Tired of looking at flowered wallpaper or seeing paint chip off of your walls? Maybe your kitchen counters have seen better days and your cabinets used to shut properly without you having to force them closed. If your home is in need of some renovation, you can get it taken care of without feeling like an eco-criminal.Eco-homebuilding is becoming more popular, but not everyone can afford a new home and not everyone should ditch his or her current home to build a new one. Instead you can update your home as needed and eventually it will become the eco-home you always dreamed it could be.

When it comes to kitchen or bathroom countertops, recycled material can provide an earthy feel like granite. As opposed to purchasing granite, which needs to be mined from the Earth, consider countertops made from recycled glass, paper and other materials. For example, Paperstone produces countertops that resemble soapstone, but they are resistant to stains and heat.

Cabinets are often made from fiberboard that contains formaldehyde, or they are constructed from plywood. To save some trees and older forests, look for cabinets made from alternative materials like wheat stalks, FSC-labeled bamboo, or sorghum stalks. Some suppliers include Biofiber and Kirei.

Paint and wallpaper are the easiest ways to improve the look of your home. If you paint with products that don't contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), you can say goodbye to the headaches and dizziness that often result from painting. There are milk-and-clay-based paints (avoid using these in rooms that become humid) as well as other paints that are VOC free such as the paints made by Mythic Paint and AFM Safecoat. For wallpapering, you can purchase chemical-free glue and wallpaper from more natural fibers like grasscloths. Stay away from wallpapers made from PVC vinyl, because it can't be recycled and it can emit toxins over time.

Wood floors are possible if you use recycled wood. If you're lucky, maybe someone in town is trying to get rid of their wooden floors. Or you can contact Reclaimed Floors and see what they have available.

Take time choosing your windows, because properly insulated ones can decrease energy usage when it comes to heating or cooling your home.

Remember, anything you take out of your home could be someone else's treasure. You can recycle, sell or give away old flooring or windows that you no longer want to use. Renovations take time so take the time to do green renovations.