The first cardinal rule of green flooring is “no carpets.” According to TheDailyGreen.com’s guide to greening your floors, “carpets and the pads beneath them are made with synthetic fibers derived from petroleum and are glued together with urea formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogenic substance and it leaks from your carpets and pads into the air.” Then there are all the detergents used to clean a carpet–few natural cleaners are able to penetrate such heavy artificial fibers.

In sticking with carpet-free floors, the best options include bamboo, reclaimed wood,  cork. These hardwood and natural floor coverings are easy to install and usually less expensive than premium carpeting. Best of all, flat floors don’t collect dust and allergens.

If you love the cozy comfort of carpet then consider softening your hard floors with an organic wool or cotton area rug. These smaller and greener rug options are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes.  Plus they’re better for the planet because they’re made of organic materials and don’t include harsh synthetics. Best of all, they’re easier to clean and disinfect than wall-to-wall carpeting.