Nowadays, it's more important than ever to shape our daily lives around sustainable, environmentally sound practices that benefit the planet. As homeowners and home-builders, it's our responsibility to incorporate more eco-friendly flooring options into our homes whenever we can. Thankfully, we have many gorgeous, sustainable flooring choices to design with, each with a green backstory as impressive as the visuals they present. At Carpet One, we believe that choosing eco-friendly flooring is an excellent way to contribute to a healthier environment while adding style and value to your home.
In the market for new surfaces and want to purchase a green flooring option? Here are some of our favorite eco-friendly flooring styles that are sure to uplift your home with natural beauty. Our team of local flooring experts has curated this list, taking into consideration not only the product's green factor but also its durability, style, and ease of maintenance. By incorporating these green flooring options into your home, you are not only doing your part for the environment but also creating a healthier living space for yourself and your loved ones.
We know that choosing the right eco-friendly flooring option can sometimes be a difficult task. There are many factors to consider, such as budget, location, and lifestyle. But don't worry - we are here to help guide you through the process.
1. Consider your budget. Eco-friendly flooring options can vary in price, so it's important to determine how much you are willing to spend. Don't forget to factor in installation costs as well.
2. Consider your location. Depending on where you live, certain types of eco-friendly flooring options may be more suitable than others. For example, if you live in a humid area, you may want to consider flooring options less prone to moisture damage.
3. Consider your lifestyle. Do you have pets or young children? If so, you may want to choose flooring options that are durable and easy to clean. If you have allergies, you may consider flooring options that don't trap dust and other allergens.
When we think of nature, we think of wide, blue oceans and rich, dense forests full of majestic green trees. However, nobody is excited about the idea of cutting these forests down to produce our new favorite floors. Did you know that there are multiple wood flooring options that are as sustainable as they are gorgeous?
Bamboo flooring is made from natural vegetation that constantly regrows in three to five years, offering exotic hues and grains not found in domestic hardwood. Similarly, cork flooring is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. Since these trees are not cut down in harvesting the bark, they will grow back every three years. Not only are bamboo and cork perfect for finishing in different paints and stains to fit any color scheme, they create durable floors that will last for decades.
Cork flooring is smart choice for homeowners who want a beautiful, sustainable, and healthy option. Cork flooring has been a popular choice due to its many benefits. Cork is sourced from the bark of the cork oak tree, which allows the tree to remain standing while also providing a renewable resource. The bark regrows within three years, making it an eco-friendly material. In fact, some cork floors are even made from recycled wine corks. Not only is cork environmentally sustainable, but it also naturally repels mold, mites, and allergens, improving the air quality in your home.
Traditional hardwood lovers can still have their favorite style while taking environmental impact into consideration. Reclaimed wood for instance has a ton of character, highly-sought after distressing and markings, while repurposing existing wood from long-chopped down trees. You can install the authentic, reclaimed look as opposed to a style merely attempting to recreate the visual! If you are shopping for wood floors, make a note to look for styles with the Forest Stewardship Council designation. Moreover, it boasts low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly when you opt for eco-friendly finishes and stains. This implies fewer harmful chemicals are emitted, resulting in better indoor air quality and less environmental pollution. These FSC certified styles show that the manufacturer adhered to the responsible management of forests through higher social and environmental standards. You really can have sustainable wood floors that were produced through best environmental practices!
If you love the look of timeless tile surfaces, glass tiles present another eco-friendly flooring option that is certainly worth exploring. Created from original sources such as wine bottles and beer bottles, recycled glass tiles come in a beautiful, limitless assortment of colors, patterns and finishes for complete design capability. Suitable for floors, as well as walls in kitchens and bathrooms, glass tiles are renewable, non-absorptive, and easy to maintain. Plus, glass inherently reflects light which will add natural brightness to a room in a way that ceramic tile can’t match. At the end of its life, glass flooring can be recycled. Therefore, you can create unique looks with glass tiles that dazzle guests and utilize recycled material at the same time.
As another favorite flooring material for homes around the world, carpet has come a long way in producing sustainable options. Carpet with VOC’s is more harmful to both our health and the planet, and almost all manufacturers have worked to decrease their presence in new carpet. Wool carpet has always presented a soft surface option made from a renewable source, which can be dyed any color and offer extreme durability. More recently, PET carpets have been made from recycled plastic bottles and diverted millions of pounds of bottles from landfills as a result. Although critics may argue that these PET carpets are not as soft or long-lasting, recycled carpet options are extremely economical and a great investment for kid’s rooms, playrooms and finished basements.
With the rise in popularity of vinyl flooring options like LVT, the average millennial homeowner may not be aware that linoleum flooring was the original water resistant surface. Whereas vinyl is a synthetic product, linoleum is created from natural materials including linseed oil, cork dust, tree resins, wood flour, pigments and ground limestone. Perfect for easy, quick installations, linoleum will always have a home with savvy designers, especially as today’s architects strive for more environmental certifications. Coupled with modern printing advances, a tremendous range of bright colors, and new sealers to enhance stain resistance, don’t be surprised if resilient linoleum makes an appearance or two in environmentally conscious homes and buildings.
In the end, as more homeowners and builders make the effort to utilize eco-friendly flooring products, they are not only improving the planet, but also the air quality inside homes. Natural products ensure safety from dangerous chemicals, and allow families to avoid risky additives that can cause a variety of health issues. That makes shopping for flooring products that are environmentally certified even more important as some manufacturers will use harsh chemicals to manufacture their product in the cheapest way possible.
At Carpet One, we offer a variety of eco-friendly flooring options to suit your style and budget. Our local flooring experts are passionate about what they do and are always up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the flooring industry. We are committed to helping you find the perfect floor for your needs, regardless of your life or journey.
Whether you're a first-time homeowner or a seasoned renovator, we invite you to come and experience the Carpet One difference. Our team is dedicated to offering expert advice and guidance every step of the way, guaranteeing that you get the perfect eco-friendly floor for your needs. Our core mission is to help people love their floors from the floor up, and we believe that incorporating eco-friendly flooring options into your home is an important step towards achieving this goal. Contact us today to talk to an expert today.