Are you looking to revamp or upgrade your home? Regardless of whether that’s the bedroom, living room, home office, or other, you might be wondering what type of flooring to install. If this sounds like your situation, have you considered eco-friendly options?
Not only can eco-friendly flooring help you do your bit for the environment, but they can also be stylish and come in a variety of designs that can suit the theme or aesthetic of your home.
So, without further ado, here are 5 of the most eco-friendly flooring options that you can choose from for your next flooring project prepared by ARCHISCENE magazine’s interior design and architecture contributors:
1. Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most popular eco-friendly flooring options available on the market at the moment. Bamboo flooring is derived from the bamboo plant and and while it may not seems to the material has quite a few similarities to the to hardwood flooring. As bamboo is a type of grass, its root is self-generating, meaning that it doesn’t need to be re-planted like trees. This makes it a renewable and sustainable flooring material that is biodegradable.
It is important to add, with proper care and maintenance, bamboo flooring can last well over three decades. Bamboo flooring can also be easily installed and repaired.
2. Linoleum/marmoleum
Another eco-friendly flooring option to consider is linoleum or marmoleum flooring. Particularly, the latter is carbon dioxide neutral as any carbon emissions produced as it makes its way through to manufacturing is balanced by the removal of carbon dioxide during its growth process of the natural ingredients like flax, rosin, and jute. It’s biodegradable and doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals that could endanger others.
Additionally, marmoleum is also an excellent flooring type for anyone having difficulties with allergies as it effectively reduces allergens such as dust mites.
3. Cork
Cork is a biodegradable and recyclable material that is ideal for busy homes. With special production techniques the softer characteristics of the material can be reshaped into a great and durable flooring option. This is due to the cork’s unparalleled soundproofing capability. If you have a large family with children and pets, then cork is a great choice when it comes to installing flooring which at the same time is durable and soundproof. The noise of children and pets running around, as well as general frequent walking can be well mitigated with cork flooring. So, not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s perfect for homes with heavy traffic.
4. Reclaimed hardwood
Reclaimed hardwood refers to wood that has been sourced and salvaged from existing structures, manufacturing waste, forest floors etc., meaning that there are a variety of wood types that can be used multiple times. It is a more sustainable option than using new wood as it doesn’t contribute to deforestation due to less demand for new lumber. Reclaimed hardwood repurposes wood that otherwise would have gone to waste. Additionally this is also resulting in typically using less chemicals and finishes than new wood flooring wood demand. This can also help reduce air and water pollution or our surrounding in addition to having far less effect on devastating deforestation.
5. Wool
Wool carpets are a cosy and eco-friendly choice with a wide number of applications. Bedrooms, home offices, lounges or living rooms could all benefit from having sustainable wool flooring. In particular, keep an eye out for natural undyed wool to ensure that they are chemical-free and eco-friendly. Compared to synthetic carpet, wool carpets tend to last longer as a result of its natural durability. In turn, this means that less carpet waste is sent to landfills since there’s no need to frequently replace the carpet if you own wool carpets.
All images from Rose Lane project designed by Joel Contreras – see more.
