Cheap Environmental Decorating
Inexpensive Ways to Incorporate Eco-Friendly Decorating
Don't have the budget to revamp your home in an eco-friendly way? Then use these green touches to give your space life.
Just a few, inexpensive decorating touches here and there can make your home look more eco-conscious, letting your guests know you care about the environment. And by making small changes first, it's easier to justify the bigger changes in the future.
Linens. Whether you’re replacing your bedding, bath sheets, or just a few throw blankets you can go eco. Look for linens that are made of natural fibers, organic fabric or that come from fair-trade organizations. You don’t have to look for the latest designer trends to incorporate the environment into your linens and you definitely don’t have to go broke doing it. If you want to go even more green, look for linens with environmental motifs.
Bamboo Bowls. You can get bamboo bowls, plates, and even vases that are both attractive and inexpensive. Bamboo is popular amongst the green crowd because it grows to maturity in a very short period of time and bamboo forests are replaced in a mere fraction of the time it takes to rejuvenate a regular forest.
Newspaper Art. Take recycling literally and look for newspaper artwork. Many artists have discovered this medium (and who can balk at free art supplies) and are churning out amazing works of art. From wall hangings, to vases, and placemats you can find something that makes a statement about you’re devotion to the environment. You could even try to come up with some artwork on your own.
Reclaimed Wood. Several companies are getting in on this trend, so you don’t have to scour salvage yards yourself. You can incorporate reclaimed wood in a lot of ways, but a nice shelf or two made of reclaimed and refinished wood is a very inexpensive way to start.
Explore Melamine. This plastic and others are being recycles to make trendy accessories for the home. The resulting product is usually brilliant in color and has flecks of other colors incorporated. It’s also a very watertight substance as it is plastic. Melamine dishes are a great picnic accessory.
Plants. Easy to find, maybe not so easy to maintain, but plants are an excellent way to express the environmentalista in you without spending a fortune.
Light Bulbs. Forget the ugly spiral light bulbs of the past, energy efficient bulbs are now more attractive than ever, or at least as attractive as traditional bulbs. So, if the aesthetic aspects were holding you back before it’s no longer a problem.
Antiques. Often overlooked, antiques are a great way to say that you care about the environment. Much like reclaimed wood, reclaimed furnishings save the environment by extending their life and staying out of landfills. And, by using an antique you eliminate the need for a new item to be made. Antiques need not be expensive either, scour thrift shops and estate sales for just the right buy.
The trend is to go green, and like a lot of trends, it can be expensive. But by thinking outside of the box and getting creative, you can incorporate eco-friendly decorating aspects into your home without breaking the bank.
