Looking to update your kitchen or just add a few little cosmetic touches? Why not look into some sustainable kitchen design ideas to make the space as eco-friendly as possible?
As the centerpiece of any home, your kitchen sees a lot of action every day. From rushed breakfasts before the school run to dinner parties and long chats over drinks, the need for a kitchen to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing is imperative.
In general, woods such as timber, bamboo, and oak are a great natural resource and, if managed correctly, provide the perfect sustainable material.
1.Sustainable Materials
Sustainable by definition, in terms of materials, are those that provide environmental benefits throughout their useful life. This includes where they come from, how they are installed, and how they are disposed of.
Here are some simple ideas that you can put into practice today:
- Linen Tea Towels– Linen is considered an eco-friendly material, making it an excellent choice when it comes to kitchen towels, napkins, or even placemats. It requires less water to grow than cotton, so ditch the old ones for some beautiful new linen dish towels.
- Reusable Food Wraps– We're willing to bet that most households use a lot of cling film and aluminum foil, which considering it can only be used once and has a negative effect on the environment, is not ideal. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives out there that are much more sustainable.
- Wooden Bowls-We use wooden bowls for salads, why not for everything else? As we have said, wood is a great sustainable material, so replacing our usual bowls, which crack and wear out over time, with others made with more natural material is a great idea.
- Washable kitchen towels-Kitchen towels are something we use; they get dirty and are thrown away. Changing our mindset and investing in things that are not so easily thrown away is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint.
High-quality dish towels that can be used and washed over and over again are readily available, so why not buy some when your current ones reach the end of their useful life?
- Low consumption lighting
Many homes today use energy-efficient lighting, so if you haven't already, it's time to do the same. Not only will they lower your electricity bills, but they also emit far less CO2 and greenhouse gas, making them a no-brainer when you think of lighting in your kitchen.
- Improved ventilation
Ventilation systems inside kitchens are of great importance to keep the environment clean and healthy. Proper air ventilation is necessary to break down carbon monoxide and other harmful toxins released by appliances, ensuring that the combustion process is complete.
As well as having a good extractor hood in place, there are other ways to improve air ventilation to reduce your impact on the environment. K Remodeling company servicing Santa Ana will get all these done effortlessly for you.
- Use reused items
The idea of buying vintage items and reusing old pieces has become fashionable in recent years, which is great because it's incredibly eco-friendly. Reusing old items reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills and lessens the need to produce new and potentially toxic materials.
It may not be quite your cup of tea, but it's surprising how good eco-friendly repurposed old items look. We're not suggesting you purchase old and battered kitchen cabinets but instead think of ways you can repurpose furniture or buy used pieces to add to your space.
- Improve insulation
It's a fact that good insulation conserves energy and in turn, helps the environment. So, we need to improve insulation throughout our home. Your kitchen is a great place to start!
If you are renewing and making significant changes, why not consider further insulating the walls or adding underfloor heating to reduce the amount of heat loss?
Improving insulation usually involves looking at walls, floors, windows, airtightness, and the roofing. So, it's worth taking the time to look at each area to make your kitchen's insulation as efficient as possible.
- Plastic-free storage and utensils
By replacing plastic throughout your kitchen, you will help the environment immensely while creating a sleek, contemporary look. Plastic pollution is a massive threat to the environment, so it makes sense to look at all the ways you can eradicate its use.
- Wooden cutting boards-You can find them everywhere! They look great and are better for the environment. They may be a bit more expensive, but they are much more sustainable.
- Glass storage jars –As a fully recyclable and resource-efficient material, glass is always a great alternative to plastic. These glass jars would look great on wooden shelves or counters, filled with pasta, cookies, or herbs.
- Stainless steel food storage-Stainless steel is beginning to play an important role in terms of sustainable design, due to its high durability and ecological properties.
We think you should toss out those old, faded plastic Tupperware and replace them with these sleek little stainless-steel numbers.
There is no need to compromise on design and aesthetics when creating a sustainable space. The two can go hand in hand if you take a little time to get creative and think of ways to go greener.
We at K Remodeling will remodel your kitchen with an eco-friendly design and create a unique space for your family and visitors to enjoy.
