The Clean Conversion: Tips for Keeping Your Home Eco-Friendly without Compromising on Style

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For many years, the term ‘eco-friendly’ was rarely paired with words like stylish and modern. While things have changed a great deal over the last decade, there are still a lot of misconceptions about green designs and sustainable technologies. For one thing, contemporary products no longer demand compromise from consumers.

This is particularly true in the home, where green technologies have advanced at a rapid rate.  Whether it’s water sensitive appliances, recycled materials, or low-impact accessories, these products have become sophisticated enough to offer sustainability, without demanding a change to routines. So, now, there’s really no excuse not to renovate responsibly.

Keep reading for some tips on the best ways to enhance and improve your home with eco-friendly designs.

Invest In Solar Panels

One of the best ways to increase the efficiency of your home is with solar panels.

Aussie vendor AGL provides solar power equipment that is sleek and reliable. Not only do these panels give back, in the form of smaller energy bills, they also have an unobtrusive aesthetic.  

Contrary to popular belief, the cost of solar installation is very manageable. Customers have the option to spread the sum over a two or five year period. Over two years, there is no added interest. For five-year payment plans, the rate is capped at a moderate 3.95%.

Refresh and Reinvigorate

While extensive home improvements and renovations are often necessary, you don’t always have to rip everything out and start from scratch. This is particularly true of bathrooms and kitchens, which consist of many different features and accessories.

It is much greener (and kinder to the wallet) to think about refreshing items before you decide they no longer have any worth. For instance, kitchen cabinets can be transformed with a lick of paint and fancy handles. Tired bathrooms get a new lease of life from chic tiles and faucets.  

Choose Natural Fibre Flooring

Natural fibre flooring is hugely popular at the moment because it offers style, durability, and a low-impact design. Materials like wool, jute, sisal, and seagrass are carefully woven to create products which are aesthetically delicate but structurally very tough.

Bamboo, for example, has a higher fibre rating than a lot of common hardwoods.

This means that it has exceptional staying power and will easily last twenty years or more in a household with heavy foot traffic. Plus, when you do come to replace it, the bamboo is recyclable.

Stick with Eco-Friendly Paint

Many commercial paint products contain chemicals which are damaging to the environment. They are known as volatile organic compounds (or VOCs). The good news is that you can pick up paint which has been designed with VOC free substances.

It comes in a huge range of colours, just like regular paint, and it is no trickier to apply than standard products. You’ll also have the peace of mind of knowing that family rooms aren’t being decorated with anything that might act as an irritant.

Always Fill Appliances

You don’t necessarily have to give up your home comforts to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Sometimes, it’s just about taking a little more care with household routines. For example, many of us are guilty of overusing appliances or utilising them in inefficient ways.

Washing machines and dishwashers are the main culprits here because it’s tempting to switch them on without a full load. Not only does this force the appliance to work harder, but it also ends up with you using it more times than you might if you simply waited for a full tray or drawer.

Why Green Doesn’t Have To Be Mean

Once you realise that green designs can be every bit as exciting as energy hungry ones, you’ll realise that sustainability doesn’t have to be a chore. It’s all about perspective. If you make eco-friendly routines a regular part of your life, a green existence will start to feel natural.

You’ll recycle without thought, fall in love with organic materials, and start to develop a brand new appreciation for the earth. However, failing all of that, you’ll save yourself a tidy sum on energy costs and have a lot more money to do the things that make you happy.