How To Design An Eco-Friendly Kitchen

Throughout the course of the last few decades, the climate crisis has grown progressively more concerning, encouraging people to make changes in their everyday lives, like recycling household waste, opting for reusable items where possible, and restricting water usage. Some have gone as far as having solar panels installed to the roofs of their homes, in a bid to become more eco-friendly. 

However, if you’re planning to remodel your home, you may not have considered choosing more eco-friendly options in terms of material, or design. An eco kitchen won’t only be good for the environment, but can be incredibly chic and stylish, too, meaning there is a lot to be gained from designing an eco friendly kitchen. There are plenty of things you can do with your kitchen to make it more eco-friendly, and here are a few of our favourites. 

Choose the right lighting 

When designing a kitchen, think practically about the finished layout and the lighting options you want to use. Consider the size of your space, and how many fixtures you will need to illuminate it as you need. Make the most of fewer light fixtures by installing one or two ceiling lights that are bright enough to light the space. 

You can also try to design a varied lighting scheme, utilising spotlights, under cabinet lighting and lamps to create the right atmosphere, without requiring too much power. LED lighting is much brighter and considerably more energy efficient, so opt for this where you can. 

Save water  

Whether you’re redesigning your kitchen or just trying to think of a few ways to make it more efficient and eco-friendly, water usage is a great place to start. Using less water will not only help to make your kitchen more efficient overall but will also help to lower monthly bills. 

If starting from scratch, consider looking for water saving taps which can either reduce water flow or automatically switch off when they aren’t being used. Where possible, consider installing a hot water tap to avoid using a kettle. This way, you will only ever use the heated water that you need, instead of overboiling. 

When looking for ways to limit water usage in your finished kitchen, the first step should be to use your dishwasher. The majority of dishwashers these days are water-saving, and even if they aren’t completely filled, they typically will still save more water than washing the dishes by hand. 

Pick an efficient oven 

Choosing a new oven can be a tricky and complicated job, and with the introduction of air-fryers, many people are opting to ditch their cumbersome ovens for an energy-saving alternative. However, there are plenty of eco-friendly, energy saving options on the market. Convection ovens in particular are more energy saving than, for example, fan ovens, so these might be a good choice. 

It’s also important to maintain your oven well. Keeping your oven clean and ensuring that any heat seals are intact will help you to save time and energy with every meal you make. 

If replacing the whole cooker, opt for induction hobs as opposed to gas or electric. They use all of the heat that is generated, and cook at a significantly faster speed which will save a lot of energy and money over time.

Select durable surfaces  

When designing an eco-friendly kitchen, look for opportunities to incorporate natural, sustainable materials across worktops and floors. You could consider using recycled glass, or even reclaimed wood for your counters. These are maintenance-free, non-porous materials that won’t require any toxic sealants, and they will last a long time without cracking or chipping. 

Quartz is also an eco-friendly option made from natural materials that last a long time – and can be recycled when you’re done with it. Hardwood floors offer a wealth of durability and style – but be sure to source your wood responsibly. 

Use eco-friendly cleaning products 

A quick and simple way to make your kitchen that bit more eco-friendly is to use eco-friendly cleaning products. These are an easy swap for the chemical-ridden cleaners held in numerous plastic bottles, that are likely cluttering one of your kitchen cabinets. It can be assumed that we need harsh ingredients to kill bacteria, but this simply isn’t true. 

Each of our eco-cleaning products are 100% effective at cleaning and removing bacteria from your home, without any of the nasty side effects associated with traditional cleaners. Our kitchen bar is a multi-use solid dish soap bar, which can be used to cleanse dishes and worktops – even to treat stubborn stains on clothes. And, our eco laundry powder is biodegradable, meaning it won’t cause damage to ocean life when expelled through our drains. 

Kitchen utensils, made predominantly from plastic, can also be switched for a more eco-friendly alternative. Considering they need to be replaced frequently, it’s a good idea to choose more sustainable options for our cleaning tools. Our eco kitchen sponges are made from natural cellulose and coconut fibres, ensuring that you can still scrub your dishes and worktops effectively without requiring unsustainable materials. And, if you prefer a dish brush, opt for our eco dish brush, made from bamboo and plant fibre, and guaranteed to last significantly longer than their plastic counterparts.