Those "cavemen" were onto something. By surrounding themselves with earth clay, they were surely benefiting from a mineral-rich environment superior to our toxin-filled plasters made of cement or acrylic.

Natural clay is emerging as a green alternative to such plasters, with the added benefit of creating walls that "breathe". Walls are said to inhale when moisture saturates the air, seeping into the wall – and to exhale when they dry out again.

Clay walls also release a healthy dose of negative ions as they breathe. Studies have linked the presence of negative ions with general feelings of well-being, invigoration and relaxation. No wonder our primitive predecessors were such robust survivors!

Clay interiors also may play a role in decreasing the electromagnetic radiation from electronics and in maintaining a more comfortable moisture and temperature balance. Studies are also currently inspecting whether clay plasters can improve the insulation capacity of a room.

American Clay offers a beautiful selection of textures, colors and green standards – they add minimal water to their products prior to shipping so as to reduce fuel costs for transporting their clays.

Pre-history might be the key to design alternatives that were practical, pretty and prepared the green trends eons in advance!

Further Reading: EcoNest

Image:  American Clay