Veganism isn’t just a movement when it comes to food. The ideology has infiltrated the beauty and fashion industries, and now it’s impacting interior design.
But making the decision to use décor that is free of animal products and byproducts can be intimidating. While eschewing a leather chair for a plant-based fabric might sound easy enough, selecting items such as paints and finishes with hidden ingredients can require a bit of detective work, as most brands don’t come with a detailed list of materials used.
“Almost everyone has feather pillows, a down duvet or a wool carpet,” said Risha Walden, principal designer and founder of New Jersey–based Walden Interiors. “To replace everything containing animal products would be a costly and non-sustainable option. But we don’t need to change what happened before; we just need to change going forward.You can keep the pieces that still work and fit your lifestyle.”
Mansion Global asked Walden and two other design experts for their advice on selecting and adding vegan products to your home.
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Watch out for Hidden Materials
“Vegan interior design starts with knowing that animal products are a huge part of home design. Some of the many animal products utilized in interior design are leather, down, fur, silk, wool, bone, horn and shell. Understanding and knowing what home products are made from is overcoming the biggest hurdle.
“I always question what elements create the product. Ask a salesperson or online representative to aid in your decision making. If you are looking at an upholstered item such as a sofa, the contents are usually easily verifiable such as the fabric, the stuffing or fill content. The frame will generally be wood and/or metal. The challenge is knowing what was used to make the finish, the paint or the glue in the furniture.These elements can contain animal byproducts such as hide glue, particularly if a piece is made overseas.
“You don’t need to compromise your style with vegan design. Continual innovation in the industry is making it possible to replicate animal products while adding benefits such as durability and color fastness.
“You don’t have to jeopardize your comfort either. With known allergies to feather and down, for example, manufacturers have created alternatives that can deliver comfort up to their standards. I often illustrate this point by having clients compare Poly-fil throw pillows to down-filled pillows—no-one can tell the difference.”
—Risha Walden, principal designer and founder of New Jersey–based Walden Interiors
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Approach Vegan Interior Design Holistically
“Many materials marketed as vegan alternatives are made with synthetic fibers and harmful chemicals that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polluting indoor air and causing discomfort. Seek out ethically sourced natural vegan materials with low or no VOCs, such as bamboo silk or textiles, and wallpapers made from cruelty-free, plant-derived materials.
“When incorporating vegan design, it’s essential to take a holistic approach and consider how we can customize our homes to create mindful, supportive spaces that reflect our values. For example, a custom kitchen can provide dedicated space to accommodate a large quantity of produce by utilizing under-counter refrigerator drawers combined with wall-mounted baskets and bins for room-temperature items.
“Throughout the home, consider incorporating materials and patterns referencing natural imagery that encourage mindful connectivity between ourselves and the surrounding natural environment. We love the Matilija Poppy wallpaper from Kale Tree, which features joyful illustrations of a California wildflower that evoke spring within the home all year round.”
—Sarah Barnard, California-based interior designer and founder of Kale Tree, a company that produces eco-friendly textiles, wallpaper and home décor
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Unlikely Materials Make Great Options
“There are all kinds of agricultural fibers that are finding their way to become equivalents of leather. So instead of using leather and talking about how harmful it is and that it’s from animals, I prefer to talk to clients about some wonderful pineapple leathers. There are many more positive stories you can tell about problem-solving materials that use existing waste.
“Regenerative design is another lovely practice—instead of doing less harm, it’s doing good. Hemp features heavily in regenerative design because it’s fast-growing and doesn’t have a big water footprint. Hence, it can be used in so many ways. I’ve known it for decades for its use as fabric. But hemp fiber can be compressed into board and used in a decorative way or as an equivalent to engineered flooring. An American product called HempWood is a great example of a different way to use hemp. They say it’s 20% stronger than oak and grows 100 times faster.”
—Chloe Bullock, designer and director of U.K.-basedMaterialise Interiors and author of “Sustainable Interior Design”
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