Three ways to create an eco bathroom

Going green in the bathroom doesn't need to cause you financial or cosmetic discomfort. With an ever-expanding and improving range of eco products available, there's no need to do without the luxuries that make your time in the bathroom relaxing. With this in mind, here are three simple ways you can minimise your impact on the planet without doing too much damage to your pocket.

1) Consider the products you use

On a basic level this can mean choosing natural shampoos, soaps and shower gels in recyclable containers. Another easy switch to make is to opt for eco-friendly cleaning products that come in refillable bottles and to buy recycled toilet paper. Other bathroom essentials such as mats, blinds, shower curtains and towels can be purchased in organic fabrics that can embed less energy in their production.

2) Decorate wisely

You may want to consider using reclaimed or recycled materials in the decoration of your bathroom. Avoiding the use of paint that contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will also help the environment so if you are painting be mindful to use a modern latex paint instead of older varieties, which may contain VOCs.

3) Keep your bathroom suite up to date

By making sure you correctly maintain your bathroom you can not only help the environment, but also make significant savings. Millions of litres of water are wasted each year due to leaky taps, so make sure you address any plumbing issues straight away. It’s also possible to purchase self-closing taps.

Be aware of the items that make up your bathroom suite too. By making some inexpensive updates you can make a real difference. Dual flush toilets are available from big name retailers such as Best Bathrooms at affordable prices. You may also want to consider swapping any old-fashioned showerheads for reduced flow options. These newer designs can use almost five times less water per minute - reducing water consumption as much as 30 per cent and therefore decreasing your bills.