If you’re thinking of giving your living space an update, you might want to start with the floor and work your way up. Indeed, what lies underfoot can provide inspiration for your entire decorating scheme. According to Adrienne Chin, author of The Home Decorator’s Color & Texture Bible (Firefly Books, 2007), “Whether you live in a newly built condo, a 1950s ranch-style bungalow, or a Victorian townhouse, the starting point is often the flooring.” Obviously, if you’re lucky enough to have amazing hardwood floors, you’re probably going to want to work around what you have. However, if your floors are in rough shape (or simply in poor taste), consider replacing them with bamboo, cork or linoleum. All three have grown in popularity recently due to their stylishness, affordability and eco-friendliness.
Bamboo
Due to the fact that bamboo is a grass, it grows extremely quickly. Thus, it can be replenished faster than its hardwood cousins. Surprisingly, bamboo is extraordinarily durable. In fact, its hardness is comparable to more traditional flooring materials such as oak and maple.
Cork
Similar to bamboo, cork is highly sustainable as it is harvested from the bark of the tree, which grows back time after time. Cork is perfect for allergy sufferers and is also a great insulator—keeping in heat as well as absorbing sound.
Linoleum
Derived from linseed oil, linoleum is 100% natural and is available in a variety of colours and finishes (faux stone, for example). It is also extremely easy to maintain and is planet-friendly to boot—linoleum is completely biodegradable.
