Home Design - Tips and Ideas

The green revolution is an excellent new trend that is impacting many different areas of modern life with environmental wherewithal and consciousness. One of these areas is home design. People that are having their houses custom built or who are building houses themselves are getting in on the green trend and incorporating it into the designs they are using. The following are some tips concerning green home design and construction:

Counter Tops

Counter tops are always an important part of a house’s design. They are found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of the house. You can investigate using ceramics, recycled glass, or bamboo for counter tops, thus reducing the amount of conventional wood you use. Bamboo is the latest thing in sustainable wood, being a quickly self renewing and easily harvested wood type. You might also consider using reclaimed wooden or marble counters here.

Carpeting

An interesting and encouraging fact is that one in four recycled plastic bottles is made into carpeting. Look for carpets made from recycled materials to encourage this green trend. You can also simply purchase used carpets rather than buying them new.

Paint

There is an increasing selection of eco friendly paints available for painting both the interior and exterior of a house. These paints often do not contain toxic materials or volatile organic compounds. You can use these sorts of paints on both the interior and exterior of your house. They look great and help the environment at the same time.

Lighting

Even lights and light bulbs are going green. New energy efficient bulbs are available that can save a homeowner a lot of money on energy bills. Another idea is to install dimmer lights. You can reduce the lighting as needed to economize still more.

Curtain Poles

Curtain poles come in a variety of options, including metal, wooden, brass, and composite styles. There are many styles of designer curtain poles that of course span a wide variety of colors, finishes, and embellishments. More than one option can perfectly suit your room, so serious attention to curtain poles is crucial to proper interior decorating.