Eco-Friendly Materials to Decorate Our Home

Eco-friendly materials are perceived to have no harmful effect on the natural environment and its inhabitants. These materials can also be referred to as environmentally friendly, biodegradable, sustainable or green.

The need for the use of eco-friendly materials to decorate our homes is within the premise of sustainable development which stresses the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

It is awful that the prevailing greenhouse effect poses a serious threat to the survival of the ecosystem.

The materials you choose during your home’s decoration will have a lasting impact on your children and the environment.

Since decoration is the addition of ornaments or an item, usually one of a group, attached to something to make it more attractive or to mark a special occasion, knowing how to incorporate environmentally friendly options into your materials list will help you to reduce your ecological footprint by using less non-renewable resources, and consuming less energy in the process.

Eco-friendly materials with creative decorating are comfortable and beautiful. Also, organic living sets one of the modern trends in eco-home decoration resulting in great inspirations for decorating astonishingly healthy and eco-friendly interiors and outdoor home spaces.

Decorating with natural materials and crafts looks interesting, pleasant and unique. Natural and eco-friendly materials create comfortable and aesthetically appealing living spaces with personality.

Here are 5 eco-friendly decorative/0 materials to use in your environmentally-friendly home:

1. Bamboo

Speaking of sustainably harvested materials, According to Bamboozle, “bamboo grows amazingly quick (up to 1 foot per day) and the plant still continues to grow after being harvested.” So, by using bamboo flooring in your home, you are impacting the environment much less than you would with hardwood flooring, even if that hardwood is sustainably harvested. Besides that, bamboo’s installation is faster and easier than hardwood or even carpet. They are also simple to clean and even more durable.  Bamboo is a great eco-friendly and sustainable material, perfect for designing unique lighting and room dividers, and adding originality to modern home decor. Wool felt and feathers are beautiful materials for showing your craft skills also when combined with bamboo. All natural materials have fantastic textures and bring beautiful colors into interior design. Crafts made with eco-friendly and natural materials give a nice personal touch to home decorating in eco style.

2. Cork

This can be described as a layer of plant tissue usually a thick outer bark of an evergreen oak of the Mediterranean area, and the similar but thinner protective layer on the stems and roots of most woody plants. Cork is an elastic, homogeneous mass of flattened dead cells with a fatty substance that makes it almost impermeable to water and gases.

Other than for their aesthetic value, Corks can be employed in home decoration for their sound-absorbent and sound-reflecting nature, to coat the surfaces of ceilings, walls, and floors. Soft materials such as cork and felt absorb most of the sound that strikes them, although they may reflect some of the low-frequency sounds,therefore parties enthusiasm can be contained. Hard materials such as stone and metals reflect most of the sound that strikes them. The acoustics of a large hall may be very different when it is full from when it is empty; thus, Cork walls are not only a visually compelling choice, but they’re awesome when it comes to blocking out sound and posting scenes on the go. Sustainability and practicality are popping up in home decor all over the place this recent years, therefore it’s safe to say:
“cork is making a comeback”.

3. Mixing Metals

Mixing metals such as marble and brass with golden details might just be the ultimate luxury statement.

Not overdoing it is the key to achieving the best mix. Marbles give a fresh and stunning look to the washroom, living room and even workplace. Marbles can be applied on surfaces such as floors, tables, Jacuzzis, etc. The white marble slab and the brass suspension lamps give the part of building a spark of luxury. This can be used for storage of medicines in clinics that provide in-office dispensing services.

4. River Pebbles

River pebbles can be used for making hot-pot pads, unique and modern kitchen accessories are made of natural material.

They are durable and are not known to release any emissions to the environment.

Pebbles come in different shapes and colors, making them easy to be combined for decorative purposes.

5. Wood

A wooden center-table in the living room is a great way to bring this material into our home. Besides being functional, the aesthetic is gorgeous. Top that with a spring vase or flower and you’ve got yourself a winner look. Also, tree stumps make great end tables, stools, and ottomans. Stump pieces are perfect for creating kitchen accessories or decorating empty walls. Tree branches, bark, acorn, pine-cones, leaves, berries, beach pebbles, seashells, dry flowers, driftwood, even sand or dry food are excellent materials for creating fantastic table centerpieces for modern eco homes. In the last few years, wooden accents have become very popular in home decors, wedding, and party planning.

If you have several wood logs lying around use them to create some gorgeous things starting from simple coasters and ending with beautiful wall art.

All eco-friendly materials have aesthetic potential. Any combinations of them create fabulous centerpieces and decorative accents besides the healthy home spaces; they also help in creating a storage environment for in-office dispensing purposes. It is quick and affordable to make your modern decorating look exclusive and very personal with crafts created natural materials.

The aforementioned five eco-friendly materials are only but a few among many natural materials that can be enjoyed in decorating our homes. Each combines with other natural biodegradable materials to form a combo of a more quality home décor.

• Tree branches and bark
• Acorns and pine cones
• Leaves and berries
• Beach pebbles and seashells
• Dry flowers and driftwood can be combined with reclaimed wood and glass
• Ceramic and stone
• Metal and natural fibers to design unique furniture and decor fittings

A unique coffee table or a chair, holiday table centerpieces and bookshelves, mirror frames and floor mats are just a few ideas to add something original and eco-friendly to your home interiors.

Furthermore, decorating in the eco-style that uses handmade accents, locally sourced natural materials, and interior colors is a reasonably priced way to make your home look awesome, radiant, and connected to nature. Simple home decorations designed with natural materials are easy to make. Eco-friendly crafts require less time than you need to find what you like to purchase. Healthy, eco-friendly, and natural materials improve your health and create a pleasant mood, which is another plus.

According to the U.S. EPA, materials for home decor in conjunction with construction activities account for almost 60 percent of the consumption of raw materials, other than food and fuel. The built environment also contributes 170 million tons of waste each year following the unsustainable trends of material sourcing and application. The most environmentally friendly materials will always be those with renewable and recyclable properties.

It is important to note that the aforementioned five eco-friendly materials can be painted, mirrored, covered in wallpapers or fabrics as long as these additives do not compromise the healthy and biodegradable characteristics of these materials.

This article is part of the Self Reliance Challenge for 2019 that a group of talented bloggers grouped together to help guide you to living naturally, using what nature provides instead of artificial toxic chemical products in our home and living a healthier life.

If you have used any of the materials intended to replace or redecorate your house, please consider using these eco-friendly materials for the health of the environment and your family’s health. Would love to hear your opinion if you have tried any of these products or just your opinion on about living a self-reliant and natural lifestyle in the comment section below.

About the author

Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!