Part One
Wall coverings
With lots of stylish choices, from wallpaper to ornate wood panelling, there is an abundance of wall coverings available when designing our homes or places of work. Wall coverings can add an injection of colour: from bright and bold hues to softer, neutral and earthy tones. However, it is important to remember that too many colours can overstimulate the senses, having a negative effect on our stress levels and wellbeing. Donât forget, too, that not everyone views a colour the same. For instance, interiors with white walls may be viewed by some people positively, as a Scandi design style. However, those same white walls may be viewed by others as too clinical, resembling something like the interior of a doctorâs surgery.
Apart from colour, wall coverings can add texture and form to a design, taking away the plainness of bare walls and adding character and style. Think: does the wall covering you are choosing work with the design style and other materials selected to create it? Donât forget to take into consideration the positioning of the space: is it north or south facing? Does it have windows? The amount and type of light entering a space can affect how the colour of the wall coverings may look. Importantly, when selecting wall coverings for a design project, are the choices you are making sustainable and promoting the health and wellbeing of all those who will use the space?
When starting a design project, consider what the spaces you are designing are going to be used for. This is important so that you can create the correct ambience for each space: be creative and have some fun when selecting your wall coverings, but make sure it flows with all the other spaces. Are you a person who likes to read? One option could be to make use of these spare books by sticking them onto a wall with a plant-based wall adhesive, creating a feature wall. This looks great in places such as the toilet (gives your guests something to look at when they are in there), lounge, restaurants, hotels and libraries. Have a look at whatâs in your cupboards â you may find something which could look great as a wall covering.
Part One includes specific chapters on different types of wall coverings: paint, wallpaper, wood, natural stone, tiles, clay plaster, cork and Mogu Acoustic. Each short chapter will offer a brief description of what the product is, what makes it sustainable and animal friendly, and what it can add to your design scheme. There are also some top tips to consider when purchasing certain products and, wherever possible, some names of relevant suppliers.
Paint
Eco- and animal-friendly paints are important to help protect the environment and promote a healthy internal air quality, which ultimately promotes the health and wellbeing of both you and your family, work colleagues or clients. Conventional paints contain substances such as formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals which, over time, release toxins into the environment; their use in paints is regulated but the regulations vary depending on where you live in the world. As well as containing VOCs, most traditional-style paints leave a thin membrane of plastic, which can trap damp, resulting in mould.
So, what makes a paint humane and eco-friendly? Supplier Edward Bulmer Paints suggests that a sustainable and humane paint is one âwhich has no detrimental effect on the environment or societyâ (Edward Bulmer Paints, 2020). With that definition in mind, here are some top tips to consider when choosing your sustainable and animal-friendly paint.