Whether you're about to decorate your new home or you're going through a remodeling process, choosing interiors is always exciting. Why don't you use this opportunity to switch to sustainable design? This practice is becoming increasingly popular, and for a good set of reasons. Using eco-friendly materials in interior design helps reduce your carbon footprint while giving your home an exciting new vibe. To help you make your home more eco-friendly while giving it a fresh new look at the same time, we've compiled a list of eco-friendly materials and ways to use them in interior design.
The best eco-friendly materials and how to use them in interior design
Applying sustainable materials in your interior design can be a challenge. It might even seem impossible, especially if you want to create a more modern or contemporary look. However, that's a common misconception because you can use eco-friendly materials in any home design.
There are plenty of sustainable materials you can use, but for this article, we've chosen four that are our absolute favorites. Trust us; once you go green, there is no going back. Soon, you'll be looking for other green upgrades to increase your home's value and lower your environmental footprint.
#1 Natural stone
Natural stone, such as travertine or marble, can be used in various ways in your home. Plus, you're nearly guaranteed to find a stone you like because of the variety of colors and patterns. For example, if you're remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, travertine is an elegant and colorful sustainable interior design material to consider.
Another advantage of stones like marble is the uniqueness of each cut. Purchasing tiles or terrazzo that contain pre- or post-consumer recycled components is a great way to go green. As a result, less design waste is generated, and your home can use even more renewable resources.
How to use natural stone in interior design?
There are plenty of ways to incorporate varieties of these eco-friendly materials into your interior design. The most obvious choices are your kitchen and bathrooms. However, you can use natural stone anywhere else in your home. For example, you can create a one-of-a-kind statement wall in your living room. Or, perhaps it's time to upgrade your fireplace, and any natural stones such as granite, marble, onyx, soapstone, or slate could be a great option. Keep in mind that you may have to move some of your belongings to storage while your home is being remodeled. The moving experts behind Brooklyn Movers New York recommend looking for a storage unit in your area.
#2 Cork
The first eco-friendly material on our list is cork. It comes from the bark of cork oak trees, and the best thing about this material is that not a single tree is cut down when it is taken from them. The bark grows back on its own every nine to twelve years, so taking it off doesn't hurt the tree the slightest.
But cork can do much more than regenerate itself. This fantastic material is also biodegradable! Plus, when the trees grow back, they don't need many resources to grow, which means that cork has a much smaller carbon footprint than many other materials. Therefore, using cork has a lot of great effects and benefits for the environment and ecosystem.
How to use cork in interior design?
There are many ways to incorporate cork into your home. Insulation around bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries can be made from cork because it's waterproof. This material is also fire retardant and has antimicrobial properties. For example, use cork in your home office and have it double as a bulletin board and an anti-fatigue mat at your standing desk.
#3 Reclaimed wood
Reclaimed wood is eco-friendly material you can use in your interior design in many ways. Reclaimed wood may be the ultimate winner regarding versatility: you can build with it, manufacture furniture out of it, and more. You can include it into pretty much any aspect of the design you are working on.
Not only can you lessen your impact on the environment, but you'll also add sustainability to your home. It's an excellent resource for environmentally friendly interior design, especially if you want your room to have an earthy or even slightly macho vibe to it.
How to use reclaimed wood in interior design?
Reclaimed wood looks good in any room, and you can use it in many different ways. You can make unique pieces of furniture, or you can use it as decoration. On the other hand, if you live in a smaller home, you might want to turn it into floating shelves and maximize space in your apartment. If you are looking to create a cozy and country home vibe, using wood is the way to go.
#4 Bamboo
Bamboo is an excellent choice for the structural components of your remodel since it offers a number of benefits. The rapid rate of bamboo's growth is what gives it a "green" reputation. It is a solid material, and it's also very flexible. It is a resource that can be easily replenished and used inside and outside of your house.
How to use bamboo in interior design?
When decorating the interior or providing a foundation for furniture, bamboo is an excellent option. For the interior of your home, you can use bamboo for the flooring and ceilings, and you can also use bamboo-made furniture, rugs, fabrics, and textiles to give your home a more natural feel and elegance. It's truly a lovely and sturdy option for planters, furniture, or decorations that can be placed indoors and outside.
Which one of these eco-friendly materials will you incorporate into your interior design?
We hope our article inspired you to use eco-friendly materials in interior design when you design and remodel your home. Remember, adopting greener habits is not just beneficial for the environment (although we feel that's a good reason on its own). It's also good for you and your family because you'll have lower maintenance costs, better air quality, and lower exposure to toxic metals.
Author bio:
Melissa Garner is an aspiring interior designer and a part-time blogger. Aside from blogging about design, she also often contributes to websites that deal with moving and real estate.