Eco-friendly Decors - Eco-friendly Decor

Green decorating is all about making environmentally friendly and healthy choices. Biodegradable is best.

Cork flooring is a renewable resource. The trees grow back a new layer. If looking for a resilient, soundproof, and waterproof floor, then cork is a good option. Bamboo, a grass, is also a 'green' flooring option.

How about organic cotton sheets made from cotton grown without pesticides? Bed linens are available in cotton, hemp, and cotton/hemp blends. Look for natural fabrics when decorating your home.

Don't forget to use no or low VOC paint. Paint colors are now more nature inspired and not so unnatural looking. Avoid rolling a bucket of smelly chemicals on your walls.

Skylights bring in more natural lighting. Many are switching to more energy efficient light fixtures and bulbs. Fluorescent lights use 50% less energy than incandescents.

That old refrigerator in the garage is less energy efficient than the new one in the kitchen. You can save energy by getting rid of it. New appliances are more energy efficient. Top and bottom freezer/refrigerator units are more energy efficient than side-by-sides because not as much cold air escapes when door is opened.

Convection ovens cook 25% faster than traditional ovens. A fan moves the heat around.

We are using recycled hardwood for the stairs, recycled bowling lane for the kitchen island countertop, hubby found a recycled light "dome" from a restaurant that will make for an interesting piece over our bed. Cork flooring in the living areas and bedrooms. Recycled ceramic and marble tiles in the second bath. Leftover hand painted Mexican tiles in for the kitchen back splash. A second home for a fire engine red gas heating stove will keep the master bedroom toasty. Even picked up some leftover Tyvek housewrap to put under the siding, and leftovers will go to make patio furniture covers.

Habitat for Humanity outlet stores and friends cleaning out garages are a godsend!!!

It's not just the green new stuff, reuse and recycle older materials too!

Eco-friendly decor is catching on. Sounds like you are ahead of many of us. The choices we make can protect our environment both indoors and out. So many things brought into the home off gas chemicals. Bringing in green plants helps detoxify the air. Going with hardsurface floor coverings makes for a cleaner and healthier home. Natural fabrics rather than those made with chemicals helps the environment. Scented candles pollute the air. Soy or beeswax candles are best. Beeswax candles last much longer than candles made with paraffin.

Your creative recycling is impressive! We must think renewable, recyclable, and reclaimed sources. You are an inspiration.

I'd like to have minimal paint in the house I'm designing, and show as much natural wood as I can.

Cotton and hemp for any fabrics.

Lots of plants.

Tiles floors throughout the house.

Skylights in living room and kitchen.

Furniture made from recycled wood is coming into its own. Store bought furniture should be no VOC so there is no offgassing of formaldehyde or other chemicals. Some manufacturers are labeling their products with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to indicate the wood came from responsibly managed forests.

Energy efficient appliances and lighting fixtures are a must. Tankless water heaters, although expensive, save enough energy to offset the higher price.

Lots of plants will improve air quality in the home. Bringing in the color of natural green from the outdoors makes for healthier emotions, too.

Paint colors are going green, and are now turning to Mother Nature's color palette. Thank goodness all those unnatural reds have bitten the dust. Spring and fall colors in the landscape are inspirations for a green color scheme.

Plastic and vinyl, which are made from chemicals, are falling by the wayside. With the move toward chemical free furnishings, furnishings should come from natural, renewable, or recycled products.

Has anyone found a source to buy no voc furniture at a good price? Seems like its always 2 to 3x the price of its toxic counterpart and for alot of us we just cant afford it.