Floor and Wall Coverings

The walls of human dwellings have been decorated since the first cave paintings and petroglyphs. Purely functional walls are not very interesting, so decorating them has been a continual challenge. In addition to decoration, wall and floor coverings can add to the [Page 152]insulation of buildings, making them more energy efficient

In the Middle Ages, tapestries were used for decoration and for the warmth they provided as insulation against the cold in castle walls. Victorian-era wallpaper was used extensively for decoration, but it also had the effect of blocking drafts of air coming from between the cracks in the boards of the wall. With the development of drywall, wallpaper declined as a decorative material in part because of the additional cost of wallpaper (including hanging it) compared with that of painting drywall. However, the use of decorative wallpaper, which has been viewed by art critics as a kind of inferior form of wall decoration, has experienced renewed interest since 2000. Wallpaper is now viewed as an environmental medium that is both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally helpful because it can aid with the insulation of the rooms of a building.

Because it is a renewable resource, bamboo is a green insulation material. Fashioned into sheets it can be used to cover walls, or it can be rendered into a pulp that can be molded into sound-absorbing material

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A useful green insulation material that is also very decorative is bamboo. Fashioned into sheets, it can be used to cover walls, and it can also be rendered into a pulp that can be molded into decorative and sound-absorbing material. It is also a renewal resource. Other types of wood are used as paneling or as planks or laminated sheets for wall coverings that are decorative and that also contribute to reducing energy cost for heating and cooling. Cork wall coverings absorb sound, creating a green sound space.

There are several types of plaster that can be used for wall covering, and there are mixtures of clay that can be applied to add beauty and warmth. The Venetian style of wall plaster creates a covering that resembles marble or natural stone. Plaster also contributes to insulation. Avoided by green-conscious consumers are products that use energy-intensive processes such as cement or that use petroleum products in the wall-covering product or in the product's manufacture.

Leather as a wall covering was used in Italy in the 19th century and has since been brought back as a decorative medium. It also is renewable and a good insulation material.

To be avoided by green-conscious consumers are wall-covering products—including wallpaper—that include polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/vinyl. In addition, glues that are used should contain either low- or no–volatile organic compound glues.

Among the wallpaper-type products are silk-screened paper that is PVC-free. In addition, many products are capable of being cleaned with a wet sponge. Some wallpaper products are made of recycled paper.

Green textile wall coverings are made of recycled spun glass or mixtures of materials such as wood pulp, bark, and straw in a matrix. Recycled glass or ceramic wall-covering materials can be used in kitchens and bathrooms.

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