Eco - friendly Flooring

The term eco – friendly is usually associated with high prices, dull and boring materials and lack of variety. Luckily, the reality is completely different. Currently, the green decor is extremely popular among interior designers, who are coming up with innovative and beautiful solutions. There are various sustainable materials that will make a perfect addition to the style of your home, without hampering your house cleaning.

Cork Flooring

This is a relatively recent material. It is obtained from the bark of the cork oak trees. What makes cork a great renewable source is that the trees are not cut down to harvest the material. This type of flooring has anti – microbial and insect repellent qualities. As a result it reduces the allergens and ensures healthier home environment. Like wood, cork can be treated with different finishes and paints. Because of its durability, it is appropriate for any room at your home. Depending on the quality of the cork, the flooring can last between 10 and 30 years.

Bamboo

Bamboo has a large presence in eco – friendly products, because it offers modern and clean look. While the material resembles wood it is actually a grass. However it shares similar features as hardwood. The natural vegetation of the plant makes it an ideal renewable resource. It takes three to five year for bamboo to grow to maturity. This is considerably less when compared to other type of trees that need at least twenty years. The flooring material is available in different hues and doesn’t require any expensive cleaning products. This gives bamboo a considerable advantage over the conventional flooring, as it can be easily customized to any type of setting. Although the material is relatively light, it is also strong.

Reclaimed Wood

If you prefer the look of a classic hardwood floor, pick its eco – friendly alternative. The installation is created by reusing existing material such as planks from old barns, factories or homes. When the planks are taken from the original construction they are de – nailed and sorted. Later they are processed into beautiful rustic flooring that can basically stay forever. If this is not enough, reclaimed hardwood is also water – resistant. The material might not fit any decor, but it surely gives your home unique appearance. This type of flooring needs special care and cleaning.

Linoleum

When saying linoleum, don’t think of vinyl. They are completely different materials. Vinyl is synthetic and it contains harmful compounds. The chlorinated petrochemicals that contains constitute potential threat for human’s health. On the other hand, linoleum uses only natural materials such as linseed oil, tree resins, wood flour, and ground limestone and cork dust. Linoleum is on the market for quite a while, but it lost some of its popularity to vinyl. The “green” influence in the interior design put it back on the spotlight.

Wool Carpeting

If you are planning big changes in your flooring, carpets are great eco – friendly alternative. Wool is a preferred fabric because of its soft and cosy feel. Avoid using synthetic material that is rich of volatile organic compounds. Wool is natural and hypoallergenic fabric.