Remodel Your Living Room in an Eco-Friendly Fashion

When remodeling the living room, thoughts usually turn to which pieces of new furniture should be purchased or which flooring would look best. However, if you are trying to live a greener lifestyle, you will also need to consider the environmental impact of your choices, and not base your decisions just on aesthetics. What if you could improve the visual appeal of your room, and at the same time make it healthier for family members and more energy efficient? Below are some tips on how to achieve all these goals and give your living room an eco-friendly makeover.

Flooring
While carpeted floor may feel warm and inviting, it can also trap allergens and dirt in its fibers. It has been identified as a possible health hazard. Luckily, there are other options.

• Cork – This type of flooring has the appearance of hardwood but can also resist mold and is good for those with allergies because it does not absorb dust. It is relatively inexpensive, typically costing about $2.50 per square feet. The panels lock into place, making it fairly easy to install. It is also very soft and good at absorbing noise, so is well-suited to apartment living.

• Bamboo – Due to its five-year rejuvenation cycle, bamboo can be harvested much faster than other softwoods, making it a sustainable option. Its durability and hardness make it an increasingly popular choice for eco-friendly flooring.

Energy Savings
Saving on energy costs is becoming more of a priority in every home, both in terms of helping the planet and reducing household bills. If the living room is being remade anyway, now might be the time to invest in some changes that can help save money down the road.

• Insulated Drapes – Windows are the single largest source of heat loss in a home. By hanging insulated drapes, the cold can be left outside and the heat kept inside during winter months.

• LCD Televisions – Modern flat screen TVs offer a better picture than traditional models and take up less space. While either LCD or plasma versions deliver a superior picture, the former uses two or three times less energy than the latter, so is considered a greener choice.

Recycling
With a little creativity, it’s easy to accessorize around the room using eco-friendly products or by taking old furniture and giving it a new lease of life. Your first step should be to look at your existing things in a different light and seeing if there’s any way to reuse them in your new-look living space.

• Furniture – Old furniture may not fit in with the theme or color scheme of your new living room, but simply tossing out still viable pieces is not very planet-healthy. If the furniture is still in good condition, simply giving it a new appearance would be a more eco-friendly option.

Try inexpensive slipcovers to give an immediate facelift to chairs and couches. They come in a variety of fabrics and colors. This will prolong the life of furniture, helping not only the planet but the pocketbook as well.

Wooden items such as coffee tables or shelves can be given a makeover if you sand them down and repaint or stain them, using organic or eco-friendly products. This does take a little time, but it’s a good way to add your personal stamp to your room.

• Recycled Glass – A variety of vases, decanters, candle holders and lamps can be used to add color and style to the room. Plus, it takes more energy to produce a new object made from glass than it does to create something from recycled material. There are no waste products from the process of recycling glass. Either look for new products made from recycled glass, or purchase cheap second-hand items from thrift stores or yard sales.

Remodeling your living room can give it an updated look and allows you to adapt your living area to reflect your personality and lifestyle. At the same time as improving your home’s appearance, you can modernize it to protect the planet and provide a healthier, but still comfortable, indoor environment for family and friends. It may also save money in the long run and improve the value of your home.

This is a guest post by Caroline Smith, who likes finding green ways to furnish and decorate her home. She runs a website that offers more hints and tips about using chair slipcovers to recycle old furniture.

Related Topics:

1. Green Decorating: Modern Eco Living Room
2. Green Decorating: Colorful Eco-Friendly Modern Living Room
3. Eco friendly flooring options