When it comes to remodelling your home, you can think of all green options for your home interiors. However, most homeowners will usually forget about turning their patio into a greener space. There are many ways to create an eco-friendly and green outdoor space without compromising on the fun factor that patios are associated with.
Green Building Materials
When it comes to turning your patio green, there are so many renewable materials available to you.
- Repurposed and refurbished wood is an ideal choice for remodelling your patio.
- Bamboo is another great option that can withstand extreme outdoor conditions.
- You can build mosaic table tops using recycled glass.
Green Furniture
Furniture forms an important part of your patio. So you can make your outdoor greener by buying “green” furniture. You could purchase furniture made from recycled materials or reupholster/repaint the pieces you already have in your home. Make sure that the furniture is painted with low-VOC paint.
Bamboo is the material of choice for builders who are focused on making green furniture. The reason why it is considered a greener option than other furniture types is because it is easier to maintain bamboo forests. The “grass” grows at an extremely fast pace and the harvested forests can be replaced much faster than any type of timber. Bamboo furniture can be made in all shapes and sizes and most importantly they can feature a variety of natural hues ranging from yellow to dark green.
One of the best things about reclaimed wood is that it can last a very long time. You can source reclaimed wood from old furniture and even from old houses. You could source them from factory scraps. Many times such wood could also come from logs that have been sunk to the bottom of reservoirs or rivers. Wherever you sourced them from, reclaimed wood are the perfect example of efficiency and the “green” principle.
Add Plants
It is easy to think that your outdoors don't need more plants. But the fact is that more plants in your patio could not only add to the looks, they can also help in absorbing more toxics from the air. Add as many plants as possible to create a greener outdoor space. Some of the best options include:
- Hedychium densiflorum
- Aucuba japonica
- Acer palmatum
- Holboellia coriacea
Recycled Plastic & Metal
Recycled plastic and metal are being increasingly used for making outdoor furniture. They don't require much processing and are thus not only green but also inexpensive. You could even turn recycled coffee pods into garden composts and lawn chairs.
While all these options are available, you could also think of buying used furniture for your patio. They can also be green because they don't need any additional resources or processing. You may have to paint them though to match your outdoor décor. But they are relatively cheaper and can allow you to easily setup your patio. High quality used vintage furniture also make great options. Besides, they also have good resale value.
Old Pool Decks
Look for old removed pool decks and patios. Pool remodelers could provide you valuable info about where you could find them. In fact, they would be more than pleased to help you out because they need to spend more on breaking or dumping the old decks.
Flagstone patios are also increasingly becoming popular among those looking for greener and sustainable options. They could be made from natural stone or urbanite.
So consider all these options when you want to create a greener and “cleaner” patio or outdoor.
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