By Melissa Porter and Charlie Smurfit
How do you create a stylish, eco-friendly interior without breaking the bank? Following the invention of household appliances in the 1950s, households have progressively demanded more of the earth’s resources.
Today’s high-spec houses are typically replete with Lutron lighting, wireless networks, plasma television sets, under-floor heating, pressurised water systems - and consume more energy than North Korea on a cold Tuesday.
So what can you sensibly do to decorate and furnish your home the green, natural way? We have researched on your behalf an array of ideas and products relating to walls, floors, furniture and accessories.
1. Walls
Paints
Paints are the easiest way to create an atmosphere or a look. However, ordinary paints are manufactured from complex, synthetic chemicals and many of these can be damaging to your health, causing headaches and allergies, as well as being harmful to the environment.
Natural paints are different as their main ingredients are based on plant oils, extracts and simple minerals. Most are completely free from toxic emissions, allowing surfaces to breathe, are virtually odour-free, cover well and look fabulous.
The Little Greene paint company has a gorgeous range of eco-friendly paints, priced at £11 for 1 litre, £20.50 for 2.5 litres, or £37.50 for 5 litres.
Pic: Kitchen decorated with Little Greene paint
Also, Tierrafino does a good range of clay paints, plasters and stuccoes, which are all claimed to be 100% environmentally friendly. The clay is sourced from European quarries, and the company offers a wide range of earth-inspired colours.
Wallpapers
The trend towards adding splashes of colour and texture has seen the revival of wallpapers and many of these today are more environmentally friendly. However, there are some wallpapers that go that one step further and look more rustic, adding texture, warmth and depth.
London-based Urbane Living offers a variety of natural wallpapers, made from natural materials such as arrowroot, bamboo, seagrass, jute, sisal and wildgrass, and are priced from around £10 per square metre.
Pic: Bamboo and seagrass wallpaper from Urbane Living
2. Floors
When it comes to flooring there are so many options out there and a surprisingly larger number of environmentally friendly ones to choose from.
Wood
Natural wood flooring, whether solid or engineered, is very warm and inviting. It is a good thermal insulator and helps regulate a room’s humidity, which in turn contributes to better indoor air quality. There is a wide variety of environmentally responsible sources of wood products, and flooring in particular.
There is, however, a certain degree of confusion concerning ‘green’ wood products because there is no industry standard guiding the language used to describe them.
Terms such as recycled, salvaged, rediscovered, and reclaimed are common. It is advisable to check that the wood product you use is from a reputable company and from a sustainable source.
Pic: Oak flooring from Urbane Living
Try Urbane Living for a good range of wood from sustainable sources.
Bamboo
An alternative to wooden floors is bamboo. It is strong, flexible and beautiful, easy to install and more durable than oak. At least six companies in the UK now offer bamboo flooring. Urbane Living’s prices for bamboo start at £16.49 per square metre, compared with £31.64 for sustainable oak. Also try Panda Flooring.
Tiles
Why not consider using Cornish slate for your floor? Not only is it environmentally friendly but, being mined in the UK, the volume of carbon emitted through transportation is lower than that of imported materials. Delabole Slate uses natural slate from the local quarry. Recycled glass tiles at Urbane Living come in an attractive range of colours, and are stain and scratch-resistant.
Carpets and rugs
Consider carpets and rugs made from natural fibres, which come from abundant and renewable resources. Unlike the manufacture of synthetic materials, the processing of natural fibres demands little energy. Floorings made from natural fibres are strong, resilient, relatively inexpensive and are well suited for any interiors. Urbane Living offers a wide range of products including; paper, sisal, coir (derived from coconuts), jute, seagrass and wool.
3. Furniture & furnishings
Here are some suggestions for natural products that won’t break the bank.
· Choose organic cotton for sheets at Green Fibres – double fitted sheets cost £29.40 and there is a good range of other linen too.
· For bargain-priced bamboo roll-up blinds go to IKEA . At £1.59 each you could go bamboo crazy!
Pic: Bamboo towels from EcoCentric
· Up-market London-based designer Oliver Heath, renowned for his 'urban eco chic' approach, sells a huge range of eco products, including bamboo towels (spun in the UK) in his online shop, EcoCentric, telephone 0207 739 3888. And at £18 for a bath towel, it won’t break the bank.
4. Accessories
No interior is complete without accessories; whether wooden photo frames, pure wool throws or recycled glassware from Tord Boontie , those finishing touches can add depth and warmth.
Pic: Tord Boontje recycled glassware from EcoCentric
Alternatively, visit your local antiques or flea market for vintage pieces and reusable products that give rooms a quirky charm and character.
Hopefully you will be inspired as a consumer to choose sustainable, innovative, stylish and ecologically considered products. Modern technology can be used to harness nature’s benefits without exploiting her resources, ensuring that trade is fair and poverty is alleviated through sustainable income generation.
About the authors
Charlie Smurfit has worked in interior design for eight years and has run her own business for three, whilst Melissa Porter has worked as a BBC television presenter on various property programmes for five years and renovated homes for nine.
Charlie and Melissa recently launched a property renovation and interior design company, Porter & Smurfit Ltd. For further information please contact Porter & Smurfit at info@porterandsmurfit.com or telephone: 08707 662 585.
Melissa Porter will appear in the next series of Escape to the Country on BBC Two, scheduled to begin this June.