5 ways to create a sustainable luxurious home

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Times are changing, and with them, the definition of luxury is changing too. Gone are the days when luxury just meant buying the most expensive things, with no social consciousness. Nowadays, when it comes to homes the term is inextricably linked with the best quality, but also the most sustainable solutions. Green investments have been the prevailing trend in the past few years, and we don’t see this changing anytime soon. It’s all about co-existing with nature in harmony without disrupting its fragile balance. Here are some of the best ways to incorporate this all-pervasive trend into your own dream home.

Use natural, locally sourced materials

What could be more logical than building a home using quality materials from reputable local producers? After all, isn’t that how it was done for centuries? Buying materials from halfway around the world is terrible for your carbon footprint. When choosing the materials for your home, you should consider their quality, durability, the way they look, and especially their health effect. Building with the best of green materials is likely to increase the value of your home significantly. Some new solutions offer incredible benefits, even if that means investing more at first. Take for instance the living roof trend. Although pricey, they have multiple perks. They are more durable and energy efficient than traditional roofs, plus they look incredible!

Be efficient with heating and cooling

Preventing heating and cooling problems starts with excellent, sustainable materials, such as stone and wood. Also, it’s worth it to forgo traditional forced air systems and look into more modern solutions. For instance, underfloor heating is much more efficient and pleasant. When it comes to cooling, a lot of houses tend to overheat in the warmer months because heat gets trapped on the upper floors. Many homeowners opt for the proper roof ventilation to solve this problem. It uses the natural flow of air through the home to get rid of trapped heat and draw in some much-needed cool, fresh air.

Create beautiful, sustainable surroundings

Don’t focus just on the house. A gorgeous home is just half the work. What about the rest of your property? Most luxury homes have a pool. The newest trend is to forget the traditional pool, and build a natural pool instead. This green kind of pool is made only out of natural materials, such as stone, and it uses specific water plants that do the cleaning instead of the usual filtration system and unhealthy chemicals. If you have a large property, consider planting an orchard. There’s nothing more beautiful than an orchard in blossom, apart from maybe indulging in sweet, organic fruit grown in your own garden.

Embrace the power of the sun

Solar power is not just a feature for the lonely eco-warriors anymore. In the recent years, it has gone mainstream, and with good reason. Nowadays, the quality of the solar panels has gone up so much that they can fully power your home. Couple them with an efficient battery, like the trendy Tesla Powerwall, and you can fully function on your sustainable solar energy even through major power outages.

Conserve water

Water is quickly becoming one of the most precious commodities on the planet, and we need to start watching our consumption. If you need proof, just look at all the droughts that have been hitting various areas of the globe in the past few years. Water conservation is now relatively effortless with smart irrigation systems that estimate how much water is needed based on the weather forecast and the state of the soil, among other things.

“Sustainable” and “eco-friendly” aren’t just buzzwords anymore. These terms are reflecting our need to adapt to our changing circumstances and do what we can to make the planet a safer and healthier place for all of us. These new, green trends are all about doing your part for the planet, while also upping the comfort and aesthetic levels to new heights.

Chloe is an interior design consultant and she enjoys writing about home decor, remodeling and organizing. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She is a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. You can find her on Facebook and TwitterÂ