Eco-friendly or sustainable themes follow the principles of waste control, promoting a healthy environment, and reducing the use of non-renewable items. Green and sustainable designs may not mean the exact thing, but both aims to achieve a cleaner and pollution-free environment. To be precise, green homes focus on immediate needs, while sustainable designs are about positive long-term implications. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to choose wisely and consciously for your home and contribute toward a better living for everyone. When you use less natural resources and incorporate recyclable products, you already make a substantial footprint with your efforts. Here are a few suggestions to help you make your home greener.
Furniture, flooring, and rug
Walking on this path doesn’t mean you have to install solar panels or consume less electricity. While these are a critical part of a sustainable lifestyle, you can also make an impact through your décor. The materials used in floor coverings, furnishings, and others can also be a crucial consideration. So, when you shop for them, you can explore renewable materials like:
Reclaimed wood
Creating wood furniture by felling living trees goes against the practice of a sustainable lifestyle. But you can use reclaimed wood as they use old material by recycling them. You can use them in interiors. And if you have thought of a rustic theme, you don’t have to look beyond them. From barn wood mantels to coffee tables and chairs, the furniture options are endless.
Bamboo
It is not a tree but a versatile grass with excellent strength and weight. Bamboo can grow faster and is easily renewable. Since it doesn’t rely on fertilizers or pesticides much to grow, these offer ecological benefits too. You can find some great options in furniture in this material.
Cork
It can appear to be soft, but cork flooring mimics the hardwood effect. Since it comes from the bark of the tree, it supports sustainability models. You can reuse this material for its sturdiness.
Jute fibers
The affordable natural fiber can instantly elevate the earthy charm, no matter where you place it in a room. The renewable material grows quite quickly. Hence, you can make it a part of your home. Try jute rugs in décor. The durable and aesthetic appearance of the material will have a unique charm.
The choice of finishes
Paint or varnish that increases the sheen of raw material can also impact sustainability goals. Many colors contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The content can be damaging to indoor and outdoor air quality. Some finishes also come with harmful fungicides, pigments, and others. You can ditch them for earth-friendly finishes. Look for non-toxic paint, milk paint, low VOCs or biocide paints, latex paint, etc.
Bio-fuel for fireplaces
A fireplace can be a must during the autumn and winter seasons to keep yourself warm. But maintaining a fireplace is no less than a headache. If not taken care of well, it would send warm air outside and cold air inside. To ensure indoors remain reasonably warm, you can use green fuel.
Interior style
As pointed out once, rustic themes often stand for eco-friendliness. Since these use recyclable and renewable materials to keep up with the traditional countryside spirit, you can quickly reduce your environmental burden. Go to flea markets or antique stores for decorative items, for instance. In this context, it is necessary to remember that less is more. Interiors have to be comfortable and thoughtful. When you keep things at their bare minimum, you get rid of clutter. Things feel more organized, simplified, etc. And when you use less, you create less waste. Hence, it helps you reduce one of the negative impacts on the planet.
One of the standard home designs that advocate minimalism is the Scandinavian style. The theme is all about organic materials, earthiness, and rawness. You can think of using hemp, cotton, linen, and other such materials more. These make excellent choices for bed sheets and upholstery. Then, fireplaces replace the power-consuming heating devices. Scandi homes appeal to modern tastes also. That’s why it can be easier to lean on this.
Things to consider
Building a green home requires adherence to specific details. When you understand the concept, you can efficiently work toward lowering your carbon footprint. As you may have realized, conservation of resources and using durable items for waste control are some of the inherent steps. You don’t have to exert to achieve both of these. Search for a leakproof and elegant kitchen sink faucet in gold. The golden tinge enjoys a traditional vibe. So it can pair with your rustic theme. Besides that, leakage costs tons of water wastage every year. Hence, a model that takes care of this aspect can serve your purpose well.
The interior designers say that you can make every nook and cranny of your house environment-friendly with your choices. And since these choices help achieve a better environment with recycled and sustainable solutions and a beautiful home, it is worth going after these things, no matter what. Of course, it is not easy to determine everything by yourself. Then, you may need honest guidance also apart from the knowledge gained through online or other resources. Well, you don’t have to worry about this.
You can take advice from professionals. If you plan to make larger upgrades, involving interior designers can be best. From furniture to exteriors, you can discuss anything with them. For minor changes, implementing simple ideas can be more meaningful.
Designing and decorating a home has always been an exciting journey for homeowners. But when you pursue it with some higher goals, the whole experience becomes even more heart-warming and emotional. You can take pride too in being a responsible person. Still, if you are anxious, browse online stores for an idea. They can give you a hint about the choices, pricing, and utility. Also, making your house green doesn’t mean you need to renovate it right away. Smaller options can also be helpful, even if that involves replacing your leaky faucet or something else.
