Eco-Friendly
Outdoor
Inspirations
Realty Sage eco living inspirations highlight eco-friendly trends for conscious minds.
ECO PATIO & OUTDOORS
Make your outdoors an extension of your eco living space by using native plantings, adding trees and choosing from sustainable patio furniture like recycled plastic, FSC certified wood or even repurposing objects like carved wood doors for a dining table or bathtubs for planters! When it comes to entertaining, explore pellet grills (below) and LED and solar lights to make your outdoor space both comfortable and eco-friendly.
WHAT ARE ECO-FEATURES?
Any element within a home that is recycled, repurposed, redesigned using materials that are sustainable or water and energy efficient without exhausting natural resources, or causing ecological damage.
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Boho Patio
This relaxed design uses different textures and patterns to create a kind of patchwork feel
Make it eco-friendly
Repurposed work bench utilized for plant décor
Spanish Style
Oranges, deep red and golden yellow are hallmark colors for Spanish style. Mix in Moorish wood carved tables and vases to accent the space.
Make it eco-friendly
Sealed concrete flooring
Repurposed carved wood door for outdoor table
GET THIS LOOK
Handmade Mosaic Tiles
Solar Panel Lighting
Locally-sourced trees as beams
Repurposed wooden stools
Natural Wood Deck
Make it eco friendly
Locally-sourced wood elements using forestry best management practices
Grilling options
Eco-friendly option: Pellet grills are a excellent eco-friendly grilling option. Much like a pellet stove, they use compressed pellets made from scrap wood. Because these wood scraps would otherwise be discarded and the emissions are very low, pellets are one of the best environmentally friendly options for grilling.
What not to use: Charcoal grills create unhealthy emissions especially combined with lighter fluid, while propane has nearly no emissions, the environmental impact of retrieving and moving propane to consumers does have an environmental impact, albeit less than charcoal.
Image source: Amazon, Traeger Grills Pro Series
Italian Style
Natural foliage and sealed concrete tiles coupled with light, airy furnishings
Make it eco-friendly:
Wood furniture
Organic linen covers
Bistro
Mix and match wood furniture with refurbished 1950s metal furniture for a bistro look.
Tropical
Create natural rooms in tropical locations. Surround seating, dining and conversation areas with native plants and let them be the walls, roof and art.
Resort
Geometric
Balance organic lines with geometric shapes in rugs and pillows.
Geometric patterns add a wonderful contrast to the organic shapes of plants and trees. These patterns are best when they are only one color complimented with either black or white.
Make it eco-friendly
Outdoor rug made from recycled plastic bottles
Eco-friendly outdoor pillows
Natural reed/bamboo privacy screen
Nature's Color Pallet
Black, White and Natural
Moroccan Traditional and Modern
Simple, uncluttered outdoor spaces create a resort vibe.
The eco-friendly swimming pool
Chlorinated pools host a number of environmental and health issues. There are some alternatives to consider including "salt water pools" which reduce the use of chlorine and often do not cause the skin and breathing irritation that chlorinated pools do. Salt water pools
Also consider purifying mechanisms such as copper/silver with oxygenation. Learn more
Create the peaceful patio look of Moroccan riads with carved wood doors and furniture, stone floors, natural plaster walls and a must-have arch
Make it eco-friendly
Wood patio table set from sustainably harvested sources to maintain ecosystems and avoid deforestation.
Make it eco-friendly
Permeable Patio Paver reduce storm water runoff
Use native plants which naturally do not require additional resources like water, fertilizer to become established.
Make it eco-friendly
Saltwater pools use less chlorine than traditional pools
Smart Irrigation System not only makes yard maintenance easier it helps to make sure that that water is plants receive the quantity of water they need, when they need it.
Make it eco-friendly
Repurpose a leftover piece of stone with table saws for a unique dining table
Bring color and texture to a patio or entrance with flowering plants and unique shaped plants like cacti and succulents.
Classic black and white design is updated with natural wood creating a softer and more relaxed look and feel.
Use small round tables to create an intimate bistro café setting.
Rattan
Rattan creates a classic look perfect for shady and semi-indoors.
Make it eco-friendly
Use a rattan that withstand the elements. Direct sun can damage rattan more easily.
The Pensive Garden
Create a pensive area with a single chair overlooking a view of nature. This space is intentional for solo time. A reclining chair with soft outdoor pillows complete this space.
The eco-friendly patio
Reduce the use of impervious surfaces such as concrete patios as much as possible. This helps to reduce storm water runoff and heat island effect.
Use paver stones in place of concrete patios.
In place of turf grass, consider gravel, mulch or native grasses. Also, an irrigation system can reduce landscape water usage by up to 70%
Mediterranean patios often include scented citrus plants like oranges and olive trees as well as drought tolerant plants. A Mediterranean patio often also includes sound elements like a calming water fountain or the sound of walking on a gravel path.
The Mediterranean Patio
Make it eco-friendly
Drought tolerant plants
Porous flooring like gravel
Eclectic Mid-Century
Unique and shapely furniture often are the centerpieces of mid-century furnishings. Consider different shapes for your patio seating that catch the eye.
Connect with Eco Professionals
There are no obligations, no fees, no contracts. Realty Sage Pros data-matches you to knowledgeable eco professionals.
*This page contains paid partnership links which means at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase Realty Sage may earn revenue.