Owning a Victorian home is equally rewarding and taxing, especially if you’re trying to make your home more eco-friendly. While figuring out how to maintain a lavish-looking vintage space, creating responsible solutions that have a low impact on the environment can be a challenge.
Let’s explore four modern and sustainable practices you can easily integrate into your vintage home and lifestyle.
Beef up your insulation
It is common knowledge that most Victorian homes have wall insulation that needs upgrading. Many of these homes have little materials to offer extra protection from the cold.
To help ensure you are maintaining comfy heat indoors, consider adding plasterboard along your walls. The thermal seal and double layers keep the heat in any room.
Another addition could be to include vintage accessories that help support heat retention. Try adding cosy rugs and thick velvet curtains to bolster the warmth in the room and add a stylistic touch to your period home.
Get an energy upgrade
Investing in a sustainable energy solution like solar power can help save serious change while reducing your carbon footprint. Solar tiles come in a variety of traditional styles like slate, and can discreetly be added to your roof without disturbing the historic appeal of your home.
If you own a listed building, you must get permission before installation. Still, if solar energy is a less viable option, consider the following two suggestions to help reduce your everyday energy consumption:
- Keep windows clear and open in milder months to soak up sun rays and reduce your need for both light and heat.
- Switch your light bulbs to LED to reduce energy and extend their lifespan before needing to change them.
Salvage old furniture pieces
Many Victorian homeowners can find seemingly useless furniture pieces and timber materials on the property. Rather than throw away small shelves, chairs, or baseboards, consider salvaging or upcycling what you find.
Older furniture pieces are made of the highest quality timber and create classic, one-of-a-kind additions to your aesthetic. Mixing and matching modern accessories alongside the period furnishings strikes a beautiful and unique balance to any space.
Try integrating old pieces in the following ways:
- Sand down old tables and restrain using dark colours for a moody vintage effect.
- Reupholster old dining chairs or lounges for a sophisticated addition to your bedroom or vanity.
- Repair and polish vintage mirrors or use broken pieces to create an artistic wall decor as a focal point in your living room.
- If you find any old pieces of furniture of no use, rehome them. Consider donating to your local museum or historical society to give them a new purpose.
Reduce your water consumption
Water is used in every aspect of our home life, from showering to cooking to doing dishes or maintaining the back garden. Wastewater can rack up rapidly and really have an impact on our community and planet.
Consider these three ways you can reduce your water consumption while running an older home:
- Tap Aerators – These devices help reduce the water you use by pumping air in between the flow of water released from the tap. They’re a cheap and easily installed device that gets screwed onto any kitchen or bathroom tap.
- Check For Leaks – It’s very easy to miss a leak or slow drip happening if you aren’t looking for it. Making a schedule to assess your water meter and pressure twice a month can help you catch leaks early and get repairs fixed before the problem becomes more serious.
- Invest In High-Efficiency Appliances – While it may seem like more money upfront, buying water-efficient washers, dryers, and dishwashers saves big over time. Purchasing an energy-saving appliance also means you can get more life out of that appliance, even with heavy-duty use.
A greener Victorian home doesn’t have to be an inconvenient and expensive switch. By including these simple and effective changes, you can help create a sustainable and beautiful period home for your family.
Take a look at our other home renovation posts for more tips and tricks on creative Victorian decor!