There are a number of things you can do in and around your own home at the 555TEN Midtown West apartments to boost NYC’s environmental friendliness. You’re probably already lessening your carbon footprint by taking public transportation, walking, or riding a bicycle to get where you’re going. And apartment living means that you’re using less energy to heat and cool your home. But still, there’s a lot more that we can all do to reduce our environmental impact even further. Here are a few easy ways to help out the planet that you can easily fit into your lifestyle.

Eat Local and Organic When Possible

The organic and local “trends” of a decade ago are now standards that many of us regularly seek out — and with good reason. Fewer chemicals and preservatives are used in the production of organic foods, and so these substances don’t wind up in our bodies — or in the Earth. Locally sourced foods require less fossil fuels for transportation and less refrigeration (read: less energy) to keep them from spoiling in transit. The Hudson Yards Down to Earth Farmers Market provides an opportunity to shop for this more environmentally friendly fare. From mid-May through mid-November, this Thursday farmers market offers a variety of foods, organic and local as well as traditionally produced and sourced. Bring your own reusable bags and baskets and reduce your footprint even further.

Don’t Just Throw It Away

A city of millions naturally generates a lot of trash, but with a bit of planning and effort, the amount that each of us throws away can be substantially reduced. Composting is an easy and beneficial way of doing this. While composting may seem difficult in a place where outdoor space is limited, compost sites, such as the Pier 76 Community Compost Drop Off, are here to help. The Pier 76 site accepts fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, teabags (with the staples removed), rice, pasta, bread, cereal, egg and nut shells, and dried and cut flowers. Make certain to remove meats and dairy, as well as any fats or oils, from your drop before delivery. For your convenience, the brown bins at the site are available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m for dropping off compost. While they don’t recycle aluminum, plastic, or paper, you can (and should) do so according to the guidelines and schedule found on the New York City Sanitation website. And, as an additional way to reduce waste, remember to ask or opt for compostable packaging when you shop.

Reuse and Reclaim

Here is an astonishing statistic: According to the Earth Institute at Columbia University, the average American discards about 80 pounds of clothes per year; and nearly 85 percent of that ends up in a landfill. While that’s a lot, it doesn’t mean you have to stop shopping. However, the next time you feel the need to update your wardrobe, consider skipping the fast fashion and make a dash (on foot or bicycle) for the chic stylings of vintage clothing at shops like Couture du Jour or Morphew. While it takes a little more effort, the hunt for just the right piece is incredibly rewarding — both for the environment and your wardrobe. Likewise, instead of throwing away your own gently used pieces, consider selling or consigning them. Donate warm coats and other practical garments to local charities that ask for them, but only if they’re in need of the items: Unwanted or unneeded clothes or shoes can cost charities money to dispose of and result in increasing their environmental footprint. 

With a little thought and effort, you can make a difference. The neighborhood around the Midtown West luxury apartments at 555TEN makes it all the easier with the availability of local markets, composting, and options to recycle and reuse. Helping NYC reduce its carbon footprint a little each day can make for big changes over the long term. Keep up the good work. The planet is counting on you.

Sleek and modern or over-the-top and baroque — your home design style is something that expresses who you are, what you value, and how you live. Aside from the layout and location, it’s one of the most essential aspects of your home. With ample space, well-thought-out architecture, and a choice location in Midtown Manhattan, the luxury apartments at 555TEN have the layout and location already taken care of. The only thing you have to think about is the style you want to bring to your no-fee NYC rentals.

While there are tried-and-true design elements that find their way into many homes, perhaps you could try giving your style an update with the latest trends — it’s 2020, after all. There’s no need to be slavish to fashions, of course, but adding a little something extra and modern to your design philosophy can pay off brilliantly.

So, let’s take a look at the latest home design trends for 2020.

Environment-Focused Design

Over the past 20 years, and with the advent of the green movement, there has been a strong focus on consumerism and its effects on the environment. That’s why a trend for the decade ahead involves looking back on what we’ve been doing wrong and correcting those mistakes for the future by designing with sustainable and ethically made products. And we’re not just talking about eco-friendly sisal rugs — think sumptuous faux-leather sofas (yes, sumptuous) and carefully sourced furniture. Another aspect of this trend places an emphasis on reusing objects. So, you can feel both hip and virtuous when bringing that gorgeous antique wood coffee table back from the weekend Chelsea Flea Market.

“Grandmillennial Style”

Publications like Elle Decor are touting “grandmillennial style” as one of the latest trends in home design. But before you start thinking it’s just another term capitalizing on the millennial demographic, take a closer look. This style of design, according to House Beautiful, who brought the term “grandmillennial” to a wider audience last fall, is the age-old tradition of mixing the old with the new. Items once thought stodgy, like chintz-pattern china, are given a new and exciting life when used as decor accessories alongside modern pieces. The style is certainly not for everyone, but perhaps a nod to it might be a whimsical way to bring a bit of 2020 into the home — even if you’re not a millennial.

Is There a Pattern Here? 

Bold and daring patterns have held a place in the eyes of designers since design began. But in 2020, patterns are no longer meant just for small accent pieces. According to Forbes, they’re meant to be used wherever they might work in the home. Geometric, illustrated, or variant-color patterns can be used for big pieces, like your dining room table. You can even use patterns on your walls, thanks to bold, new wallpapers many manufacturers are offering. If you’re renting and want to get in on the patterned-wall craze, there are several companies that make temporary but durable wallpapers that won’t harm your walls.

And if you’re not into decorating at all, perhaps the best home decor to have is a sprawling vista of NYC from floor-to-ceiling windows — like the views you’ll find at the 555TEN luxury rentals.