stylish ways with sustainable surfaces

STYLISH WAYS WITH

SUSTAINABLE SURFACES

Deciding on wall and floor coverings is always an exciting part of home improvement projects, so choose one of these eco-friendly designs for a space that’s beautiful and kind to the planet

Happiness isn’t the only thing that begins at home, it’s sustainable living, too. We’re getting into the habit of recycling, ditching single-use plastic, and moving away from fast fashion, so it’s only right our decorating habits change as well. We’ve seen interiors shows bursting with eco-friendly designs and natural materials as the desire to preserve and protect our planet has never been greater. So, we’ve gathered the very best ideas for adorning your walls and floors sustainably, without compromising on style. From preloved tiles to upcycled parquet, take your pick from our favourites and show some love to your environment – both inside and out.

Smart flooring

Parquet flooring is the stuff of dreams for many of us, but you’ll love your floor even more knowing that it was sustainably created. At Quick-Step, its laminate floors are made from the residues and leftovers of the forest and wood industry. This lowers the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect. So every step you take can be made with a clear conscience. Chevron oak laminate floor, £23.99 per m 2 , Quick-Step

ECO CHECKLIST Consider the whole life cycle of your materials and ask yourself five questions so you can choose wisely 1 Is the material sustainably extracted? 2 How much transportation is involved? 3 How much waste is created? 4 How long will it last? 5 Can it be recycled?

Reclaimed wood

Some things get better with age, and wood is definitely one of them. If you want its warmth and texture in your home, check out reclaimed wood companies for quality second-hand wood with character at a fraction of the cost of new. Of course, reusing wood means fewer trees being felled, meaning less production and transportation waste as well. There are many companies that reclaim wood of all shapes and sizes, from planks to sheets and even parquet. This reclaimed herringbone patterned wood was bought by @victoria_road_ restoration on Ebay for a stunning feature wall. REALHOMES.COM This year, Composite Prime will Plastic bottle transformation

have recycled the equivalent of 300 million plastic bottle tops to make its decking. That in itself is pretty impressive, but when you factor in its realistic grain effect, resistance to slip, stain, decay and fading, your decking choice becomes a no-brainer. All its products are made from 95 per cent recycled materials, namely plastic and wood flour, so you can decorate your own section of outside space while helping to preserve everyone else’s. HD Deck Dual, £11.94 per m, Composite Prime

Preloved tiles

Tile enthusiasts Maitland &

Poate hunt down the most decorative, used but nolonger-needed tiles across

Spain, France and Belgium, selecting the best to create a thoughtful statement in your home. With no production process or material waste, using reclaimed tiles is an eco-friendly choice. Many are over 80 years old and have been lovingly restored. This

Turquesa tile, dating from the 1940s, was reclaimed from Cadiz, Spain, and costs £8.40 per tile.

We’ve got more eco-friendly ideas ready and waiting for you on realhomes.com. From sustainable furniture to eco conscious renovation tips, head there now! DID YOU KNOW }}

Recycled wallpaper

This mystical mountains wallpaper will make a statement in any room. Not only is it made from 100 per cent recycled paper, it’s also pre-pasted with a non-toxic adhesive – just spray the back with water and hang. It is even removable, so if you move house or fancy a change, you can use the paper again. WallFunk recycled removable wallpaper, from £231.77 for 2.4x3m, Etsy

Natural fibres

Sisal is the strongest natural fibre, and carpets made from it are as hardwearing as any man-made design. The fibres come from the leaves of the agave sisalana cactus, which grows abundantly in warm climates. Only organic waste is made when harvesting and processing, so it’s eco friendly. Babylon grey sisal flooring from £33 per m 2 , Sisal & Seagrass

Consider cork

Cork is an underrated material, but one we expect to be seeing more of in our homes, especially when lovely mosaic tiles like these are on the market. It’s very sustainable as only the bark is harvested every nine years, allowing the tree to continue to grow. The natural material is also durable, provides both thermal and acoustic insulation, is fire resistant and hypo allergenic. Storywall mosaic tiles, from £45.20 per m 2 , Granorte