How eco-friendly is LTV flooring?

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring is a very common choice for the home and for businesses these days. It has been embraced in both settings because it provides a step up in terms of aesthetics and durability on standard vinyl flooring. LVT is thicker and harder wearing, but that is not its only advantage.

Because it is laid as individual tiles rather than as a single sheet, it is able to reproduce the look of wooden planks or stone or porcelain tiling much more accurately. That means it can provide a lower cost way of creating the look of those surfaces.

One aspect of LVT flooring that is not often considered is its environmental impact though. So is LVT an eco-friendly choice?

Vinyl flooring and the environment

Vinyl floors are now frequently regarded as being among the better options when it comes to eco-friendliness. That is because they are usually manufactured in a way that is sustainable and that makes extensive use of materials that have been recycled. Furthermore, many of those materials can be recycled again when the floor is taken up.

It is important to note that this refers more to standard vinyl sheets than luxury vinyl tiling though. The latter is made in an entirely different way and involves the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is not great for the environment. It often gives off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is both non-biodegradable and impossible to recycle. It is not as simple as saying that LVT floors are bad for the environment though as there are a number of factors that determine eco-friendliness which must be considered.

What are the main factors that determine the eco-friendliness of a floor?

Choosing the floors for your home or business is part of the overall design process. If you want the floors to be good for the environment, there are multiple issues that you must consider before purchase and installation. We will look at each of them now and how LVT floors match up to them.

Recyclability

The first of them is how possible it will be to recycle the materials used in the creation of the floor when it is no longer fit for purpose. As noted above, LVT flooring does not score very highly in this respect and floor choices like solid wood or tiles made of ceramic or porcelain will be a better choice from the point of view of recycling.

Of course, wood in particular will also be a considerably more costly choice, so that is something that will need to be weighed up when deciding what floor to go with. Another option could be standard vinyl flooring as this makes use of recycled – and recyclable – materials in its manufacture.

Durability

The second key factor in determining eco-friendliness is durability. Durable floors lead to less waste. When it comes to that, luxury vinyl tiling scores very highly indeed, as it is a floor surface that will last for a long time if it is installed properly. That is due to the fact that the manufacturing process renders it much more able to withstand footfall than standard vinyl and also creates a thicker floor that is less likely to wear away over time.

VOCs

Those volatile organic compounds are a third factor that determines the impact of a floor choice on the environment. They are chemicals that are created during the manufacturing of products and LVT floor manufacture does lead to the production of VOCs. However, it should be noted that it is possible to get vinyl floors that are low in VOCs so that is something you should enquire about if you are keen on the idea of LVT flooring.

Floors that are made of natural materials such as solid wood or bamboo tend to produce lower VOC levels than ones that are made of synthetic materials.

How can I make more eco-conscious design choices?

Environmental consciousness when choosing interior designs is about looking at the different factors and finding options that meet as many of them as possible. That is true for the floors and all other aspects of this process.

LVT floors will provide a long-lasting choice and the importance of durability in terms of environmental impact should not be underestimated. The longer a floor surface lasts without needing to be replaced, the more any environmental issues during the manufacturing process can be kept to a minimum. Some of those issues, such as VOCs, can be further mitigated by asking questions before deciding on a particular LVT floor.

Of course, floors and other furnishings that are made out of natural materials are likely to be the most sustainable and easiest to recycle. Alongside its aesthetic appeal, that is another reason why solid wood floors are popular.

LVT floors are eco-friendly in some respects and not in others. Ask professionals before making your final floor choice.

Wool paths are ‘carpets’ for walkers

Welsh wool has long been used to make luxury carpets that are popular in North Wales homes. Welsh farmers have also been using wool to repair footpaths.

Walking paths are covered with wool fleeces before stones and aggregate are spread over them. The wool replaces the synthetic membrane that is normally put under the stone and aggregates. The manager of the Made With Wool project, Elen Parry, has said:

“Our aim is to develop sustainable uses for wool which will guarantee a fairer price for farmers. This particular project does this – as well as improving our lived environment and minimising our impact on our surroundings.”

The wool creates a floating carpet path that allows water to drain away naturally.

Using wool on paths is not a new technique. The Romans used wool on waterlogged paths a long time ago. Wool has also been used in railway construction in Ireland a hundred years ago.

The Welsh farmers are paid a fair price for the wool, and local volunteers help renovate the paths. After the summer, the paths will be checked and any sections that have settled a lot will be topped up.

Wool is also being used to conserve paths in the Lake District and the Isle of Skye. There should still be plenty of wool left to make carpets, so no shortages are expected. However, if your carpets are looking worn, it’s a good time to visit your local carpet retailer to see their range of premium quality wool carpets.

Fun novelty interior design is a 2023 trend

A design style in 2023 does not take the home seriously by focusing on fun and novelty.

More people are working from home these days. Therefore, they want the room they work in to lift their mood through bright design.

Fun décor that features bright colours and some oversized pieces is the opposite of the minimal design style popular over the last few years. Fun décor replaces the cool neutral colours of minimal design, with vivid hues and bold patterns.

The fun trend is being influenced by social media with some videos featuring fun décor being watched over a million times. A TikTok video depicting a room with an oversized pencil by influencer called Daniklaric has been seen over eight million times.

To bring the fun style to your home, start with the floor by installing bright coloured carpets. In the Chester and North Wales region, carpet retailers stock bright hued carpets such as those manufactured by Penthouse Carpets. If you don’t want to replace an existing carpet, add one or two brightly coloured rugs instead.

Next, add wall art that features an abundance of colours and patterns. Designer Sophie Collé recommends taking inspiration from surrealist artists like Magritte by adding oversized objects that make no sense in a room. She says:

“There’s something to be said about childhood, how things are larger when you are physically smaller, so keeping that larger-scale ratio when you’re an adult puts you back into that playing-pretend relationship.”

Bear these tips in mind when making important interior design changes in your home.

Making a grand entrance with a luxurious hallway

The hallway is often the first impression of a home, but it is an area that is often overlooked. In a recent article, Salon Privé Magazine urges property owners to transform their hallways and make an impressive statement:

"Giving a home or business a luxurious finish and feel."

A luxurious hallway creates an atmosphere of sophisticated style with features that captivate visitors upon entering. Stunning chandeliers and bold carpets add a sense of opulence and grandeur to the entranceway.

A stylish hall is a combination of lighting, colour and flooring. Carpets and laminate flooring in Chester and North Wales are popular hall floor coverings. Carpets provide a softer surface, but laminate flooring is more practical, especially on wet days when people entering a building drip water on the floor. Laminate flooring is easy to clean, and spills are quickly wiped up. Rugs can be placed on laminate flooring to add a touch of warmth.

Colour is important to the atmosphere of a hallway. Darker, richer tones add a touch of elegance. On the other hand, light oak laminate flooring with white or cream walls produces a sense of space, making narrow hallways appear roomier. Another way to add a feeling of space is through wall mirrors.

Lighting is another key element of a luxury hallway. A well-lit hallway is inviting, whether the light source is wall sconces, ceiling lights or natural light sources. Installing smart technology helps to automatically turn on welcoming lights as soon as someone enters the hallway.

The development of CO2 neutral carpets

Dutch carpet maker Intercarpet has invested a large amount of finance into developing carbon-neutral carpets that are also recyclable. As well as being environmentally friendly, they are creating carpets that are easy to maintain, feel comfortable, are easy to install and last a long time.

Brϋckner Textile Technologies, a specialist in textile dry finishing, is a partner in the project. They have produced an oven, used in the production of tufted carpets, that operates on green electricity and uses energy efficient motors.

Intercarpet demonstrates that it is possible to produce CO2-neutral carpets, which is a key step to a greener future.

Intercarpet is not the only carpet manufacturer concerned about its carbon footprint. Condor Carpets holds several sustainable certificates awarded for their commitment to environmentally related principles. These include the Eurofins Gold given to products that meet low-emission standards and the German Der Bauer Engel label for products that have a low environmental impact. Condor Carpets also has the GUT, CRI Geren Label Plus, REACH Certificate and the TÜV Proficert that recognises the health and environmental properties of their carpets.

Penthouse Carpets is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment. They minimise waste, use a high percentage of sustainable natural materials and are committed to energy efficiency.

Residents concerned about the environmental impact of new carpets in their Chester or North Wales home should speak to their local carpet supplier. They can advise on environmentally friendly carpets and recycling schemes that turn old carpet textiles into useful products.