New decorating trends go from decorative environmental touches to environmentally friendly (green) materials.
Obviously, the environment has become a hot topic where politics are concerned but it’s also heating up the decorating world. Environmental decorating is a trend that has people across the globe picking up a paintbrush.
If you want to go environmental in your home you can begin by selecting a neutral and earthy toned pallet. Then begin adding as much or as little as you want. If initially you just want to bring a little of Mother Nature into your home you might want to add just a few touches of brown and green or perhaps a nice sea or sky blue. A few plants are a great way to bring the outdoors in, especially during late winter and early spring. Flowering plants can add a beautiful splash of color.
For those people who want to go deeper into the wilderness there are a slew of new products out there begging to find a place in your home. You can select from vegetable and fruit patterned wallpaper, to bamboo floors and curtains, or even faux stone walls. This time sky is not only the limit but it’s an option too with skylights picking up popularity.
And if you want to really push the environmental decorating envelope you can go green. For paint you need to look for low volatile organic compound (VOC) products. VOCs also pop up in most carpeting.
If you’re looking for a healthier environment (especially if you or a family member had allergies and/or asthma, as I do) then the carpet has to go. Carpets harbor all sorts of allergens, dust and other unsavory molecules. Replacing your floor with bamboo hardwoods is a great alternative IF you do your research (The Low Down on Bamboo Floors). Some bamboo floors just don’t last as long as they should and aren’t as sturdy as suppliers claim. If you go bamboo make sure you’re buying a properly aged product. You could also go another green friendly route and use reclaimed wood or cork. If the carpet isn’t negotiable then consider changing to 100% wool carpet, which is designed for chemically sensitive people.
Whether you simply want to refresh your walls with a nice neutral beige or you want to go totally green and find environmentally responsible alternatives you’re fairly safe hoping onto this bandwagon. This trend is going to be around for a while and decorating with neutrals and naturally is a pretty safe bet.
