How to Decorate Eco-Friendly

Many people find themselves wanting to update or change the look of a room in their home during the year, but did you know that something as simple as changing the color of paint in your foyer can affect the environment negatively? It’s easy to forget that most of what we do can take a toll on our planet, so read the next few steps to avoid hurting Mother Earth while you repaint or redecorate your home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cork flooring
• Water-based paints
• Organic bedding
• Soy candles
• Initiative

1. The first step to eco-friendly decorating is thinking about how your purchase or remodel could affect the environment around you. Being conscious of your choices and products will help you make more eco-friendly decisions.
2. After you have decided on the look you want, take some time to visit flea markets, yard sales and consignment shops to see if you can find a gently used model of your item that can be updated to fit your needs.
3. If you are looking for wood items and you must buy new, try for those with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. They have been produced in a sustainable manner with less environmental impact.
4. When painting, avoid latex-based paints and opt for water-based ones. Latex paints are full of oil-based chemicals that never full dissipate, meaning that the paint is giving off noxious gases that are harmful to the atmosphere during the entire life of the paint on the wall.
5. If you are replacing flooring, consider cork as an option, It can be colored to match your décor and is softer and warmer than a wood floor or tile. Cork can be bought in tiles that click together to form one large pieces, avoiding unnecessary excess waste.
6. Carpet tiles are a more eco-friendly option than rolls off carpet for the same reason that cork tiles work. The ability to purchase only the amount of tiles needed for the required space reduces excess waste.
7. When buying bedding, go organic and avoid the abundance of chemicals that are give off excess greenhouse gases. Most sheets are treated with formaldehyde to make them softer, but organic cotton sheets are just as soft and aren’t filled with carcinogens.
8. If you are using candles in your décor, then opt for soy-based brands that don’t emit toxins when burned.
9. Any other accessories should be biodegradable, if possible. There are several designers that offer beautiful products that will eventually break down, instead of endlessly filling landfills. If you can’t find biodegradable, then go with accessories made from recycled materials.

Tips & Warnings

• For vendors of organic cotton sheets try the Eco-mall website.