For an interior designer, being a bit of a planner is practically in the job description. Having a solid game plan makes every project more enjoyable, and it makes my clients happy—which makes me happy, too!
Naturally, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with big projects, and when I get into “analysis paralysis,” I know it’s time to take a breath, assess where I’m at, and take things a step at a time. This approach has served me well in many areas of my life, from design to activism, and it’s one I share with people whenever I can. The idea of redesigning a whole house—or even a whole room—can be daunting if you’re new to the idea of compassionate design. But if you’re thinking of committing to a vegan ethic for your surroundings, this three-step approach can help you make choices that you can feel good about without having to make them all at once.
Here are three great ways to ease into a compassionate approach to redesigning your home:
- Find a (Friendly) Favorite
There are many textile and design options that are wonderfully comfortable, easy to clean, and compassionate. Pick an area of your home that you’d like to make changes to, and start your journey by acquainting yourself with some cruelty-free fabrics, such as vegan bedding. Although much conventional bedding uses animal-based materials, such as wool, down, and silk, there are comfortable, durable, and luxurious alternatives, many of which are less expensive and more resilient than their animal-based counterparts. For example, check out Tencel, bamboo, modal, and cotton. Find a new favorite!
- Pick Five to Save Lives
You can’t achieve vegan glam overnight. Spend some time in the room you want to redesign, and take stock of only those items you’d want to swap for vegan materials. These might be velvet pillows, a wool throw blanket, or a leather chair. List five items that you’d like to change, and form a game plan. What would you swap them out for? What fabrics would work best with your compassionate approach and the overall look of the room? Take some time to select items you love, and incorporate them into your room. Commit to a time frame within which to repeat this process.
- Texture Swap
If you’re looking to do a more extensive project, or if many areas of your home need a compassionate lift, try eliminating one type of textile or upholstery. Do you have a lot of leather items that you want to swap with a compassionate alternative? Commit to starting your journey to vegan design by slowly replacing leather seating, accessories, or other items made with hides.
Set yourself a timetable based on your budget and on how much you want to refresh your space. Commit to exchanging all the leather in your home with humane alternatives within three months. The change that can take place when you focus on one element at a time is inspiring. Incorporate human elements into your interior design plan.
Vegan furnishings are ultra-fabulous and less expensive, and using them saves animals’ lives. Compassionate design is a win-win situation all the way around.
I look forward to inspiring others to make humane choices when decorating their spaces. I will show you endless beautiful, stylish, and comfortable options. I am here to help. I welcome all questions, comments, thoughts, and ideas. I hope my passion for compassionate design jumps off this page and excites you as much as it does me. Join the #VeganRevolution!
Deborah DiMare is a leader in cruelty-free (vegan) design and design therapy. She is the founder of the ultra-luxury design firm DiMare Design, which serves clients nationally and around the world. She combines specific textures, scents, and colors with vegan materials to create optimal living spaces you can thrive in. Deborah is a PETA advocate, has been a featured designer on TLC, and has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show. She lectures and writes articles on humane design and design therapy. Deborah grew up in New York. She lives in Miami with her daughters and her dog, Lucca, whose favorite pastime is being a total beach bum. www.DiMareDesign.com, [email protected]
