7 Eco-Friendly Building Materials
Did you know that furniture makes up 9.8 billion tons of waste per year? All because decorators are quick to remodel their homes using the latest fads without taking a moment to create an intentional, timeless design that will look great for years to come. And that’s just in the United States alone! Broken chairs, scuffed cushions, nicked tables, cracked tiles — with a little TLC, many of these items could easily be fixed up and reinvented for a fresh purpose. But sadly, all too often these well-used items get hauled out to landfills (more info in footnotes) across the country instead.
From the first-time homeowner to the seasoned DIY aficionado, everyone is capable of integrating eco-friendly remodeling tactics into their home decorating habits. By adopting green remodeling practices, you can change the narrative of wasteful design and homemaking! After all, living a sustainable and caring lifestyle extends to all aspects of everyday decision-making — including how you outfit (and remodel!) your own home.
ECO-FRIENDLY REMODELING IS THE WAY TO GO!
Let’s be honest — it’s important to feel safe and comfortable in your living space. After all, the home is your sanctuary. Keeping your home up to date, comfortable, and inspiring is something that can’t be compromised. But other values, like sustainability, energy efficiency, and green design are also eco-friendly lifestyles that shouldn’t be tossed by the wayside, either. While reducing waste is essential, there’s no need to stop yourself from remodeling altogether. With an eco-friendly approach to home design, homeowners can effectively reduce waste and dramatically lessen their carbon footprint, all while creating a beautiful space that feels like home.
It’s important to remember that being eco-friendly goes far beyond reducing waste. While cutting back on wasted materials is a fantastic place to start, adopting a remodeling approach that is truly environmentally friendly requires thinking about a few other components, too. Here a few questions to ask yourself when trying to figure out the most eco-friendly way to remodel your home:
How will this material affect my home’s overall energy efficiency? Will it make the home more energy efficient? Or will it require extra electricity to keep things running or to maintain indoor climate control?
By using this material, am I contributing to consumer demand for a product or practice that harms the environment? For example, will my purchase of natural cowhide support consumer demand for slaughtering cows? (Hint: Most likely!)
Can this material be reused, recycled, or repurposed in the future when I’m done with it and ready for another remodel? (Hint: Wood, glass, cotton, and ceramics are much easier to repurpose than plastics and metals.)
Is this product made from harmful components, like toxins or carcinogens?
Was this product humanely made? In other words, were any animals harmed in the process of sourcing or building an item?
These are just a few questions that you’ll want to consider when tackling a green remodeling project. And while they may have opened a can of worms in your mind, don’t fret — as you’ll see there are lots of easy, beautiful, and everyday materials that tick all the boxes on eco-friendly design.
Ready to get started on a green remodeling project that you’ll actually love? Take a look at these creative remodeling materials that are super eco-friendly. With a little focused effort, you can beautify your home without wreaking havoc on the planet.
1. RECLAIMED WOOD
Offering a classic way to take something old and give it new life, reclaimed wood has been a popular remodeling material for years because of its impressive versatility. You can use reclaimed wood on almost any design project, from accent walls to coffee tables, as you enjoy saving a few planks from piling up in the landfill. Plus, the natural wood grain brings an unparalleled level of depth and character to furniture, and it is amazing to see how a weathered piece of wood can be transformed into something magnificent with just a few coats of stain or shellac.
Another benefit of using reclaimed wood for green remodeling projects is that it does not require an immense level of expertise or experience. Whether a ‘new’ coffee table built from reclaimed wood is your first independent DIY project or you are a seasoned pro at transforming lumber into jaw-dropping works of art, reclaimed wood can be an incredibly forgiving material to work with while also offering a great depth of potential.
And if you are not quite sure where to source this creative remodeling material, there are now many shops that specialize in selling reclaimed lumber. While you’re there, be sure to ask about the backstory, including where the wood came from, its approximate age, whether it is natural or treated, and any other tips that may help during the restoration process. Knowing the history of a piece of wood can save you lots of time and effort by having a better understanding of its needs, including how much effort will need to be devoted to sanding and stripping to reveal the wood’s natural base.
Image Credit: Decoist
2. CORK
Cork is a durable material that is often used by homeowners looking for vegan flooring. Unlike traditional wood, cork can be harvested from the bark of some trees without cutting down the entire tree. These trees, many of which are found in the Mediterranean regions, can then regenerate the cork after it is harvested, classifying this as a super renewable material source or the so-called “vegan building materials”.
When you imagine cork, chances are you will picture the tan little wedge that typically fits snugly atop a wine bottle, but you shouldn’t let this stop your imagination from dreaming up everything you can do with cork in home design projects. Accent walls, flooring, decorative panels, three-dimensional headboards, and coffee table surfaces are all great beginner projects that can benefit from this creative material. Cork can be easily stained, painted, and even patterned — though it comes with a gorgeous natural pattern to begin with. Plus, cork is a fairly durable material, meaning it can accommodate a variety of green remodeling projects. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that cork is somewhat vulnerable to moisture, so it may not be the best remodeling material for the bathroom, laundry room, or exterior areas.
3. ANTIQUE TILE
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of the breathtakingly beautiful homes in the coastal towns of Portugal, Spain, or Greece, then you’ll understand exactly how romantic tile designs have stayed in style for centuries. While many decor trends come and go, some creative materials are simply timeless, as is the case with vintage tiles.
Once you dive into the world of scavenging for antique tile at flea markets and resale shops, you’ll be blown away at the modernity of their antiquated designs. Bold geometric shapes, woven patterns, and repeating motifs can be integrated into modern remodeling projects throughout the house. Expand the possibilities past kitchen backsplash areas and bathroom walls into more creative applications, such as trim around entryways, eye-catching decoration along staircase risers, or as a smooth and captivating island countertop in the kitchen.
Working with antique tile can be a good challenge for experienced remodelers or those of us who are just looking to expand our green remodeling skill set. Finding vintage tiles that haven’t actually been applied to a surface before can feel like a jackpot, as these will require much less effort and initial preparation prior to installation. But even if you’re working with antique tiles that look like they’ve been around the block (or more than a few blocks!), the reward of reusing these beautiful homeware pieces is priceless. With a little informed effort on scrubbing and installation, salvaging antique tile can quickly become a highlight of fresh remodeling projects.
One last tip about salvaging antique tile: don’t wait until you find the perfectly polished piece before diving in and learning to work with this powerhouse remodeling material! Even chipped and broken tiles can be collected to create mosaic pieces around the house — think patio mandalas, bistro tables, and staircase risers.
4. RATTAN
Image Credit: Etsy
Rattan is a versatile material sourced from the bendy stems of palm plants — and it’s another innovative material that is perfect for eco-friendly remodeling projects. When woven together, rattan becomes super strong, which is why it has been used for baskets and furniture for centuries. But perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of rattan is that it is a sustainable product that can help home designers dramatically reduce their carbon footprint during remodeling projects. Because this plant regenerates quickly following harvest, naturally grown rattan is considered a sustainable resource that can help cut down logging efforts without eliminating the economic potential for communities that depend on these resources for their livelihood.
While we sometimes pigeon-hole rattan as a material that’s best suited for the garden or porch, rattan can actually do much more than make for a beautiful basket or outdoor patio piece. When formed with intricate swirls and eye-catching curls, rattan looks particularly stunning as a boho-chic headboard or decor piece to adorn empty wall space. Rattan is commonly used in the dining room, too, as fruit bowls, placemats, and table runners. The earthy feel of rattan combines with a luxury aesthetic to create a wonderful balance that is simply perfect for many modern homes.
5. POLISHED QUARTZ
Beautiful, chic, and totally functional, polished quartz is an awesome material to work with. Quartz ranks as one of the most durable countertops around, and it comes in a huge variety of color tones and patterns such as blue quartz. Immense durability means fewer chips and scratches, so homeowners won’t need to repair or replace quartz countertops as often, making them an eco-friendly option for kitchens and bathrooms.
One recent trend that is playing out in modern kitchen layouts is an extended island with a built-in sink. Elongated islands that feature polished quartz are great statement pieces for the center of the kitchen because the seamless countertop space segues from food prep to dish duty to diner seating effortlessly. A smooth top with polished quartz adds an upscale elegance to an otherwise hectic space that supports a lot of action!
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6. FAUX LEATHER & COW PRINT
Some people mistakenly believe that traditional leather is a natural by-product of meat production. And maybe you can relate; after all, I think we’ve all had a moment where we reason, ‘Well if the cow is going to be made into hamburgers anyway, what harm can it do to use its hide for something beautiful that will be enjoyed in the home?’ Sadly, this flawed logic couldn’t be further from the truth, and the fact of the matter is that every product fabricated with authentic leather or cowhide creates increased consumer demand for slaughtering these farm animals. And just a little bit of cow print can do a lot of harm. Can you guess how many cows it takes to make a single sofa? … Eight! There is a lot behind the production process that consumers cannot even begin to imagine.
Don’t worry, because you’re not alone in lamenting the loss of smooth, soft leather products and beautiful cowhide rugs. Luckily, the industry is one step ahead of you, and there are green remodeling options that don’t require the slaughtering of animals or the use of animal by-products. If you’ve got to have the Western-inspired vibe, faux leather and cow print are the best way to go. Faux leather looks and feels just like real leather (and may feel even nicer once you know that it’s eco-friendly and cruelty-free).
Image Credit: Style Blue Print
7. ICF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Energy efficiency is always top of mind for green remodeling projects — and that proves true for both interior, exterior, and structural building tasks. Insulated concrete forms, or ICF materials, provide an energy-efficient way to build house framing with precision, which is why they are becoming a go-to option for eco-conscious builders and homeowners. ICF tilt-up construction is often used to speed up construction timelines while cutting down on material transportation needs and increasing overall energy efficiency. Because fewer laborers are needed during the building process, ICF materials also save time and effort.
Tilt-up construction is a great option for walls that don’t require windows or architectural detailing. Creating a seamless surface, insulated concrete forms are also a great option for individuals who don’t want to create excess waste by having leftover building materials or scraps that ultimately end up in the garbage.
As you can see, there are lots of common materials that can be used creatively to create enriching design and decor without creating excess waste or catapulting your carbon footprint. Learning to use these innovative materials is just the tip of the iceberg for adopting a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to green design. Looking to learn more? Consider getting certified in cruelty-free design to better help yourself — and others — create a gorgeous living space to be proud of.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT @CRUELTY.FREE.CASA ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE reno INSPO!
About the author: Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
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