Fast deco: say goodbye to disposable decoration and opt for sustainability

What is fast deco?

After fast fashion, now comes fast deco: a phenomenon that consists of consuming furniture and decorative objects in the same way as you change your shirt. Easy to buy, quick to deliver, but just as quick to throw away.

Sofas, coffee tables, shelves, beds... often sold at low prices, these products are mass-produced, in materials that are not very durable, with an obsolescence that is almost programmed. Marketing presents them as trendy, but their life cycle is extremely short.

Behind this apparent modernity, fast deco raises real environmental and social issues.

The consequences of the fast deco

The consequences of fast decorating are far-reaching, both for the planet and for our consumption patterns. Behind the low prices and attractive designs, it hides a major ecological impact. Most of this furniture is made from unsustainable raw materials, often from uncertified forests, with no real traceability. They are then produced on the other side of the world, mainly in Asia, before travelling thousands of kilometres to our homes. This intensive transport generates significant pollution, both in CO₂ and plastic packaging. And once installed, these decorative objects often only have a very short lifespan. Their design does not allow them to be dismantled or repaired, which makes them difficult to recycle. Quickly damaged or obsolete, they usually end up in landfill, adding yet another layer to the volume of waste generated by the furniture industry.

In social and human terms, the abuses are just as worrying. Manufacturing is often outsourced to factories where working conditions are poorly controlled and rarely fair. Design, for its part, is standardised, mass-produced without originality or history, and often copied from passing trends. The result is soulless furniture, designed to be replaced the very next season. The quality is minimal, with thin, hastily glued parts that are not very robust and impossible to repair. Many of these products do not meet French or European safety standards, which can pose a real risk, especially in children's bedrooms.

Adopting fast-decorating furniture often means responding to a quick need or an accessible desire, without always measuring the overall impact of this choice. Yet this model of consumption, based on constant renewal and low durability, can contribute to a form of waste and a loss of meaning in our relationship with objects. Without feeling guilty, it is possible to rethink our habits by favouring more sustainable alternatives. Opting for locally made furniture, with robust materials and a real commitment to quality, means choosing an interior that lasts, that makes sense, and that is more respectful of the environment. It's also about giving value back to the things that surround us, by focusing on sobriety, transmission and the pleasure of well-equipped homes.

ABC Meubles, a committed counter-example

At ABC Meubles, we believe in furniture that lasts, that is passed on and that lives on.

For more than 20 years, we have been designing and manufacturing solid wood furniture that will accompany families for decades to come. Our furniture is made in our workshop in Normandy, with expertise and attention to detail.

Going against the tide of fast deco, we've chosen a different path. We work with solid Landes pine (or solid beech), robust woods from sustainably managed forests. Our furniture is designed to be solid, functional and, above all, durable. Everything is made locally, in short circuits, to limit our carbon footprint and maintain total control over the quality of our products.

Our finishes also respect your health and the planet. We only use water-based varnishes, with no solvents or volatile organic compounds. It's an ethical and ecological choice, but also a guarantee of safety for your home.

Each piece of furniture is designed to be dismantled, repaired and transformed. Some models are modular and upgradeable, so they can be adapted to individual needs over time. And because we refuse to over-produce, we make our furniture to order, avoiding unsold stock and wastage. As manufacturers, we also make spare parts for our furniture available for life, to guarantee their longevity and make repairs easier.

Our commitment is based on a rigorous eco-design approach. We use no toxic glues or polluting composite materials. The furniture is finger-jointed, a clean and reliable technique that guarantees longevity without compromising the health of users. When glue is required, we choose only E1-rated glues with very low formaldehyde emissions that comply with the strictest European standards.

Finally, we pride ourselves on transparency: our furniture is actually made in France, in our own workshop, with no distant subcontractors. What you buy from us is a promise kept. No misleading marketing, no greenwashing.

And to take things one step further, we have chosen to have our products assessed by the organisation Eco Impact, which gives each piece of furniture a clear, independent environmental and social rating. It's a way for us to make our approach even clearer, and for you to consume with complete confidence.

Below is a selection of our rated products

Twin bed (80x190, 80x200, 90x190 et 90x200 cm)
High sleeper bed Sylvia with inclined ladder (90x200, 120x200, 140x190, 140x200 et 160x200 cm)
Stackable bed (80x190, 80x200, 90x190 et 90x200 cm)

Why choose French companies like ABC Meubles?

By choosing a French manufacturer, you are actively contributing to a dynamic local economy. You're supporting employment and the transfer of know-how, and helping to keep a human-scale business alive. It's also an environmentally responsible choice: by reducing transport distances and limiting unnecessary packaging, you're reducing your carbon footprint. Buying locally means opting for greater proximity, but also for a direct relationship with the people who make the products. If you need advice, spare parts or customisation, our customer service team is accessible, responsive and knows your furniture inside out. Finally, it's an approach that is part of an ethical and circular model: well-designed furniture can be repaired, passed on and recycled. At ABC Meubles, nothing is designed for obsolescence; each piece is made to last, to evolve, and to accompany generations.

Conclusion: why not slow down?

Fast deco flatters our desire for change, but it encourages us to buy quickly, throw things away quickly... and forget that the beauty of a piece of furniture lies in its durability.

Opting for eco-designed, locally made, solid and healthy furniture is a sensible choice, for you and for the planet.

🔎 Also read :

ABC Meubles, transparency with the Eco Impact Score

Our commitment to eco-friendly furniture

Tips for looking after your wooden furniture

Posted in: Our eco-responsible advice