Small, simple ways to make every room healthier and kinder to the planet.
You don't have to do it all.
I just earned my Sustainability badge from the National Kitchen & Bath Association, and I loved the deep dive. It didn't change what I care about. It gave me more ways to act on it in every room of your home.
Renewed perfectly good furniture damaged by the owner's pet dog by reupholstering the sofa seat cushions and covering the club chairs with lustrous sheepskin. It made all the difference! (Photo by Kimberly Interiors)
Start with the Right Mindset
"Sustainability" is a huge catch-all term, and it can make you feel like you have to do everything perfectly. That feels like a big, scary responsibility? Great news….A healthier, more sustainable home doesn't take a complete overhaul. It doesn't have to be this way. A few small choices can improve your living space and help the environment without overwhelming you. Pick one, then another.
Keep What Works
The greenest material is the one you already own. Manufacturing, shipping, and installing new products creates carbon emissions before anything reaches your home. If you want to keep your cabinets, tile, flooring, or a sofa that just needs reupholstering, I'll do a quick assessment and talk through the trade-offs with you. If it makes sense, I'll encourage it.
Before and after: the original cabinets, appliances, and layout stayed. A beautiful Taj Mahal countertop and backsplash, fresh paint, and lighting gave the kitchen new life. (Photos by Kimberly Interiors)
Drink: Know Your Water
Overview summary of Tap Score test results
Your kitchen and bath shape what you drink every day. A simple water test tells you a lot about what's in your water, and it's now a standard offering for my clients. At a minimum, you'll know what's in your water and can decide what, if anything, to do about it. For water testing kits, I like mytapscore.com, and there are others, too. My final test results were easy to read and showed details about my water quality.
Setting up the Breathe Tech home air monitor. (Photo by Kimberly Interiors)
Breathe: Know Your Air
We think of home as a safe haven, but indoor air can be a hazard. Sorry for the bad news! I take a two-part approach:
Test first. Like water, start by measuring. I'm still learning about air monitors and am currently trying out a Breathe Tech home monitor that measures a few key air quality metrics. Stay tuned for the update!
Choose better. If you're open to it, I can steer you toward lower-formaldehyde cabinet materials, low-VOC paint, and better-made furniture, rugs, and textiles. I'll also look at ventilation, moisture, and mold risks in your rooms, and help you determine how best to move forward given your goals.
Live: Waste Less
Food Scraps
I never understood why food scraps shouldn't go in the garbage. What's the big deal? The problem is that buried food waste gets little oxygen, so it breaks down in a way that releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composted properly, those same scraps become soil. That's why I now ask clients how they handle food waste and suggest compost-friendly kitchen setups.
Remodel Without Demolishing
When a space does come apart, I plan for deconstruction instead of demolition. Cabinets, appliances, fixtures, lighting, and furniture in good condition can go to organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Make It Home in the SF Bay Area, or you can give them away through a Marketplace posting.
It's a win-win: usable materials stay out of the landfill, your donation helps a local organization or a person in need, and you may receive a donation receipt for a tax deduction. Super cool! (Check with your tax advisor.)
Before and after: the mirror, artwork, and floor tile stayed, and the plumbing locations didn't move. The new vanity, toilet, and wallpaper created an unexpected, joyful space. (Photos by Kimberly Interiors)
Final Thought
Sustainability isn't a finish line. It's a handful of thoughtful choices, made one room at a time, that leave your home healthier and a little lighter on the planet. Start with the one that feels easiest.
Thinking about a kitchen, bath, or whole-home refresh? Go ahead and book a discovery call here.
Kimberly Bentley | Kimberly Interiors | San Francisco Bay Area | Kim@kimberlyinteriors.com
