Whilst renovating your kitchen is a big task, it’s also an exciting time because you are designing your perfect kitchen! In this day and age, many of us are becoming mindful of waste and our impact on the environment. Which is why designing a kitchen that is eco-friendly makes sense. All it takes is a little more forethought and planning.
Here are some of our tips for renovating your kitchen with an eco-friendly flair, regardless of your budget. These not only help our environment but can produce some amazing results.
Sustainable flooring
If your kitchen renovation includes laying a new floor, there are plenty of environmentally sustainable options that are both stylish and budget friendly. These include bamboo, cork or sustainable and locally sourced hardwoods. Not to mention recycled ceramic tiles, stone or hardwood. If you are opting for hardwood floors, always look for FSC-certified timber (an internationally recognised accreditation program that prevents logging of high conservation value forests and ensures timber is from a sustainably managed forest). All these floors are easy to keep clean and look fabulous.
Modern lighting
Energy efficient lighting saves on your power bills and helps the environment. There are a wide range of LED bulbs available for every style of fixture you can imagine, so you won’t have any problems installing new eco-friendly lighting in your new kitchen. It’s a good idea to create a lighting plan before starting your renovations, however, as this will ensure you have the best lighting layout for your kitchen (general, task and even mood lighting). Also consider using dimmer switches, as these reduce the amount of energy used and save even more money.
Efficient appliances
It’s easy to find energy efficient appliances for your kitchen, including induction cooktops, convection ovens and microwaves, smart fridges, freezers, dishwashers and so on. Every little bit of energy saved helps and even the design of some of these appliances makes a difference. For example, a fridge with a smaller sized freezer located on top or at the bottom uses less energy than a side-by-side fridge freezer.
Resurface instead of replace
Benchtops can consume a large part of your budget, depending on the type of material you select. This means that one of the ways to save money and be kind to the environment is to resurface your benchtops, rather than replace them (look for materials with low VOCs). If you decide to replace your benchtops, however, you can consider sustainable timber products or quartz which is made from natural materials and is long lasting. You can also reface your cabinets to save even more money and reduce your carbon footprint. Another consideration is to use the same benchtops in your kitchen and bathrooms. This adds consistency to your interior design and helps you renovate your bathrooms at the same time as your kitchen.
Using recycled materials
If you prefer to benefit from recycled materials, then check out reclaimed timber for the floors, benchtops and shelving. Then there are benchtops made from recycled glass or quartz composites that are easy to keep clean and look awesome, as well as recycled tiles for the backsplash. You can also recycle old handles, sinks or taps, even lighting fixtures in your kitchen.
An eco-friendly kitchen renovation doesn’t have to be boring and dull. You can create a stylish and very modern kitchen by simply focussing on sustainable options for the flooring, benchtops, cabinets, lighting, appliances and accessories. So, if you are renovating your kitchen, why not help save the environment at the same time?
