When you engage in your home remodeling, you are mainly doing it with the intention of altering a graying room or a space that does not suit your personality, lifestyle, or even the current fashion. But in today’s world, it is not all about the looks. There is the aspect of sustainability in every remodeling activity—choosing what will be a win-win for your house and the earth.

With every new project we embark on,  we immerse ourselves in an opportunity to discover something interesting about style, function, and going green. Whether you’re consulting us for a kitchen remodel, desire an entirely new room, or need us to overhaul your space, we make it our business to see that all of the designs we put forward adhere to eco-friendly renovations. 

Below, we explore what sustainable home remodeling means and how it can change your life.

The Story Of A House That Had Potential 

Not all home remodels start glamorous, but everyone wants a beautiful finished project. Recently, we worked on a new project of home remodeling. On the outside, this house was rather shabby. The inside? It didn’t even look like it had been touched in years. It could definitely need more than minor touch-ups. The circulation was not effective, the rooms were too small, and there were some very strange designs (like poorly lit spaces and walls that deprived spaces of natural light). But here’s the good part: it had potential. Huge backyard, space for an addition, and a chance to make it shine.

Some of the big changes we chose to undertake included adding a master suite and improving the kitchen, and in doing so, we made sustainable living the main focus. 

Want to know how we did it? Keep reading!

Best Practices For Home Remodeling You Can Adopt

Based on our experience with home remodeling projects and the great results we’ve achieved, we’ll share what works and what doesn’t. This way, you can learn the best practices for your own home remodel.

1. Plan Wisely—Think About Long-Term Value

Sustainability first requires wise planning in terms of strategy. Don’t just focus on how your design looks at first. Consider the overall effects of remodeling your house. For example, when you are planning for an addition, what picture comes to mind when you think about the actual size of the area, or is it something that’ll add value?

For this project, the house was 1,000 square feet with three bedrooms and one bathroom. It had a small scale of construction because there was no master bedroom, and the kitchen area was very small. Therefore, we combined a bedroom and a bathroom, enlarged the kitchen and the living room, and ensured that the cost did not exceed the limit. The end result? A beautiful, large house that serves its functional needs with much higher resale value at a cheaper expense.

Best Practice Tip: Remember, if you decide to add on or remodel, always consider the long-term payback period, or ROI. You might increase this value by finishing the basement or adding extra bedrooms and baths, such as a master suite or a more enhanced kitchen. Such add-ons might prove to be of higher value in the future.

2. Use Eco-Friendly Material

Newer to the list, another important aspect that can help to build a long-term home remodel is the use of green building materials. Choose products that will last long and contain no hazardous chemicals in their production at the expense of the environment. 

For example, when we were rearranging the kitchen, then we had to go for long-lasting items like sustainable wood for making cabinets and low-volatile organic compounds in the paints.

Also, we ensured proper use of energy by installing energy-friendly appliances and sources of light within the home. These small changes can prove rather significant in the long run. Plus, it means both overall utility savings and decreased impact on the environment.

Best Practice Tip: When selecting items for the classroom, invest in items like bamboo, recycled glass, and non-toxic paint. It’s all good for the environment and your health!

3. Repurpose Where Possible

Perhaps one of the most efficient green strategies in home remodeling is to try to work with what you already have instead of buying new items. We did not erase all existing tables from this project in design. Rather, we recycled substances that could still be utilized somewhere else. That would be the original cabinetry in the kitchen. We painted it so as to renovate it. You can do the same for lighting and furniture it is merely a question of how to bring life into the existing hardware rather than looking for new furniture.

Using materials that can be reused again does not only cost less; it also cuts down on waste, which is a plus for sustainability.

Best Practice Tip: Think about using cabinets and furniture again; that applies to handles too. It is possible to save money as well as throw away less at the same time!

4. Don’t Skip on Insulation and Energy Efficiency

Sustainability is not just what you put on the framework of your home; it also has something to do with using energy-efficient materials. For example, in our project, the house did not have a sound HVAC, and it was high time our client should go for it. We installed a new efficient heating and ventilation system. Apart from increasing the comfort of the house, this renewable energy installation would also benefit future dwellers by saving them money on heating and cooling. We also put a focus on insulating the new part of the house. 

We also paid special attention to insulation, especially in the new part of the house, where it should not get too cold in winter or too hot in summer without turning to heating and air conditioning frequently.

Best Practice Tip: Make sure to replace your wall and roof insulation and the air conditioning and heating systems with the best ones. Sweating small changes such as these means great savings on energy bills.

5. Add Green Features—Smart Landscaping Matters

For many people, landscaping is more than aesthetic makeovers of lawns and gardens. It’s also about selecting plants that have low water requirements and are environmentally sustainable. We did it in the backyard, choosing plants that grow well under low irrigation and putting mulch in order to minimize water evaporation. It is about designing your landscape elements so that they become low maintenance, which helps you save time, money, and resources

Best Practice Tip: Use native plants for landscaping. To reduce water consumption, consider things like rainwater harvesting and smart irrigation systems.

6. Focus On Smart Design And Space Efficiency 

When remodeling smaller homes, smart design can make a huge difference. In this project, we used every inch of space wisely. We expanded the kitchen, added a master suite, and optimized the layout. Quite frankly, this is not only desirable in terms of functionality within the home, but it also decreases the wastage of materials.

Smart design is not about cramming more into space; it’s about space, movement, light, and flexibility of use. For example, while designing the kitchen, we adopted an open shelving system as part of the decoration ideas and used extra storage creations at different parts of the house. The concept was to provide a sense of spaciousness that is not achieved by the construction of a house that stretches the size limit of the plot of land.

Best Practice Tip: Design to create more space for people. Retain all the built-in storage and do not convert more square footage unless it’s absolutely necessary.

7. Don’t Be Afraid of Bold Choices (If Done Right)

A sustainable remodel doesn’t mean sacrificing style. In fact, incorporating bold design choices can give your home a unique, fresh look that stands out. When it came time to remodel the kitchen, we debated over color. While we initially considered some daring choices (blue cabinets, anyone?), we ultimately decided on a two-tone approach with a sleek, classic vibe. A balance of boldness and timelessness can elevate your space without overpowering it.

Just be sure you’re confident in your choices! Of course, trends appear and vanish, whereas value-driven design is always a good idea.

Best Practice Tip: Choose brave and creative interior design solutions only if they correspond to your preferences and the house’s décor, yet remember that one should introduce some traditional and timeless features to avoid looking dated after a few years.

Let’s Wrap Up All The Best Practices

Green home remodeling is therefore not about getting a house that looks shabby or getting one that cannot meet today’s needs, but just getting a house by taking care of what we have. With proper planning, the right choice of environmentally friendly materials, and an orientation to energy saving, everyone can turn their home into a more sustainable, comfortable, and beautiful home. And just like in our project, where if you think big-picture, the returns do the talking.

Ready to take a step toward having your own sustainable home remodeling project? Contact us today for a consultation and let us build the dream home you have always wanted.