Eco-Friendly Bathroom Design: Sustainable Materials and Practices

If you’re looking into a bathroom renovation, you’ve probably seen a range of products boasting their green credentials. The toilet that uses less water for every flush and the shower head that ensures your shower is as efficient as possible, but what eco-friendly bathroom designs can you incorporate while renovating your bathroom? Check out our guide to sustainable materials and practices to help you ensure your bathroom renovations meet the mark.

Eco-Friendly Designs

Many people have fallen into the false belief that renovating bathroom space for sustainability means sacrificing style. It doesn’t! Choosing eco-friendly options throughout your renovation can complement your style and deliver the functionality that your bathroom desperately needs. With every eco-friendly selection you make, you’re contributing to the fight for sustainability.

Before you start your bathroom renovation in Sydney, it’s worth understanding what an eco-friendly design encompasses. Ultimately, each choice should focus on reducing its environmental impact, whether you embrace sustainable materials in the fixtures, fittings, and appliances or focus on waste reduction. There are various ways to embrace an eco-friendly design, including LED lighting, water-saving toilets, shower heads, and sinks, and reclaimed or recycled materials.

Sustainable Materials

• Reclaimed wood is a great choice if you’re looking for a traditional sauna or spa feel, and can be used to erect shelving or build vanities. 

• Responsibly sourced natural stone is an elegant choice, whether it’s for flooring or countertops, and it’s also sustainable when you choose a responsible supplier.

• Using materials like recycled ceramic tiles or glass adds a layer of texture to your bathroom renovation and reduces the demand for new resources. 

• Bamboo is a great material choice as not only is it suitable for accessories, but you’ll also find bamboo flooring and countertops. It’s a unique addition, but it’s also aesthetically pleasing and seriously sustainable. 

Additionally, ensure that your contractor uses low-VOC paints to improve your indoor air quality and avoid harmful chemicals.

Sustainable Practices

• Water-saving or low-flow fixtures can reduce your water consumption, whether you opt for a low-flow toilet or shower head or choose low-flow fixtures for every appliance. A dual-flush toilet is also a good shout, letting the user choose a half or full flush. Despite concerns, a water-saving shower head will reduce water usage without compromising pressure. 

• Energy efficiency is a major opportunity for your bathroom renovation, including utilising natural light to reduce your reliance on artificial lighting when the light is out. While it’s important to install task, ambient, and accent lighting in the bathroom, utilise LED bulbs to reduce your electricity consumption. Additionally, smart technology like automated lighting and taps, lights controlled by an app, or a smart thermostat will give you much more control over what energy you use. 

• You can reduce the waste your bathroom renovation produces by thinking long-term – in addition to ensuring you have plenty of bathroom storage space, you can use it wisely! Invest in refillable containers, biodegradable cleaners and toiletries, and always recycle. 

• Always use a local contractor who uses local materials. The closer the supplier, the shorter the trip, which is a great way to reduce transportation emissions. 

• You can reduce the need for potent cleaning chemicals by installing adequate ventilation and a powerful pan to prevent moisture build-up that leads to mould growth. Many plants suit indoor living and do a great job at improving air quality, which can be a big win for controlling moisture in the bathroom, and plants are stylish, too. 

• Cleaning wipes are one of the handiest helpers, but flushing them down the toilet is causing serious sewage blockages, so, if you use them, make sure everyone knows not to flush them (even if they say they’re flushable). 

• If you’re garden proud, you can discuss your options about collecting shower water to feed your flowers.

Contact Crystal Bathroom Renovations in Sydney

Before you undertake any type of renovation, you should get several quotes from local reputable contractors who have the training, experience, relevant licenses, and insurance to compare your options. Look for businesses that specifically state they use local suppliers or embrace sustainable practices. If they don’t mention sustainability or eco-friendly options, ask them outright about their practices. Always follow through by checking up on businesses, including checking their license numbers and reading reviews to get a better sense of who you’re dealing with, and have a prepared list of questions to ask as you discuss your design options. It isn’t just what they can offer you and for how much; their communication skills matter, too. Ensure you feel comfortable with the team you choose. 

Crystal Bathrooms in Sydney has a strong team of professionals prepared to handle your bathroom renovation from the design stage through until handover, and we’ll even provide support after your installation is complete. If you’re interested in discussing bathroom renovation ideas, get in touch with Crystal Bathrooms today to schedule a consultation with our design team.