More recently, however, materials like plastics in the form of Formica and laminate floors and man-made organic materials like linoleum floor made it big in the market, touting versatility, durability and affordability. However, problems with degassing, particularly in linoleum, became a problem in some homes and people realized that although plastic had come a long way, compared to natural products it still had some issues to work on.

Slowly but surely, people have returned to natural materials like wood and stone when remodeling their homes. Hardwood flooring, natural stone flooring, granite slabs and other stone materials like travertine and slate for countertops and floors, and even decorative touches in stone, like mosaic medallions and decorative borders have regained their appeal.

Aesthetically, a wood’s grain or granite’s multilayered crystals simply cannot be replicated or matched in individuality or beauty. Functionally, these materials have survived for centuries in ancient palaces and homes and will remain as durable in a modern home, lending their beauty while sustaining their strength and permanence in any home.

And then of course, we come back to sustainability. Plastics usually cannot be and are not recycled or reused, nor do they last as long, making the waste cycles more prominent and rapid. Wood, on the other hand, will last longer and can be reused in new homes or recycled for other purposes. Hard stone is unwavering and does not alter or weather when thinking about it on the human time scale. In function, then, these materials will not have to be replaced as they have proven themselves time and again to be strong and resistant to wear and tear. And in style too, although fashions change the appeal of these materials has mostly stayed constant.

Issues of sustainability inside your home are clear cut – there is less turnover and less waste with these hardworking, strong materials. The extraction of these materials is murkier. Deforestation and quarrying are long running problems in many parts of the world that contribute to environmental and human health problems as well as poor labor practices. The practice of taking prime materials from poorer countries and using them to build luxurious homes in richer countries isn’t exactly dead.