Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
“I want to furnish my home sustainably, but I don’t have much money. How do I do it?”

There is this idea that living more sustainably is expensive, but it absolutely does not have to be. You can furnish your home to be a beautiful, warm and colourful place in a way that is good for the planet but good for your wallet too. We chatted to interior designer Chiara Effroi Lutteri about how she created a home that’s just that: poppy, practical and filled with lower-impact choices – all on a shoestring budget.
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1

Hej Chiara! Can you tell us a little bit about the vision for this home?

Chiara: With pleasure! I designed this home for a pair of adult siblings, where the apartment originally belonged to the sister and then the brother moved in later. As it's a one-bedroom, we had to come up with creative solutions to make the space livable and we did it all on a tight budget. Just as importantly, we wanted to express that the choices we make at home can reduce our impact on the planet. So this home, while being budget-conscious, was furnished with more sustainable choices in mind.
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1

How did you manage to do all of that in one home?

Chiara: With this home, we thought about functions and furniture differently, seeing how we could find simple ways to add onto what was already there, rather than replacing it all with new things. So, for example, rather than buying a brand-new bed, they found another BLÅKULLEN upholstered bed in the As Is section at IKEA, which could also be used as a sofa if the sibling moves out. Instead of buying a bigger dining room table, they combined their two tables to make a longer, adjustable table. We also made an affordable room divider using 100% more sustainable cotton fabric, which can be opened as closed as needed.
 
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1

You mentioned As Is. Can you tell us more about that?

Chiara: The most sustainable furniture to buy is the furniture that already exists, so buying secondhand is a great way to start making more sustainable choices. In my opinion, every trip to an IKEA should include a stop at the As Is section! Here you can find all kinds of products – end of range, returned items, or floor samples – for a fraction of the original price.
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1

What advice do you have for first-time home furnishers?

Chiara: Choose furniture that can follow you throughout your different life stages. People often speak about “investment pieces”, which brings up images of expensive items. In my mind, a great investment piece is something you will use for years to come, even with a lower price tag. The modular ENHET series is just that. If you need some extra shelves in the kitchen for example, they click right in. It’s also easy to disassemble when life takes you on a new adventure. We used the ENHET kitchen and bathroom series and placed an ENHET open high frame with shelves in the workspace for just that reason.
 
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1
Ask a designer: living more sustainably on a budget image 1

We couldn’t help but notice the embroidered furniture. What inspired that?

Chiara: Colour plays a big role in this home so we’ve livened up some more subdued pieces like the IVAR and BAGGEBO cabinets with bright geometric embroidery. You can also give untreated wood furniture a lick of paint in a new hue.
16 items
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RAST, chest of 3 drawers RAST, chest of 3 drawers
New lower price

RAST

Chest of 3 drawers, pine, 62x70 cm

Old Price: 69,99
49,99
MELLTORP, table MELLTORP, table

MELLTORP

Table, white, 125x75 cm

59

KNAGGLIG, box KNAGGLIG, box

KNAGGLIG

Box, pine, 46x31x25 cm

14,99

LOHALS, rug, flatwoven LOHALS, rug, flatwoven

LOHALS

Rug, flatwoven, natural, 160x230 cm

79,99

TÅNUM, rug, flatwoven TÅNUM, rug, flatwoven

TÅNUM

Rug, flatwoven, assorted colours, 60x90 cm

5,99

MULIG, clothes bar MULIG, clothes bar

MULIG

Clothes bar, white, 60-90 cm

3,99

BAGGEBO, cabinet with glass doors BAGGEBO, cabinet with glass doors

BAGGEBO

Cabinet with glass doors, metal/white, 34x30x116 cm

35

HANNELISE, cushion HANNELISE, cushion

HANNELISE

Cushion, multicolour, 50x50 cm

8,99

BLÅKULLEN, uph bed frame with corner headboard BLÅKULLEN, uph bed frame with corner headboard

BLÅKULLEN

Uph bed frame with corner headboard, Knisa medium blue, 90x200 cm

149

LAGKAPTEN, table top LAGKAPTEN, table top

LAGKAPTEN

Table top, white, 200x60 cm

40

ENHET, drawer front ENHET, drawer front

ENHET

Drawer front, oak effect, 40x15 cm

7

GLYPEN, mixer tap GLYPEN, mixer tap

GLYPEN

Mixer tap, stainless steel effect

49

Energy efficiency class
SKÅDIS, pegboard SKÅDIS, pegboard

SKÅDIS

Pegboard, white, 76x56 cm

14,99

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SKÅDIS

Pegboard, white, 76x56 cm

14,99

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TRÄDKRASSULA, duvet cover and pillowcase TRÄDKRASSULA, duvet cover and pillowcase

TRÄDKRASSULA

Duvet cover and pillowcase, white/blue, 150x200/50x60 cm

6

Stock Notification

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TRÄDKRASSULA

Duvet cover and pillowcase, white/blue, 150x200/50x60 cm

6

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ENHET, kitchen ENHET, kitchen

ENHET

Kitchen, white/oak effect white, 323x63.5x241 cm

1 225,47

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ENHET

Kitchen, white/oak effect white, 323x63.5x241 cm

1 225,47

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ENHET, high fr w shelves

ENHET

High fr w shelves, anthracite, 30x30x180 cm

95

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ENHET

High fr w shelves, anthracite, 30x30x180 cm

95

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