Where do you spend most of your time?
Indoors, both at home and at work. All the things in our indoor environments can affect our health. While we probably don’t have much say about our work environments, we can totally control what is in our homes, and we can use those things to make our homes both beautiful and healthy at the same time!
Furniture, rugs, upholstery, flooring cabinets and paint all affect our indoor air quality. Some of the chemicals used to keep us safe, such as flame retardants in synthetic fabrics and rugs can also be hard on our health. Chemicals in some carpeting and flooring off-gas into the air. Adhesives used in furniture, especially particle board, contain formaldehyde that emit harmful substances into the air.
Ways to Create a Healthy Interior Space
How can you reduce or eliminate the negative effects of common products that can affect our health and still have a beautiful home?
• Buy higher quality furniture that uses wood joinery and fewer adhesives.
• Get rugs made of natural materials such as wool, cotton, silk or jute.
• Paint with brands that use fewer chemicals (low VOCs). VOCs are compounds that evaporate into the air and smell bad and are bad for indoor air quality. Benjamin Moore makes a low VOC paint in their Natura collection in all their fabulous colors with reduced levels of allergens and irritants.
• Purchase furniture with upholstery that does not use fire retardant chemicals.
• Purchase furniture that uses foam made of natural materials such as latex.
• Go for furniture and décor items made of wood or metal and avoid plastics.
• Look for pillows, mattresses, upholstery and beddings made from wool-stuffed materials rather than synthetics.
• Consider flooring made from natural materials such as stone or wood and avoid vinyl.
• Give your space plenty of natural light and fresh air.
• Add plants to add beauty and filter your air.
• Use natural cleaning products.
• Use natural materials and objects from nature as decoration.
• Use rammed earth or adobe for walls instead of plaster or cement.
• Use rubber walkways made from recycled rubber outdoors rather than concrete
How Your Choices Help the Planet
Besides actions you take to improve the air quality directly in your home, consider how your choices affect the health the planet too!
• Buy high quality, long lasting furniture rather than cheap low-quality stuff that will end up in landfills or on the street as “free stuff” in a few years. Many cities are being overwhelmed with furniture no-one wants.
• Find local products so that the shipping doesn’t contribute to emissions in the environment.
• Use energy efficient lighting.
• Use vintage items.
• Use products made of recycled materials such as glass tiles or paper wallpaper. You can use glass in your countertops, tiles, lamps and accessories and paper for beautiful wall coverings. Even some polyester can be recycled. If you must use polyester, use rPET which can be spun into yarn and dyed without toxic properties.
• Use renewable or sustainable materials such as bamboo, cork, teak, hemp, palm, soy fabric or cotton. Bamboo is used in fabrics, flooring and window treatments. Cork is used in textiles, floor and wall coverings. Teak is used in furniture and decking. Hemp is used in furniture upholstery, bedding, curtains and paper products. Soy fabric is soft and silky. Palm is used in some baskets. Organic cotton can be used for upholstery fabric, bedding, pillows and more.
• Use sustainable metals that can be recycled such as copper, aluminum and steel.
• Use solar energy for your home.
Get the Look- Eco-Friendly Design.
So, what does eco-friendly design look like?
It can really reflect any style that you want. Most of the eco-friendly furniture produced is in a more modern style with fabrics in a wide range of colors and uses beautiful natural wood and bamboo.
Ethnic rugs, pillows and decorative accessories are often made of natural materials and can create a global style or Bohemian look.
Whether you are starting fresh with a new home or redoing a whole room, consider making it eco-friendly. Or add eco-friendly elements as you update your look over time.
Eco-Friendly Furniture and Decor
It is easy to find beautiful sustainable products for your home décor. Sometimes these products may cost a little bit more, but it is worth it!
Ready to Create a Beautiful Eco-Friendly Space?
My approach to interior design, termed “Aligned Design,” revolves around three pillars: art, science, and energy. The sweet spot is where they intersect.
Color is central to the science of this design. As a certified color strategist, I harness the science of color to bring unique vibrancy to spaces.
Begin with the Aligned Design blueprint, blending art, science, and your home’s energy. By fusing creativity with color and connection, we can craft your ideal space together.
Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design. Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.
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