Designing for the Aesthetic and the Planet
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Recent designer trends have been embracing sustainability as a decorating option. As more planet friendly options become available. It has become such a trend that many manufacturers are developing and marketing lines of products that are eco-friendly. Consumers are beginning to select planet friendly products with more frequency, so of course manufacturers are going to respond to the demand. What used to be kind of a fringe idea in decorating is now commanding center stage.
With the increase popularity of green products, consumers are beginning to include sustainability issues as part of their design specifications. Where an interior decorator used to only worry about style and color, now the source and construction of everything incorporated into the design of the room comes into question.
The good news is that manufacturers have shifted gears and they are producing more eco-friendly products for designers to use. So as buyers have trended towards green products, manufacturers are responding to the trend. The three main areas that you may want to consider as you begin your quest for sustainability are wall accents, like wood wall art, flooring and furniture.
With the increase popularity of green products, consumers are beginning to include sustainability issues as part of their design specifications. Where an interior decorator used to only worry about style and color, now the source and construction of everything incorporated into the design of the room comes into question.
The good news is that manufacturers have shifted gears and they are producing more eco-friendly products for designers to use. So as buyers have trended towards green products, manufacturers are responding to the trend. The three main areas that you may want to consider as you begin your quest for sustainability are wall accents, like wood wall art, flooring and furniture.
Furniture:
Sustainability always has recycled materials at its core. So a piece of furniture may be considered green if it is constructed from recycled wood. It may also be a reclaimed piece of furniture that is being used for another purpose. For example, you may want to make an old bedroom dresser into a vanity in your bathroom, or you may paint an old dining room hutch and use it as a bookshelf for your home office. Simply moving a piece of furniture from one room to another sometimes is all you need to do to give it another use. For example, a dresser can be moved from the bedroom to the dining room, where it instantly becomes a beautiful sideboard.
Wall Accents:
You can also go green as you adorn your walls. You can find wall art that is created by reclaiming wood from salvage, or it may be created from a tree that is grown in a sustainable, managed forest. You can use reclaimed wood or recycled metal accessories, such as flower wall vases or candle wall sculptures, throughout your room design. Whether it is to adorn your walls with artwork, or add molding to your walls for interest and texture, reclaimed wood used in your decor can help you create a design that is green. You can also use salvaged wood as you install shelves and banisters to keep your entire space as planet friendly as possible.
Flooring:
Another area where you can really embrace your newfound greenness is as you are installing your new flooring. There are many sustainable materials out there that you can use like wood, bamboo and cork. In the last couple of years, bamboo has made huge advancements into the mainstream design world because it is a quickly renewable resource. It is ready to be used within five years of planting, and it is more durable than most hardwood. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations and moisture. If you do not want to try bamboo flooring, then you may want to look at Eco-timber, which is wood flooring that has been certified as sustainable. Cork flooring is also becoming more popular, and it is created from the byproducts of the wine stopper industry. Ideal for homes with small children, cork flooring is soft and warm, and it is resistant to fire and mold.
by renee7
renee7
Reneta Velichkova is an exciting and originative designer with vast experience in residential interior design.
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