Eco-friendly Home Design

Our civilization has been advancing at a great pace these last one hundred, one hundred and fifty years, and we have achieved so much in terms of technological advancements in all fields. We have been doing this with little or no regard to our natural environment and the consequences of this have become fairly obvious in the last few years. Our planet is being polluted on all levels and, in order to avoid a natural disaster, a new trend has been developed so as to minimize the damage we do to our planet’s atmosphere, soil and waters. Protecting the environment has become one of the greatest priorities for every country and company and we should also take it into account on a personal level, no matter what we do.

A Green Home, a Safe Home

As far as home decoration and interior design are concerned we have also seen a trend of using natural and biodegradable elements to suit the need of protecting our natural habitat. The point is to use natural elements which, after they have served their purpose, can be disposed of without harming the environment. Another option is to use the materials that can later be recycled and reused. There is another reason why an eco-friendly home is a good idea, aside from being good for the environment on a macro-level; it also protects the health of the people living in that house. It is fairly obvious why this is so. Avoiding toxic elements while designing your home will make it cleaner and healthier and this is a great perk in anybody’s book, especially if you have children or a baby on the way.

Going green is not an easy task; we all have to agree on that, especially when there are so many things to think about. Things can get really complicated, really fast, if you don’t know what you need to keep in mind. First of all, if you really want to go green, ask around about any of the so called “eco-friendly products” before you pull out your wallet and buy it. You would be surprised how many companies twist the meaning of the phrase “eco-friendly product”. For example, some of them will remove one of the elements used in their products that harms the environment and immediately put a green stamp on it, regardless of the fact that there are 10-15 more toxic element left in it.

The best advice is to take it slow and gradually transform your home into a better one. We are going to try and help you remember all the things you should keep in mind when redoing your home.

Energy Conservation

Let’s start with the obvious thing, shall we? If you want a green house, you have to conserve energy, there is no doubt about it. There are many ways to do this and, along with helping the planet, you will also be helping your budget. Most of the energy a household uses goes on heating, somewhere around 40%. Most homes are not designed to be energy efficient. By losing heat we also lose energy, so we should check for the points where we potentially might be losing our heat and reduce that loss, since this isn’t really eco-friendly or economical. There are other things to think about of course, such as energy-efficient light bulbs and household appliances and so on. Also, solar panels, or other sources of green energy you can use, are a great idea.

Green Materials

When you look at the materials you use to decorate the interior of your home, you need know whether they are environmentally safe. These days, the materials that are mostly recommended are stone, wood, bamboo and so on. For example, stone is recommended as indoor decorative material for home with people who have allergies. Stone provokes much less allergic reactions than any other material. Stone tiles are also a good idea since they can be used to improve the look of your home. There is a special kind of stone tiles, called mosaic stone tiles, which are smaller and can be arranged in patterns of your liking.

Furniture That’s Good for the Environment

You can furnish your house, make it look great and still satisfy the ecological aspect of home decoration. Green furniture has been around for quite a while now and there are many big companies that are in the business of making it. This furniture is made from materials from sustainable forests and has a very low level of toxic materials. They can easily be assembled and disassembled and are well suited for recycling. They last long and can easily be repaired.

Paint That Is Pro-Nature

We all remember led paint and the negative effects it had on the health of the people living in led painted environments. When eco-friendly paints first came out, they were quite expensive, but due to high demand (thanks to the positive attitude of people around the world), the prices have drastically gone down. You can now paint your house without worrying about the toxic chemicals that are used in its manufacturing.

If you want more detailed instructions on how to arrange different rooms of your house so they can be beneficial to your health, you can find many blogs and websites all over the web. Naturally, the setup for the adult bedroom, the child nursery and the living room won’t be the same. There are specific details that you need to pay attention to.

Be Green, Don’t be Mean

The rise of popularity of eco-friendly materials and technologies has caused a massive plummeting of prices for this kind of merchandise. The time has come when you don’t really have a real excuse not to go with eco-friendly technology. The modification of your home to a green environment should be a long term process, so you don’t need to do it all at once. As you start doing this you will notice the changes in your own attitude, health and all-around self-esteem. Preserve your environment and it will preserve you.