An occasional remodel is an unavoidable part of living in your own home. Regardless of whether it’s done for refreshment or updating purposes. While every single homeowner is always looking to curb the prices of this type of project. Not too many of them are concerned about pollution and other harmful effects that a remodeling project entails.

If you are one of the good people, who are actually concerned about our environment. You’ll always be on a quest for increased eco-friendliness. We are here to help you with that.

1. Donate

There is no way you can avoid getting rid of stuff during a remodel. Sure, disposing of everything that you don’t need provides an awesome feeling and is very easy. But it is far from the most eco-conscious way to go. For one, you can give your stuff away. In this way, you are making sure that your stuff is given a life extension, while avoiding contributing to landfill growth.

But why give away? Why not sell? Well, you could sell, and that is pretty cool too. But by giving stuff away for free, you are contributing to the dwindling of the global luxury demand!

So, start with your family, friends and acquaintances and move on to your neighbors. If they don’t want your giveaways, use eCommerce websites such as eBay and Amazon to sell your used stuff. It’s really a win-win situation. Goodwill is always an option, too!

2. Buy pre-owned materials

You could find yourself on the other side of the equation – in need of stuff for your remodel project. Yes, buying new things will always feel better. But this is definitely the least eco-friendly way to go. There is, in fact, a ton of stuff out there on the market that is just as good as brand-new items. Meaning that buying used is often a much better way to obtain whatever you may need. It’s environmentally friendlier and cheaper than buying new.
Of course, you shouldn’t buy a decade-old refrigerator, but there is no reason to be afraid of investing in it if it has been used for no more than a couple of years.

Cabinetry is also an excellent example of reusability – there is a ton of salvage shops out there that offer cabinets in mint condition.
The only real downside to buying used is that there is no warranty or money-back options, so you should be thorough when inspecting the items.

3. Store your items

If you can’t sell the stuff you don’t need and if no one really wants it, you should know that the trash bin should always be your last resort! Storing stuff away is always a great option, but if you hoard it in your living space, you’re risking clutter, which is always a bad thing. If you happen to have roof space, convert it into attic storage, where you can put away the stuff that you might need at a certain point.
Bear in mind, however, that you probably won’t be able to store everything.

4. Think before you destroy

Sure, if you want that open floor plan to work, you’re probably going to have to tear down a wall or two, but sledgehammer isn’t necessarily a go-to tool for remodeling! We’re not saying that you should avoid destruction altogether – sometimes tearing down a wall or two is the necessary step towards achieving your ultimate goal, but instead of going postal on your cabinets, walls and similar items, always keep reusing in mind! This is where you’ll have to get creative, but with a little bit of focus and effort, you can turn your cabinetry (for instance) into the unlikeliest of useful objects. Instead of turning your indoor items into debris that will definitely end up in landfills, keep reusability in mind.

5. Go with VOC-free paint

Well, you’re going to have to use paint during your remodel, there is no way around it. The traditional paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs); these release harmful molecules into the air, are known as severe pollutants and have been known as causes of long-term health issues. Opting for VOC-free paint will help you sleep easy, not only during your renovations, but in the long run, too!

The five mentioned eco-friendly home remodel ideas are here to help you become a better citizen! Always look to donate or sell instead of throwing away, buy pre-owned instead of brand-new, find a way to store your items instead of throwing them away, think about reusability before destruction and always go with VOC-free paint!