Guest Blogger: Eco-Friendly Bathroom Makeover Tips

 Guest Blogger #648, Entry #1545, September 1, 2012

Of all the renovation projects the average homeowner might undertake, the kitchen and the master bath are generally the two that will show the biggest return on investment. Of course, a kitchen makeover could cost you upwards of $20,000 (and in some cases a lot more). That’s not the kind of money that a most people have just lying around these days. However, with a strict budget and a DIY approach to renovating you could totally overhaul a bathroom for well under ten grand (barring major plumbing issues), making it a far more appealing option, especially if your master bath lacks both the functionality and the beautiful aesthetic you crave. And if you want to do something good for the environment while adding even more value to your upgrades, here are a few ways to create your new bathroom with an eco-friendly design in mind.

Simple green ideas to save money in your bathroom

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Demolition stage

The best place to begin when it comes to planning a green makeover is with the demolition process; after all, sending everything to the landfill is not a very eco-friendly option. Instead, consider ways that you can utilize the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). You can easily reduce waste by simply keeping items that are still usable, such as plumbing hardware, lighting fixtures, or even the cast-iron tub that came with the bathroom. Of course, if you’d prefer to do a total makeover of your space, you could always try to reuse these items somewhere else in the house or even deliver them to a vendor that deals in reclaimed items so that someone else can use them (this option is available for cabinetry, fixtures, and even tile that is still in good condition). And you can always recycle certain items (especially metal, plastic, and wood) rather than simply tossing them in the trash.

Reclaimed & refurbished items

Now that you’ve gutted your master bath in a responsible manner, it’s time to get to the fun stuff. And here, too, you can put a green spin on things. The very same vendors that will eagerly accept your used items in order to refurbish and sell them to others can aid you in completing your new look by replacing your bathroom accoutrements with reclaimed items from elsewhere. You may be able to find nearly everything you need in this manner, including cabinetry, fixtures, flooring, and even a tub, toilet, and sink combo that suits your style far better than the pieces you removed. And you could also look into items that are made from recycled materials, like countertops, tile, and flooring made from recycled glass.

Renovate your bathroom for less

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Eco-friendly renovating

On the other hand, you might be one of those people that want to get everything new. Luckily, there are tons of building materials that are eminently eco-friendly. For example, those that want an ultra-modern look could build out an entire bathroom space with concrete (except maybe the toilet). And considering advances that allow for staining of concrete to make it mimic the look of other substances (marble, granite, and even leather), as well as sealants that can provide a smooth or textured finish, you could create a totally unique bathroom that appears to incorporate several different types of materials.

Even if you’re not into concrete, there are all kinds of faux options on the market that can give you the look of high-end designs from sites like www.bathroomrenovationsperth.net while managing to meet your green ideals. With a little research you can discover eco-friendly alternatives to nearly any harmful material or practice that goes into making over your bathroom. So don’t hesitate to use your consumer dollars to create the great, green bathroom you’ve been dreaming of and let manufacturers know where you stand.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.