When working towards living a more sustainable lifestyle, we’re told to switch out our plastic straws for metal ones. To recycle, eat less meat, and shop smarter.
Wanting to reduce your carbon footprint is a commendable act, and as you can see, there are many ways to do it.
From the clothes we buy, the food we eat, and even when building our homes, there’s always a more ecological way of producing less waste in our daily lives. Introducing eco-friendly material into your home renovation project is beneficial for the earth, for instance. Here are the best ways you can incorporate eco-friendly material and sustainable habits while still keeping your space comfy, cozy, and stylish.
Thrifting for pieces
Thrifting for furniture, is not only cheaper, but it’s easier on the planet. You may even find something incredibly stylish and vintage—a perfect way to add a personal touch in any room. By buying a secondhand item, you are giving it a second chance at life. Instead of it ending up in some landfill, after being trashed by the original owner.
Check your local thrift stores. Or browse thousands of options online from the comfort of your own home.
This isn’t limited to just furniture, however. Think even bigger! Chairs, lamps, bedside tables, and bed frames can all be purchased secondhand for a great deal.
Indoor Garden
Start your own indoor garden to improve the quality of air in your home and grow your own herbs and vegetables. Gardening is a great and eco-friendly way to reduce your carbon footprint.
All you’ll need is adequate light and enough space. You won’t necessarily need a large area to start your garden. A small indoor tomato garden, for example, can be planted and tended to on a bright and airy windowsill.
Composting Outdoors
Growing food is one thing, but decomposing your food scraps is another way to give back to the planet. Composting is great for the environment. It reduces food waste and also cuts down on the amount of methane emissions released in landfills, therefore minimizing your carbon footprint on the planet. It also enriches your soil by adding valuable nutrients back into the land.
Solar Panels
Installing solar panels may be more of a commitment that these other eco-friendly ways to improve your home and reduce your carbon footprint. However, if you’re looking to kick it up a notch, using this renewable source of energy is a great way to live a greener and more sustainable lifestyle.
Alternative flooring
Some of the best durable and stunning options include bamboo and eucalyptus.
Bamboo
Buy bamboo flooring if you’re serious about filling your home with eco-friendly material. Some pros of bamboo flooring and bamboo flooring trim are:
- It is biodegradable
- It looks beautiful in nearly every home
- Bamboo is made from natural vegetation and is a highly renewable resource capable of replenishing itself in three to five years
Types of bamboo flooring include solid strand bamboo, engineered strand bamboo, and classic bamboo. The material is installed using either a tongue and groove or click-lock interlocking method.
Eucalyptus Flooring
Eucalyptus flooring is another option aside from bamboo. It differs in quite a few ways. They look different, stylistically.
Eucalyptus also tends to be a bit more expensive than bamboo flooring. However, they are both durable substances that can add the perfect finishing touch to your home, no matter which eco-friendly material you choose.
Conclusion
These are just a handful of ways you can live more sustainably and responsibly in your own home. By implementing these habits, and installing renewable flooring made from bamboo or eucalyptus, you’ll shrink down your carbon footprint. While still keeping your home personable, stylish, and comfortable.
