A home renovation is always a nice upgrade, but it’s typically at the expense of two things: Your wallet and the environment. Renovating your home for a fresh look or to keep up with the trends doesn’t have to leave behind a carbon footprint. Here are a few trending home renovations using natural materials that will save you time and money, while helping the environment.

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Recycled Back Splash

For a simple kitchen or bathroom update, give the room a fresh back splash. Consider using a sustainable material such as recycled glass. Green tile options for your bathroom and kitchen offer unique looks that even interior designers use.

What makes the tile green is that it comes from recycled materials, it’s locally sourced or comes from an abundantly resourceful natural material. Glass and ceramic tile back splashes are a popular kitchen and bathroom feature.

Reclaimed Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a major trend because they give your home a gorgeous look, they’re easy to clean and they’re not filled with all of the germs and dust mites that a carpet carries. Sometimes installing new hardwood is costly and not so sustainable. Instead of brand new floors, reclaim the hardwood floors in your home as a DIY project.

If you’re not handy, hire a contract to come in and reclaim your hardwood. Another option would be to purchase reclaimed wood and have that installed. Be aware that purchasing reclaimed wood is very pricey, and the wood is very old so you don’t want any damages to happen in the installation process.

VOC-Free Cabinets

Your kitchen is the last place you want to find toxins. If you’re looking for a kitchen upgrade, consider installing VOC-Free cabinets. You will want to update your kitchen with non-toxic cabinets for the benefit of your home and the environment.

Cabinets that contain VOC are made with formaldehyde which is a toxic carcinogen. Kitchen cabinets containing VOC are not natural materials, thus you’ll want VOC-free cabinets installed in your home. This is a simple home renovation that will leave you with plenty of benefits.

Wood Shingles

The roof is a very important factor of your home because it’s what protects your home from the elements. It provides shelter. That’s why you want the best materials for your roofing. Give your home the protection it needs by choosing cedar shingles for your roof. Cedar has many benefits for your home such as great insulation, durability, and resistance to humidity.

Cedar is also a sustainable material because of the little energy required during the manufacturing process. Cedar shingles are also decomposable once they’re done being used on your roof.

Low-E Windows

If you’re looking for energy efficient materials for your home, Low-e glass windows are the way to go. Low-e windows are trending because of the many benefits such as energy saving technology through saving heat and cooling costs.

You will love having low-e windows because they’re made with a UV protection, yet they still allow for natural light to come through. It will keep the fabrics of your home protected from sun damage and reduce fabric fading.

Barn Wood

Home owners just can’t get enough of that rustic barn wood style. Barn wood is a great way to use natural materials in your home. There are creative ways you can incorporate barn wood in your home, for that fresh, natural style.

Whether you use the barn wood as a backdrop on your wall, use it as siding for an island or the cabinets in your kitchen, or simply for the mantle of your fireplace, barn wood is a great material to incorporate in your home renovation plans.

Whitewashed Brick

Whitewashing brick is a fast and easy way to turn outdated brick into a modern focal point in your home. If you have brick walls that stick out in your home, consider a DIY whitewashing brick project. You’ll have an updated look in a little amount of time.

The white brick will not only brighten your home, but will give it a clean and fresh look. This is a great way to keep the materials such as brick in your home without getting rid of them and using drywall to replace the brick.

Salvaged Metal

For a modern yet urban look in your home, consider reclaiming metal materials and turning them into something for your home. Using reclaimed metals in your home will give the metal a new purpose rather than sitting in a landfill or scrap yard. It will give you unique style pieces in your home.

If you don’t have scrap metal, you can go to a salvage yard to pick some up and create custom pieces in your home.

Renovating your home can seem like a long and drawn out process. Using natural materials, you can have sustainable renovations in your home in no-time. Whether you hire a contractor or plan to do it yourself, renovation your home with natural materials you know you and your family will love.

About the Author: Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for “The Drifter Collective.” Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

The Drifter Collective: An eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Follow on Twitter , Pinterest , Instagram

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