Various images of indoor wall gardens with the words "simple ways to green your apartment." Click to visit post.I’ll admit it. When I write posts about sustainable home design and decor, I’m usually thinking about a house. But that’s just because I currently live in a house and have for the past ten years. But guess what? I lived in apartments for six years before that.

And guess what else?

It really doesn’t matter what kind of home you live in – apartment, condo, townhouse, tiny home, bungalow, split level, two-storey, mansion – turning it into a eco-friendly haven involves pretty much the same steps.

Still, I understand it’s nice to have information tailored specifically to your living situation. And that’s what this post is all about.

Ready for some simple, eco-friendly apartment ideas? Of course you are!


Note that this post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on a link and make a purchase a small percentage of the sale goes to yours truly. Please know that I only link to products that are good for the earth, good for the soul, or both!


Green Apartment Furniture and Decor

Much like in a full-sized home, greening your apartment decor is an important – and simple – step. There are so many eco-conscious options out there and sometimes they’re even more affordable than conventional decor.

  • Shop secondhand. Visit thrift stores, scour you local online buy and sell – heck – even ask your friends and family members if they have gently used items they aren’t digging anymore. Nothing is more affordable than free!
  • Choose sustainable materials. If you just can’t find what you’re looking for secondhand or have a very specific idea of what you want, then buy furniture and decor made from materials such as bamboo, cork, responsibly-managed wood, metal, glass or that contain recycled content.
  • Hang light blocking curtains. Not only do curtains look nice, they can also keep your apartment cool by blocking direct sunlight. Once again, check out thrift stores for secondhand finds or for anything that can be turned into curtains such as sheets, blankets – even shower curtains! Or support an artisan by purchasing handmade curtains from Etsy – like these ones made from recycled saris.
Greening an apartment isn't all that different from greening a house. Try out these eco-friendly apartment ideas, such as choosing sustainable furniture and decor - like these curtains made from recycled saris, which will help keep your apartment cool during the day.
Curtains made from recycled saris by FabricNCraft.

Green Apartment Maintenance

One of the pluses of living in an apartment is that the building maintenance and cleaning crew usually take care of the grounds and common areas. And depending on your apartment’s policies, they may also come in to change lightbulbs or fix leaks. Speaking of lightbulbs and leaks…

  • If you’re lightbulbs aren’t LED, make sure they’re changed over. If bulbs are the building’s responsibility, ask for LEDs or offer to pay for them yourself. Yes, they’re expensive up front. But they’ll save money on your electricity bills and put less strain on natural resources.
  • As for that leaky faucet – get it fixed asap. Leaky faucets are more than just an annoying dripping sounds, they’re also wasteful and pricey. The average American family loses 10,000+ gallons of water to small leaks per year!
  • There are lots of other maintenance-related areas you can green, such as cleaning with non-toxic cleaners, recycling your paper and plastics and creating an indoor composting station. You can either make your own apartment-sized composter or buy something like the adorably named Worm Factory, which is made from recycled materials and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Greening an apartment isn't all that different from greening a house. Try out these eco-friendly apartment ideas, such as an indoor composter - complete with worms! It's the perfect way to get rid of kitchen scraps in an eco-friendly manner.
Worm Factory 360 by The Squirm Firm.


Green Apartment Garden

Gardening isn’t just for people with big yards! Container gardening has long been a way to have your own little garden within a limited amount of space. But thanks to an upswing in the grow your own movement, apartment gardening has climbed to a whole new level – literally!

  • Grow up. There are so many ways to utilize the vertical space in your apartment for gardening, but probably the easiest is with a fabric vertical garden you can simply hang on your wall and fill with soil and plants. DIY one, look for one secondhand, or buy one made from non-toxic felt.
  • Choose apartment-friendly edibles that are easy to grow in a small indoor space and will also provide you – and your neighbours! – with food. Check out this list of fifteen edible plants you can grow in your apartment.
  • If you want to make life even easier for yourself, try out one of these DIY self-watering planter ideas. Most of them are made using upcycled items or from materials that cost less than $10. Sweet!
Greening an apartment isn't all that different from greening a house. Try out these eco-friendly apartment ideas, such as a vertical garden. It's a great way to grow your own organic food - all while helping to purify your apartment's air.
64 Pocket Vertical Garden by Ogrmar.

I also really like this infographic by Downtown Apartment Company, which provides a few more simple eco-friendly apartment ideas – plus it’s really pretty!

Greening an apartment isn't all that different from greening a house. In fact, since an apartment is often a smaller space - it can be even easier! This infographic by Downtown Apartment Company provides helpful and simple eco-friendly apartment ideas.
Image Courtesy of Downtown Apartment Company.

Happy apartment living, friends!


LET’S BE TREEHUGGERS TOGETHER!

Subscribe to have weekly treehugger tips + the latest Of Houses and Trees posts delivered directly to your inbox!

Of Houses and Trees Subscribe

OH, AND LET’S BE FRIENDS TOO…

Larissa Swayze Facebook Larissa Swayze Instagram Larissa Swayze Twitter Larissa Swayze Pinterest Larissa Swayze YouTube


PIN ME!

Greening an apartment isn't all that different from greening a house. Check out these eco-friendly apartment ideas that are simple, affordable - and fun!

Posted on July 10, 2019

Former architectural technologist. Current treehugger.

I’m here to help you green your home – and your life.

LET’S BE TREEHUGGERS TOGETHER!

Subscribe to the Of Houses and Trees monthly newsletter and I’ll send you my FREE list of “The 8 Best Places to Buy Eco-Conscious Decor Online.”

What on earth is sustainable design? Learn all about this eco-focused design method and read the latest posts about green architecture, interior design and decor.

Sustainable living is more than just a thing treehuggers talk about. It’s about making conscious choices everyday. Read the latest posts on living with the planet’s wellbeing always in mind. 

Visit the Of Houses and Trees sustainable product directory and support brands trying to make a difference in the world.

Find out more about our 40 acres of land in Parkland County, Alberta and the sustainable home we built amongst the trees.

Need help creating the home of your dreams? Care about the planet? You’ve come to the right place! check out my affordable, sustainable e-design services.

Having a had time choosing paint colours? I’ve got you – and your walls – covered with an interior paint palette sure to compliment your home.

Have questions about creating an eco-conscious home? Go ahead – ask me! Sign up for one of my free online interior design consultations and ask me anything you want. 

A living room decorated in a mix of vintage and modern pieces.
Simple Ways to Green Your Apartment

2 thoughts on “Simple Ways to Green Your Apartment

  • August 31, 2020 at 2:35 pm
    Permalink

    So many great ideas to decorate! From the recycled furniture and materials to growing your own plants and herbs. Thinking differently about what we use to decorate and what we use is so much fun and you feel good about what you are doing for the environment. Nice article, thanks!

    Reply
    • August 31, 2020 at 4:24 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks so much Mark! Glad you liked it 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.