We love our homes, but if we're not careful they won't love us back. In fact, many of the materials found in homes can be damaging to our health as well as the environment. Paint, furnishings, and carpets can all contain dangerous materials. Fortunately, there are a lot of things we can do to go green and change this, making our homes healthier for us as well as the earth.
Here are a few suggestions for decorating a home in an environmentally responsible way.
Choose Low-VOC or No-VOC Paints
Painting is a great way to spruce up a home and make a simple, inexpensive change. The VOC's (volatile organic compounds) found in traditional paints are bad for health and the environment, but fortunately paint manufacturers are taking important steps to reduce the amount of VOC's in their products. Many now offer low-VOC or no-VOC paint products. (Remember that there are no real standards about VOC's at the moment, so the amount of VOC's in low-VOC paints can vary greatly. Whenever possible, choose a no-VOC variety.)
Eco-Friendly Fabrics and Furnishings
Whenever possible use natural and organic fabrics. Organic fabrics are grown without pesticides and processed without chemicals. Living with natural fabrics is healthier for people and better for the environment. Keep this in mind especially when purchasing bed linens. Organic cottons and linens are harvested responsibly and expose users to fewer allergy-inducing chemicals than regular sheets.
Everyone is getting in on the earth-friendly bandwagon and becoming more environmentally responsible. It's getting easier to find furniture made up of reclaimed wood and filled with organic upholstery fill. Pieces made up of wood composites (such as particle board and plywood) can contain harmful chemicals, so try to avoid them. While they tend to be less expensive, you can end up paying in other ways. Purchasing antique and vintage pieces is also a great way to help the environment.
Environmentally Responsible Flooring
When it comes to choosing flooring, there are a lot more eco-friendly options than there used to be. Look for FSC certified products (they come from responsibly grown and managed operations), and reclaimed, salvaged woods. There's also sustainably harvested cork and tiles made from recycled materials. When it comes to carpets try to avoid chemical dyes and stain-resisting treatments. Opt instead for natural rugs and carpets made from items such as sisal, jute, and seagrass.
Do More Than Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse
Go beyond recycling, reducing and reusing. When it comes to home decorating think about reupholstering, repurposing, and rearranging. Keep items out of landfills as much as possible by using your head. Think about recovering old chairs instead of buying new; rearrange the living room furniture for a fresh take on old items; turn an old stool into a side table. If you have items you can't use, either donate them to charity or contact a local sanitation department to find out what items can be recycled (a lot more than many people realize).
When is comes to environmentally friendly home décor, the most important thing to do is educate oneself. Learn what labels such as Energy Star, SKAL Certification, and Green Seal mean. They're all eco-responsible programs, and are just a few of many out there. That said, there are also a lot of programs that are not as responsible. It's important to learn more about them so you truly know what you're getting.
Whether you're building a new home or redecorating an old one, keep the potential impact on the earth at the back of your mind. With the number of eco-friendly and responsible products and materials on the market it's easy to decorate a home that is stylish, beautiful, and friendly to the earth.
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