Eco Home - sanded floors

With staycations and working from home becoming the norm for many people, it has become important to ensure that the spaces you spend most of your time in are actually healthy spaces.

Creating functional and aesthetically pleasing rooms can contribute to a more productive and happy home-life, however, ensuring that your spaces are also healthy, can really improve your wellbeing.

When I moved house several years ago, I decided that I would focus on using natural and up-cycled materials for renovations and non-toxic products when redecorating. There was not the range of eco-friendly products available then as there is now. It is heartening to see healthier paints and finishes becoming more widely available.

The house I had fallen in love with was a 3 bed terraced house in Westcliff-on-sea, circa 1910. Although it was top-to-toe in magnolia, I could see it had been cared for over time and still had original features such as coving and beautiful fireplace surrounds.

I began with the floors. It was exciting peeling back carpets and underlay to reveal the boards underneath - holding my breath in the hope they weren’t damaged. I was lucky that most of them were in good condition and just needed sanding. I had lived with carpets and vinyl flooring for most of my adult life that I was desperate to live with the natural wood of the floors and scatter rugs about.

After having the floors sanded, I opted for an environmentally friendly oil in the living room and bedrooms. It naturally repels water (so great for spillages) and does not off-gas so it was safe for my kids to crawl around on. The oil drew out a rosy pink from the pine boards which I really love. It gives a warmth to each room. For the hall and dining room I wanted something lighter so I went with a white wash which allows the original features of the boards to shine through whilst giving them more of a uniform look.

Whatever flooring you choose, it is really important to think about the materials and products you use, especially if you have children. Kids are much closer to the ground and spend a great deal playing on the floor, therefore the materials they interact with need to be non-toxic for their long term health.

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