Go Green in Furnishing
Flooring
One of the key points about setting your budget for furnishing is identifying what you currently have that you It would be beneficial to take in the consideration of sustainable products into your room starting with the flooring. The flooring of a household is a significant investment for any remodeling, but the price of eco-friendly materials are holding pace with more conventional products nowadays.
- Cork: It is a natural product which does not require the expense of cutting down any trees for its manufactur ing. It is merely a bark that grows on the outside of trees and is shaved off to harvest it. In addition, the material of the cork is also anti-microbial and fire resistant!
- Bamboo: It is used in many products from building materials to clothes. Bamboos are also quick in regrowth and is environmentally friendly in terms of its growing practices.
If you are looking for carpet covered flooring, you could perhaps look into wool or those made with recycled plastic (PET).
Paint
Yes, there are the existences of the use of recycled paint! Many companies are adopting the idea of recycling unused paint, bringing it back to its usage instead of just tossing them away to the wastage system. Paints are also made with soybean and sunflower oils as well as recycled plastic for the resin. Vegetable matter, clay, chalk and other natural materials are some of the options paint manufacturers have incorporated into their products.
Furniture
With a new flooring and wall colour in your space, you may like to have a change in your bedroom furniture as well. There are many furniture available that offer a sustainable solution for a greener space. You have options such as bamboo and other natural woods, however, there are furniture options made with recycled materials such as the Sanctional, which makes use of recycled water bottles in the manufacturing process. You may also take in the consideration of purchasing pre-owned items as it is also an eco-friendly option. If you decide to buy new furniture, make sure to have a lookout for companies with good eco-sustainability practices such as West Elm, which is FSC- and fair-trade certified, manufactured in the USA.
Plants
Placing houseplants into your interior design freshens the air by adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. In addition, it also adds visual interest and provides your home with calming sensations and vibes of nature. You may also hang plants in your bedroom through a ceiling hook or place the plant on your window sill. However, it is important to note that plants photosynthesise in the day, and release carbon dioxide in the night while you are sleeping. Certain plants such as orchids, succulents, snake plants and bromeliads, however, work in the opposite way, cleaning up the air while you slumber.
Air purifiers
You could look into eco-friendly air purifiers to purify your bedroom air such as the low-power consuming Andrea Air Filter that uses plants to filter the air effectively. The Chikuno Cube, a natural air purifier made from an ultra-fine powder of activated bamboo charcoal and clay minerals could also be another option for you! Himalayan pink salt has natural purification capabilities. This material is available in many varieties of lamps that offer a unique touch to your decor. In addition, you can minimize the pollutants in your room with a change from petroleum-based candles and incorporate natural beeswax candles instead.
Eco-friendly electronics
There are electronics which uses less energy and produce less waste. You may start by checking in on the Energy Star label on any televisions you may consider buying. A more detailed rating comes from the Electron- ic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, also known as EPEAT. Products with this certification are required to meet standards in eight key areas of environmental concerns such as material selection, post-consumer waste, packaging and the extension of lifecycles. If you are replacing an old TV, be sure to recycle it responsibly. Another electronic item which may be in your room is a computer. Newer computer models have become quite eco-friendly, however, you may have to look around a little harder for them. Some examples would be from iameco, a Dublin company that offers a 10-year design with replaceable and upgradable parts. Their computers uses less energy than other models available on the market. In addition, the casing is also made from wood instead of plastic.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the largest energy consumption in any building or household. You may want to adopt a ceiling fan that can work as both a light and fan in your home. It offers to make the area a little more pleasant as it offers some energy savings. As for any wall- or ceiling-mounted lights, you may look for products which are manufactured with recycled materials. Perhaps you could consider purchasing second hand lighting equip- ment to reduce the amount of products entering the waste stream.
In addition, it is also important to pay attention to the lightbulb. You may want to take in the options of stan- dard halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs as they use less energy than an old-school incandescent.
Linens
Sheets, blankets as well as comforters can form a large environmental impact. You may want to take in the usage of organic cotton instead of standard cotton, which creates chemical runoff.
Keep an eye out on several certifications which you can look for when purchasing your linens. Each of the certifications has its own standards and criteria regarding its sourcing and types of materials used. In addition, it may also take in the consideration of the treatment of its employees and the environmental practices under- taken by the manufacturing company. These include Certified B Corporation, Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Green Business Certification.