.  It’s time to educate ourselves on the true cost of our interiors.