Guest Blogger: Ideal Eco Friendly Flooring Options

 Guest Blogger #855, Entry #2045, January 25, 2012

If you’re someone who has been doing some research on how to give your home a “green upgrade”, you’ve probably read about how important it is to install a programmable thermostat, to get a low flow showerhead and to add some double-pane windows. All of these things can help to reduce the amount of energy that you use on a daily basis. Yet, when it comes to décor, you may not have taken out the time to consider the fact that you can also be eco-friendly with your interior designs, including your flooring.

As it relates to making “green décor” decisions, it’s about finding materials that are used responsibly and as it relates to your floor, there are many different kinds of options to choose from.

What eco-friendly flooring fits your home?

Image via: Panache Interiors

We will share five of them with you below:

Cork floors.

One kind of flooring that is beautiful, unique and yes, eco-friendly is cork flooring. Not only is it sustainable, durable and well-insulated, but it’s also reasonably priced. Some other real perks is that it’s lightweight and fire and water resistant. The main thing to be cautious of with a cork floor is that it’s not really a good support for very heavy objects. This means that if you want to use it under some cherry wood furniture (for instance), there’s a good chance that it could get damaged.

Bamboo.

Another visually attractive option is bamboo. It also has a bit of a distinctive look, plus it’s strong. Being that bamboo does resemble the appearance of hardwood, it’s becoming a favorite of those who like wooden floors because unlike (certain kinds of) wood, it’s a highly renewable resource that is much cheaper to buy. Before going with this option, the main thing that you should do some research on is if it is sustainable enough for your particular liking.

Wool carpet.

If you like carpet, there is an eco-friendly kind that we recommend you looking into. Wool carpet is highly durable and is top-notch as it relates to quality. The main things to keep in mind is that it’s really expensive to install, plus if you have a home with kids or pets, you might want to take into (serious) consideration that wool carpet is known for trapping in moisture.

Linoleum.

A kind of flooring that has been around for years is linoleum. The reason why it tops the list of many eco-friendly enthusiasts is because it’s made from materials such as wood flour, tree resins and cork dust. The perks that come with this kind of flooring are many including the fact that it’s water resistant, biodegradable, long lasting and really affordable. The only real “con” with linoleum is that there are very limited options to choose from.

Cork flooring is a good eco-friendly flooring option

Image via: Kristin Petro

Reclaimed wood.

If you simply love the look of hardwood floors, consider using some reclaimed wood. It’s strong and comes in many different styles, plus is really sustainable. If you’ve looked online for some eco-friendly wood flooring, then you might have happened upon a company in Australia known as Bamboozle Wood Flooring. Websites that feature this option reveal that reclaimed wood is just as beautiful as traditional hardwood flooring. Sure, it may be a bit on the pricey side, but when it comes to aesthetics and increasing the property value of your home, it’s certainly worth it.

For more flooring options on Stagetecture, click here.