Nowadays, it is safe to say that interior design has become a lot greener. Growing awareness of the toxicity of many interior design products (e.g. VOC-laden house paints) has prompted many homeowners to reconsider the way they design their homes. Also, as we learn more about the adverse environmental effects associated with the manufacture and use of many interior construction and finishing products, green remodeling is gaining more currency.
Living rooms and kitchen spaces have been popular choices for eco-friendly makeovers, but what about the bathroom? Is it possible to design an eco-friendly bathroom and how so? Here are 5 tips to creating an eco-friendly bathroom design that both you and the environment can enjoy.
1) Conserve water
There are many water-savings technologies and products for the environmentally-aware homeowner. Look for low-flow faucets and showerheads that are EPA-approved (EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency). Low-flow bathroom fixtures use as much as 20% less water than their standard counterparts. You can also install aerators on your standard faucet or showerhead to decrease water usage. Another way to save water is to install a low-flow, high-efficiency toilet. These toilets have cyclonic flushing technology which means that very little water is used per flush. Installing a controllable flush handle is a good way to conserve water without having to buy a new commode.
2) Choose eco-friendly materials
Eco-friendly materials can give rise to a very distinctive bathroom design. For example, consider a bathroom vanity with an attention-grabbing vetrazzo or fuez (materials made of recycled glass) surface, or ceramic bathroom tiles made from post-consumer, post-industrial materials.
3) Use all-natural fabrics
A simple way to boost your bathroom’s green quotient is to use earth-friendly fabrics. Instead of toxic PVC vinyl shower curtains, use shower curtains made from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), organic cotton duck canvas, or hemp. Earth-friendly bathroom rugs and mats are made from a wide range of materials including organic cotton, repurposed towels, or sustainable bamboo, cork, or teakwood. Finally, choose hand towels, wash cloths, bath towels and bathrobes made from natural fibers such as organic cotton or bamboo.
Most people don’t consider lighting to be a central aspect of a bathroom, yet lighting fixtures have a great impact on the overall aesthetics and ambiance of a bathroom. Sufficient, well-planned lighting is also important in a bathroom for functional reasons and should be part of any bathroom design.
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting refers to the general lighting that uniformly fills an entire room. In a bathroom, ambient lighting can be provided in a number of ways. Ceiling-mounted light fixtures are a stylish way to furnish a bathroom with ambient lighting. This can include recessed ceiling lights or a flush mount fixture. Flush mount lighting fixtures come in a range of styles include bowl, box, and drum styles and in a variety of finishes including bronze, chrome, nickel, and stained glass. Another option for ambient bathroom lightning is an elegant hanging chandelier in a style consistent with the bathroom’s theme.
Task lighting
Task lightning is localized lightning in a specific area of a room that provides illumination for specific tasks. In bathrooms, task lightning mainly consists of light directed toward the mirror to reduce eye strain while applying makeup, shaving, putting on contact lenses, etc. Task lightning also minimizes shadows under the eyes, nose and chin producing a sharper reflection in the mirror. Task lightning can be done with either halogen lighting or a recessed downlight near the mirror, or by mounting scones directly onto the mirror. Another option is a pendant light above the mirror. Portable countertop lamps can also be a distinctive way to provide task lighting in a bathroom.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is lighting that adds drama to a bathroom design or that draws the eyes to display features such as paintings, alcoves, or other visual points of interest. Wall sconces for example, can serve the purpose of highlighting the texture of a bathroom wall, or curved track lighting can be installed on the ceiling for pizzazz. Halogen spotlights or wall sconces can be used to draw the eye to features such as decorative bathroom alcoves.
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