Eco Friendly Home Furniture Design Ideas

Building new homes is always going to be a relatively carbon- and energy-heavy endeavor. One of the most important steps in building a new home with an eco-friendly plan in mind, is if you want to have hardwood flooring, and next, what eco-friendly hardwood flooring is the best. These are very important questions to keep in mind as you plan your next home or remodeling event.

One of the absolute best options is reclaimed hardwood flooring. This is reducing, reusing, and recycling at its best. Reclaimed flooring can come from a vast array of sources. Every day, wooden buildings and structures are dismantled across the country. Common reclaimed wood tree species are Oak, White Pine, Hickory, Yellow Pine, and Maple. Reclaimed wood floors often impart a much greater character than new wood floors. This is because reclaimed wood is often aged, or marked with imperfections or marks that give clues to its previous life.

Reclaimed wood, being older and from a different time, can also actually turn out to be very highly sought after and hard to find types of wood like tight grained oak or thick mahogany. However, one should never assume that reclaimed wood is in any way inferior to virgin wood. When reclaimed, companies go over the wood to ensure that it is safe and attractive enough to use as a floor. It then goes through a process that removes previous years of finish and dirt before being refinished, making it perfect for use as a floor.

Green hardwood flooring is an issue that has risen to the forefront of home design. Making sure that the floor you have in your home is environmentally sound is not as hard as it used to be. There are many certified green woods out there. Cork flooring has become very popular as it is an affordable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to hardwoods. However, nothing can beat hardwoods durability and characteristic look.

It is well known now that tropical hardwoods are to be avoided as they are often harvested illegally or from sensitive places whose removal means the destruction of habitat and displacement of endangered species. Here in the United States, some viable and green alternatives are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as sustainably managed and harvested.

The main benefit of bamboo floors when compared to hardwood is price, both in material and labor. Hardwood is installed with nails to the sub-floor and then must be sanded and stained to finish. Bamboo has a much easier installation, with minimum hand tools. The bamboo flooring is pre-finished so there is no sanding or staining required. Another huge pro is environmental – bamboo flooring is derived from fully sustainable forests, it is an environmentally friendly and rapidly growing renewable resource.

That said, bamboo floors are not as hard and sturdy as hardwood floors, because of the natural elements of bamboo. The shades of bamboo range from light to dark, with the lighter shades being more durable. There are different qualities of bamboo ranging from $1.65 per foot up to $4.95 per foot. This is a savings of up to 50% over traditional hardwood floors. Most bamboo used for flooring is produced in China and other countries where labor practices are questionable, so that is another possible con to choosing bamboo flooring.

Check out these fabulous recycled plastic floor mats from Mad Mats. They are all handcrafted by Thai craftspeople who all earn a fair wage for their incredible and detailed work. These beautiful mats are made completely from recycled soda bottles! The colorful polypropylene strands can take a ton of abuse, even in your most heavily trafficked areas.They are tough, but they have a soft feel, even on bare feet! And, when they get dirty and muddy, simply take out your garden hose, and give these eco-rugs a quick spray down, and they’ll be as good as new!

Parquet flooring is used to create a dynamic element to interior spaces. This type of wood flooring uses various patterns that continue to be popular in households and public buildings.

The patterns of parquet are geometrical using wood blocks. One of the most common patterns is herringbone. Various woods can be used and arranged to distinguish texture and color patterns that include oak, pine, cherry, maple and walnut.

Solid parquet is the use of wood blocks glued to the floor in geometric patterns. Parquet panels are hardwood veneers that are typically glued to cheaper wood or plywood and fitted together with tongue and groove joints.

Engineered Red Oak Flooring is known to be one of the most popular materials used because of its strength, sophistication and beauty. Red oak flooring contains the distinctive reddish golden patina, which makes it stand out from all the rest. Engineered Red Oak Flooring is also considered to be one of the most durable and it retains its elegance and beauty through many years of wear and tear. It is a great choice for many residential and commercial spaces and will surely add a new dimension of style to any space.

In terms of pure natural wood beauty and attractiveness, walnut flooring definitely stands out from the crowd. A finished walnut floor looks very smooth and improves beautifully over time with age. Engineered walnut flooring in particular, looks elegant, is durable, and simple to maintain. Add another dimension to your home and improve the value of it with the rugged, rich textures of Virginia Vintage’s Engineered Walnut Floors. Available in 6 wood types and 12 colors, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your home.

Engineered Hickory Flooring is just the ticket if you’re looking for a beautiful, durable hardwood floor. Hickory wood is much stronger than oak, and is well-suited for those high traffic areas of your home. If you want to add a country feel and some character to your home, look no further than this Engineered Hickory Flooring. Available in 6 different wood types and 12 colors, you’re sure to find the right match for your home decor.

Cork flooring really does come in a variety of colours, including colourful Jade! Not only an environmentally sustainable flooring choice, Cork Flooring has other practical benefits as well. Cork Flooring has a natural thermal insulation, therefore cutting down on expensive heating bills. Cork also has a natural ability to absorb sound, making it perfect for apartment dwelling. Other benefits of cork flooring are its naturally hypoallergenic and antistatic properties, making it beneficial for allergy sufferers. There are a multitude of colouring options for cork flooring as well, whether you’re looking for dramatic dark colours or colourful ones, like Jade and Rose.

This floor decking is a perfect solution to a mini home renovation, well, without the actual renovation. From IKEA, the Platta Floor Decking made of solid acacia and durable hardwood is highly suitable for outdoor, and even indoor use. Lay over tired concrete or grass for an instant make-over. Get creative and use indoors as a cool alternative to a bath mat. Just as a note though, wood contains tannic acid which, after a time, can leak out and discolor the sub-floor. Never lay wooden decking on a surface where it would matter if this happened. Remember to treat the furniture with oil at regular intervals in order to protect and retain the wood. Make sure that it is clean and dry before being re-oiled. If treated properly, it can stay outdoors and look beautiful all year round.

Cork is a resilient flooring option that is becoming more popular because of its green benefits, its softness and its unique look. But is it easy to clean? Yes, with these few points kept in mind. With any organic material floor (cork included) you must avoid using excessive amounts of moisture as this can ruin your floor. Lightly damp mopping after vacuuming about once a week will keep your cork flooring in excellent condition. Make sure that you do not use the beater bar on a vacuum, but a regular bristle ended attachment will suffice.