Eco-Friendly Wallcoverings Come in Many Shades of ‘Green’

“Going green” is proving much more than a trendy marketing tactic. For a large segment of today’s consumers, green options represent lifestyle choices rooted in healthy living and environmental consciousness. Now, everyday products like vehicles, foods, home décor, and more play major roles in purchasing decisions.

For many, green options even trump product pricing or convenience. In fact, 72% of millennials and 51% of baby boomers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Such affinity for healthy and sustainable goods has professional wallcovering installers revamping their offerings to meet customer demand. To the delight of remodelers and home and business owners alike, wallcovering hangers are embracing the green revolution by merging fresh, modern designs with sustainable resources and practices. From eco-friendly and non-toxic wallpapers to innovative new materials that bring the outdoors in, wallcovering options abound for green-living consumers.

There exists an array of safe, eco-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing wallcovering materials for green transformations. These include:

• Natural fibers or grasscloth papers

  These handcrafted wallcoverings are made of real grasses or vines woven together and affixed to paper backings. Once installed, they lend an organic aura to any room. The delicate nature of these materials makes installation a bit tricky. This is why it is best left to a professional wallcovering installer.

• Bamboo 

  Though it looks a lot like wood, bamboo is technically a grass and therefore regenerates much faster than typical timber. Also, harvesting bamboo can help improve its growing conditions by allowing younger shoots to receive more light. Thus, bamboo is a great eco-friendly option. For use as a wallcovering, bamboo reeds are applied to a paper backing with an adhesive. The result is beautiful, subtle variation in color and texture that creates a spa-like ambiance.

• Cork

  Trees used for cork products are not cut down. Rather, just the outer bark is harvested. This doesn’t harm the tree, and the bark grows back, making cork a great eco-friendly alternative. Cork is also known for its resistance to mold and mildew. This makes it a hypoallergenic option for homes and businesses, and its natural insulating properties are a plus for those who desire temperature or sound control. From a design standpoint, cork wallcoverings exude modern warmth like wood.

• Wood veneer 

  To achieve the look of real wood walls, an eco-friendlier route is wood veneer. Veneer is a thin layer of real hardwood bonded to a different surface material hidden below. Because less is used, veneer reduces the amount of wood harvested — including exotic wood. This makes it more sustainable and more affordable than solid hardwoods.

• Green “living” walls 

  The ultimate green material for walls is greenery itself! Living walls are truly vertical gardens that allow live plants to grow within structures mounted upright into exterior or interior walls. Living wall systems are evolving rapidly. A professional wallcovering installer can help define the options that best fit one’s budget and space.

Can’t decide which material to use? Mother Nature doesn’t limit herself, so don’t feel constrained to just one option! The earthy colors and textures inherent to these natural wallcovering materials can be very complementary when tastefully showcased together.

Don’t forget that green also is an amazing color shown to induce happiness, tranquility, and a sense of renewal. It’s no surprise that Pantone Color Institute’s 2017 Color of the Year is “Greenery,” which Pantone describes as a “fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring." Simply stated, green represents the best of nature. In a modern world of cubicles, high rises, highway commutes, and also touch screens, nature-inspired spaces can be a relaxing retreat for the senses.

There are clearly many reasons as well as ways to adopt a green lifestyle. When considering wallcoverings, myriad green options exist that not only look and feel good but are healthier for you and the environment.