5 Ways You Can “Paint” Your Home Green Today
Modern design is not only about aesthetics – it is about functionality, too. And in today’s world, functionality includes being good to the planet. We here at Padstyle embrace going green in our homes and our office, and we wanted to share some of the ways we are helping the environment without sacrificing our modern style.
- Consume less, recycle more. This might sound intuitive- and it is! But it also fits with a modern minimalist sensibility. Think about it – if you have fewer “things” cluttering up your home (think about that old china you haven’t pulled out since you were married, or those knicknacks on your shelves), it will appear more soothing and sophisticated.
- Upgrade your appliances. If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to re-do the kitchen, now’s the time. Newer appliances are usually energy-efficient, and will consume less electricity than their older counterparts. This not only means you can get that stainless steel kitchen set you’ve always wanted, but you’ll save a little money on your monthly bills, too.
- Use green cleaning products. Harsh chemicals are going the way of the dinosaurs, which is good news for the environment and your modern furniture as well. Natural, organic, and gentle cleaning formulas will be nicer to your wood veneers, microsuede and granite countertops than your old cleaning supplies.
- Going hardwood? Think bamboo. Bamboo can be harvested with more energy efficiency than other hardwoods, and it will be an eye-catching, unique addition to any living room or entryway.
- Consider your lawn an extension of your modern eco-friendly attitude. Landscape using trees to shade your house for extra insulation and flowerbeds or rock gardens over grass to reduce water consumption. This will help your home move to the next level of energy efficient, and gives you a good reason to re-design that boring sod into a beautiful style.