Go Green and Create a Healthier Home
Creating a healthier and more energy efficient home not only helps the planet, but also helps your home’s value. It is more than changing the light bulbs and energy efficient appliances. You can decorate green and still match your style. There are many eco-friendly products now, and many are beautifully designed.
First an easy and affordable solution is bringing the outdoors in with plants. Be selective and don’t overdo it! Plants clean your indoor air and some remove toxins from the air. Be careful with plants in bedrooms, people with allergies could be sensitive to the soil which could contain mold. Make sure they are taken care of, not over grown and remove dead leaves.
Another way to Go Green is to remove the wall to wall carpet. Consider replacing with a natural fiber flooring, hard wood, bamboo or cork. To add softness use all natural area rugs made from wool, hemp, or organic cotton. Area rugs are nice that they can be changed and cleaned easily. If you really want carpet what about using carpet that is made from recycled materials. Some companies are making carpet from recycled plastic bottles. Several companies, like FLOR and Shaw Carpet, offer stylish carpet squares that use non-toxic dyes and are made from recycled materials. When you are done with them you can send them back to the manufacturer to recycle.
New looks in counter tops are coming out. They are being made from recycled products from glass, ceramics and sustainable bamboo. Paint is also a great way to get a new look. And most paint companies are coming out with non-toxic paints in beautiful colors. Organic fabrics are everywhere. Use them in window treatments and on accent pillows. There are so many varieties of patterns and colors that are now available.
When going green you can be creative. Re-using older items and giving them new life, with paint or fabric or by using them in a new way is a great way of going Green. There are so many eco-friendly products now, so start using them. There is so much in our homes that are not good for us. Eco-friendly approaches to your living space may cost a bit more initially, but the benefits in your health and improved global environment make it worth it.
Tags: accessory, area rug, bamboo, carpet, ceramic, cork, counter top, decorating, design, fabrics, fiber, floor, flooring, green, healthier, home, interior, living, paint, pillows, plant
