Eco-friendly used to evoke images of boring, bland materials that no one wanted to use as flooring options for their home. But as the eco-friendly craze has exploded onto the scene in recent years, we have seen some exceptionally strong eco-friendly options become available. In keeping with this trend, we wanted to run through some of the best eco-friendly flooring options available to you right now!
Cork
Cork is a relatively new material as flooring options go but is fantastically harvested from the bark of a cork oak tree, frequently found in the Mediterranean forests of Europe. Because the trees aren’t cut down to harvest any bark, which grows back within three years, it presents us with a brilliantly renewable source for our flooring. Cork is easy to maintain, fire retardant, acts as a natural insect repellent and reducing allergens in your home.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is rapidly gaining popularity, as bamboo is actually a form of grass that shares characteristics with hardwood. Bamboo is easy to install and maintain, as well as being particularly durable. Because it is sustainably made from natural vegetation that usually grows to maturity within three to five years, bamboo can make a fantastic eco-friendly option for many of us.
Linoleum
Linoleum is created from a mixture of cork dust, wood flour, linseed oil, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments. Just like cork, linoleum is also a fire retardant and perfectly water resistant. Linoleum has re-emerged on the market in a wide variety of differently vibrant, brighter colours with a fresh sealer to protect from stains.
Glass tiling
Your beer and wine bottles that are shipped to recycling can be converted into beautifully designed glass tiling, which make a fantastic flooring option. Glass itself has many of the benefits of other eco-friendly options, such as being non-absorptive and having the inability to mould or mildew in damper environments. Glass is also fantastically easy to maintain and is unlikely to stain in any capacity.
Wool carpeting
Carpet has been a favourite for homeowners for many years. Unfortunately however, typical carpet is usually made using volatile toxins or organic compounds that are harmful to the environment and health in general. Carpets made of wool offer an eco-friendly alternative. Wool presents us with a natural resource that is spun into a thread which can be dyed to any colour imaginable, and then woven to create the finished carpet. Wool is one of the first materials that has been used as a covering for our floors and is highly durable.
Leather
Leather is a surprisingly eco-friendly material that can be used for flooring purposes. It is taken from cowhide and tends to be thicker than the leather that you might find used commonly in wallets, handbags, and belts. The warm, soft feel that leather gives underfoot makes it absolutely perfect for closets, bedrooms, and smaller areas where you might have less people walking.
Rubber
Rubber flooring can be made from recycled tyres and is usually found in our local gyms or on the playground. However, rubber is gradually finding its way into our kitchens and bathrooms as a versatile and durable option for flooring. Rubber feels fantastic to walk on and is expertly water resistant, while also coming in a variety of colours and options for patterning.
Winnens are a long established family run leading flooring and interiors specialist based in Cheltenham. Servicing Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds, and surrounding areas. Based on trust, reliability, and customer satisfaction. If you’d like some more information on design trends in 2022, then give us a call on 01242 521 661, or take a look at our website, www.winnens.co.uk.