Make your home eco-friendly with the use of recycled materials.
Most people seldom think about the origin of their sofas or what chemicals are in their wall paint. However, those seeking a greener household should question the materials and ingredients. Thanks to the proliferation of eco-friendly products in the market, your home can be stylish and green. Does this Spark an idea?
Bathroom
Replace your worn plastic shower curtains with a durable hemp shower curtains. Rawganique, a company that produces hemp shower curtains and clothing, explains hemp is both renewable and sustainable. Additionally, hemp fabric is fade resistant and not made from petroleum. Replace your bath mat made from harmful dyes with a natural-woven one made of wool. Buy soaps with few added chemicals, like Dr. Bronners or Vermont Soap Organics. Place a bamboo plant for decoration on the bathroom counter. Replace bathroom towels with organic cotton towels.
Living Room
Your living room is full of possibilities. Avoid buying plastic tables, end tables and wall units. Instead, buy a table made from sustainable, renewable sources like maku teak, or recycled materials.
Most paints are made with low volatile compounds known as VOCs. However, several brands of soy paint are available that are VOC-free, crystalline-silica free and non-flammable: Ecowise.com lists DuraSoy One and EnviroSafe as two examples. Milk, soy and chalk paint are other types that tend to be free of harmful chemicals.
Choose earthy colors like tan and light green, which will complement gauzy, white hemp curtains. For recliners and sofas, greenyourdecor.com suggests items made from soy-based textiles, recycled metal and locally-sourced wood. Such pieces come with retro patterns that match light blue walls and have a youthful feel. The steep price tag might mean a better (and still eco-friendly) alternative is buying a used sofa.
Find a light fixture made from recycled materials like old soda cans, bicycle parts, paint cans and even plastic eating utensils. Instead of supporting a large corporation, commission a local artist to design a fixture or painting for you.
Kitchen
Adorn your kitchen with hardwood floors made from cork or bamboo: such easily grown products do not deplete the forests of South American countries like many wooden flooring options. The Forest Stewardship Council is dedicated to certifying companies that comply with sustainable forestry practices.
Choose countertops made from aluminum, recycled glass and even recycled paper. These tops come in a variety of colors so it need not clash with the rest of the house design. Buy tile made from similar materials.
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