Sustainable Home Design: How to Create an Environmentally Friendly Bathroom
Hi everyone! My name is Kayla Edwards, and I’m the lead interior designer here at Springhouse Architects in Springboro, Ohio. Today, I’ll be continuing our series about sustainable home design.
Last week, we talked a little bit about how to make a kitchen design more sustainable by using different materials and products, as well as appliances that work better for the environment and the economy. This week, we’re going to be diving into sustainable bathroom design. Let’s get started!
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Floors
Porcelain tile is most commonly used for bathroom flooring. Sustainably speaking, it's more of a natural product that doesn't take as much energy to produce—but it’s not your only option. Although less typical, cork is an extremely renewable material with a very unique aesthetic. We’ve also been seeing a lot of people switching to polished or stained concrete.
One of my favorite things about manufacturers these days is that they're finding out how to use recycled content for their products. Take Shaw Floors, for example. This company has seven different collections that are up to 40% recycled material. Of those seven collections, five of them have been certified by Bureau Veritas—an international group that specializes in testing, inspection and certification of services and products.
There are also places where you can purchase salvaged or recycled tiles from old projects or renovation projects. Be aware, you might have to do a little bit of searching to find a place in your area that sells these items.
Lastly, if you’re currently renovating your bathroom, you may choose to keep its original tile—or maybe you’d like to repurpose tile found in a different part of your home. These are all great sustainable options!
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Cabinets & Vanities
Aside from bamboo, if you’re looking for a sustainable cabinet option at a reasonable price point, a hardwood box construction is the way to go. However, tropical hardwoods are not always the best option—although they’re beautiful, not all of them are sustainably obtained.
If you're interested in a mid-century modern or Victorian aesthetic, head to an antique store in your area and find an old dresser to repurpose into your vanity! You can still install a stone countertop on top and have it fabricated to fit plumbing fixtures, as well.
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Showers & Bathtubs
When it comes to sustainable showers and bath design, we tend to forget about water usage. Showers have been known to use less water than baths, unless you're someone who takes a 30-minute shower.
If you opt for a standing shower, or a standalone shower, you can now clad your shower walls in new recycled glass tile products, which is just gorgeous. If you’re looking to install a shower-tub combo, and you’d rather use a shower curtain, we suggest an organic shower curtain made by Quiet Town—they have more of a mid-century modern aesthetic. If that's not quite your vibe, you can also try Parachute or The Citizenry.
In terms of bathtubs, we’re used to seeing ones made of fiberglass or an acrylic material. More sustainable options are available, such as cast iron tubs. If vintage isn’t your thing, bio resin and even ceramic tubs are available.
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures
The biggest issue for sustainability in bathrooms comes from your plumbing fixtures—yep, we’re talking water usage again! The amount of water used comes from the toilet, shower, bath and sink—so you better believe a lot of plumbing manufacturers have recognized this issue and are creating fixtures that aid in water usage reduction. For instance, there are companies like Grohe that have made an app that tracks your water usage, even allowing you to set temperature maximum to create a more customizable, sustainable shower experience.
In the past, sinks have been made from a molded ceramic or an integral kind of cultured marble—but there are many other options available. Take Native Trails, for instance: they create sinks, vanities, mirrors and other home decor accessories out of sustainable stone, glass and metal materials.
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Ventilation
Similar to your kitchen, you want to have an exhaust fan that removes the steam and hot air from your bathroom to the exterior of your home. In older homes, you'll see that exhaust fans are vented to the attic—unfortunately, that's not the best solution, unless you want mold and other bacteria growing up there!
Choosing Sustainable Bathroom Toilets
Last but not least, let’s talk about your porcelain throne. In the past, toilets have used up to seven gallons of water with every single flush. These days, toilets now use probably less than two gallons of water per flush. The latest innovation? Rimless toilets. Not only are they more energy efficient, they’re easier to clean, too. Rimless toilets use a flushing system that shoots water out toward the edge and all the way around the bowl. Some even offer a bidet attachment, which eliminates the use of toilet paper (your body and sewage system will thank you!).
For more on sustainable countertops, lighting and ventilation, be sure to read our sustainable kitchen post from last week!
Have any questions?
Although we covered a lot in this post, you may still have some other questions about creating a sustainable bathroom. Whether you’re involved in the custom home process now, or even just considering it, join our free Facebook group—we’ll help you answer any questions you might have! Also, feel free to invite anyone that you think would benefit from this collaborative. You’ll not only get advice from me, but from other people who have been through this, too.
Start the process.
When it comes to designing and building a custom home, nothing beats having a trusted, experienced team of architects on your side. Let’s set up a call to meet, discuss your goals, answer your questions, and settle your fears. We can’t wait to meet you!