Looking for eco-friendly home decor that doesn't skimp on style? These 7 decorating ideas will inspire your good taste and your earth-loving sensibilities.
Depending on where you live, you’ve noticed the strong momentum of the recycling movement.
States like California and New York have “gone green” by banning plastic grocery bags. Other areas have stepped up and swapped plastic straws for eco-friendly versions.
Everywhere you go, there are visible steps in place to reduce the carbon footprint. But you can do your part, too, just by choosing how you decorate your home!
These seven eco-friendly decorating ideas will show you how easy and fun it is to spruce up your home. All while doing what you can to save the planet!
1. Shop for Gently Used Items
“Second-hand Rose” and her second-hand clothes may have been an insult decades ago. But today, Rose is sitting pretty in her gently used apparel. Thrift stores are thriving, in part due to the demand for eco-friendly options.
Clothing, furniture, decor, and household appliances are available at many local second-hand stores. If there are no consignment shops in your town, a road trip to the closest big city might be just what you need!
There’s always the digital option, too. Check out online sites like eBay or your local Facebook Marketplace. You never know what treasures will show up that someone else thinks is trash. Go ahead and sell your unused items there and help other people upcycle!
2. Look for Sustainable Goods
Not everything is going to be available second-hand, and some people prefer brand new. There’s nothing wrong with this, as long as you’re eco-conscious when you shop.
For the items you must buy new, look at the tags carefully. Choose sustainable materials, like:
● Cotton
● Bamboo
● Cork
● Hemp
● Glass
● Responsibly-managed wood
● Metal
You can find lots of furniture and even clothes that contain recycled materials. It may sound odd, but unless you’re looking at the tag, you won’t even notice the difference! The ecosystem will, though, and that’s what matters.
3. Bring in the Outdoors
There are hundreds of reasons to use live plants as decor in your home. Being an eco-friendly choice is just one of them.
Interior greenery offers plenty of health benefits. Research has shown that plants cut mold and dust from the air, reducing allergy triggers. They also help balance the humidity in a room, making you less likely to get sick.
People who live with houseplants report better mental health, too. Whether it’s the pretty, colorful blooms or the physical boosts, it’s impossible to be near a beautiful plant and not feel good!
You can decorate with plants any way you’d like. Hang them from the ceiling, place them on your window sills, or use them as centerpieces. If you have a green thumb, consider starting a small in-home garden!
4. Use Softer Lighting
Choose softer lighting with eco-friendly light bulbs, like LED lights. It’s beneficial to the ecosystem and your pocketbook.
Eco-friendly bulbs typically last longer than their incandescent counterparts. LED bulbs last anywhere between 11 and 22 years, depending on how much you use them. They’re more energy-efficient and produce the same level of lighting as a regular bulb.
If you want to decorate eco-friendly, though, check your windows. What type of coverage are you using?
Let the sunshine through the open panes instead of using artificial light during the day. Then use sun-blocking shades when you don’t want the window open.
5. Check Your Paint
If you want to paint your walls or any furniture, check the paint’s VOC content first.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in many paints. These release toxic emissions into the air and can continue to do so for years.
You’ve smelled the fumes from paints before, but if the one you use is full of VOCs, it’s worse than dealing with a nasty odor. Their gases cause irritation, allergies, and chronic illnesses with long-term exposure.
Why take the chance? Skip the VOCs and go with eco-friendly paint options.
6. Choose Natural Fragrances
Wall fragrances and other plug-ins are popular. But their harsh chemicals can be dangerous to breathe, especially if you have pets.
Still, walking into a room with a relaxing or enjoyable fragrance is one of the pleasures in life! Try other fragrance sources to spice up your home with yummy scents and keep your body and the environment healthy.
When you opt for soy-based or beeswax melts and candles, you’re getting benefits beyond a good smell. They can reduce stress, lower air humidity, decrease congestion, and clean the room’s air.
7. Go Energy-Efficient
Your utility sources aren’t considered decor. But certain types can make your home look nicer and save you energy at the same time.
Start in the bathroom and switch out your showerhead for a water-saving option. If you had a basic one to begin with, you’ll be amazed and delighted at how many choices you have. Your shower will never feel the same, even with an eco-friendly accessory!
Smart timers are another great way to add style to your home and reduce your carbon footprint.
Smart devices can turn off the TV or lights and adjust the temperature on your thermostat. Most of them link to smartphone apps that you control with the touch of a button.
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Conclusion
Reducing, reusing, and recycling today is not the same as it was for our parents. The Digital Era has been a double-edged sword.
So much technology means people think everything is disposable. But the same technology has worked in our favor to help make it easier and more stylish than ever to go green.
These seven decorating ideas combine upcycling, reusing, and implementing smart gadgets. With them, your whole home can be eco-friendly. And look great, too!
Caitlin Sinclair is the Business Manager at Riata Apartments. With over 5 years of property management experience, she begins and ends each day loving what she does. She finds joy in helping current and future residents and makes Riata a place everyone loves to call home.