If there’s one thing we can all agree on about modern life, it’s that materials are too often needlessly wasted. We’ve become a society that throws things out rather than reuse them. Luckily, you can do your part to buck this trend and furnish your home in a responsible manner. When you prioritize reusable materials, you lessen the environmental impact of your home. You can also save lots of money in the process. Here are four ideas for furnishing your home with reusable materials.
Engineered Oak Flooring
Not only is oak flooring reusable, but it’s also a solid material that will look great in your home. It’s dark, rich color adds a seriousness to any room, and it makes your floors look clean, even when they’re not. It deals well with moisture, and can even be installed on top of heating systems. Engineered oak flooring is also cheaper than most wood flooring, making it an excellent option for anyone who loves the appearance of wood but doesn’t want to break the bank.
Brick Fireplace
Bricks are the quintessential reusable material since they’re strong, durable, and remarkably versatile. A brick that’s used for your fireplace today could become part of a school building a hundred years from now. Not only is brick environmentally friendly, but it also looks great. There’s a reason brick has been such a standard building material for generations.
Chairs Made From Recycled Wood
If you’re going to choose one material to recycle, then wood is certainly an excellent choice. Cutting down trees does serious harm to the environment, so it’s better to reuse the wood than we’ve already produced. You can easily buy furniture made of recycled wood, or, if you’re skilled at carpentry, you could even make some chairs yourself.
Corrugated Iron for Roofs
Construction sites often create excess corrugated iron, which is a material often overlooked for home projects. Swing by a local construction site and see if they happen to have any corrugated iron lying around. They’ll be happy to give it to you if they don’t have a use for it themselves, and you can then use it as a roof for your shed.
Reusable materials like those mentioned above are as good for your budget as they are for the environment. That’s why you should make them a central focus when furnishing your home.