Eco-Friendly Design Pieces for the Modern Home

Recent trends have indicated that the world is actually turning green, referring to the environmental revolution that has invaded features of the most ubiquitous products we use on a daily basis. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to produce eco-friendly versions of their standard line of products in the hopes of capturing the growing number of environmentally conscious buyers. What used to be the traditional domain of activists has now invaded the modern home.

Given the surge of popularity these eco-friendly products have come to enjoy for the past few years, it is not surprising for the interior design industry to catch on and produce designs that suit the specific preferences of its discerning buyers. If you are just beginning to catch on to this trend and would want to go "green" by decorating your home through similar products, then read ahead! This article introduces three categories of eco-friendly design pieces: furniture, flooring, and wall accents such as wood wall art.

Furniture:
For a piece of furniture to be considered green, it has to be recycled, repurposed, or made of any type of material which is considered sustainable. With rising costs, more and more people have mastered the art of repurposing their old furniture pieces and transforming these into new ones with brand new functions. For example, an old stool topped with a sheet of thick glass can be converted into a side table. An old dining room hutch can be given a new coat of paint and transformed into a book shelf. Old nesting benches, dinner tables, cabinets--the possibilities are endless!! Repurposing allows you to recycle your old stuff and save money in the process.

Wall Accents:
As was mentioned, anything made of sustainable materials is considered an eco-friendly product. An example of green material is certified wood produced from trees that have been grown from sustainably managed forests. Accent pieces such as wood wall art made from sustainable wood are perfect design solutions for those who love the look and rustic feel of wooden ornaments in the home. Used as wall hangings, these works of art can certainly give your home an environment-friendly atmosphere and vibe. On the other hand, you can use also use other accent pieces made of wood such as molding, shelves, and banisters, among others.

Flooring:
One of the most common ways to go green is to use tiles and flooring materials made from a wide selection of sustainable materials such as bamboo, wood, and natural cork, among many other choices. Bamboo is one of the most popular eco-friendly materials because it can be rapidly renewed. It can be harvested around five years after being planted, and is actually stronger than most hardwoods and more resistant to moisture and changes in temperature. Aside from bamboo, another popular flooring product is Eco-timber, which is also made from certified wood. Finally, cork flooring is made from the industrial byproducts of wine-stopper production. They are ideal for homes with children because these are warm and soft on the feet compared with traditional wood floors. Cork flooring is also resistant to fire and mold.