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Why Going Green At Home Is Less Troublesome Than You Think

February 11th, 2010 No comments

Why shouldn’t you go green in decorating according to the environmental detractors?

- An eco-friendly home is duh! – boring, bland and plain – Eco-friendly home decorations are overpriced and over-hyped – Why go green? It’s only a fad anyway.

Fortunately, architects, designers and decorators have been listening to these complaints and they’ve come up with some improvements. However, the first improvement that needs to take place is your own attitude toward sustainable living.

Using eco-friendly products help the environment by not putting the resources to waste and reducing their usage as much as possible. This is not only for a healthy environment but for healthy living as well while living in a beautiful home at the same time.

For instance, not all “green” home decor is expensive. In fact, the decorating style known as Shabby Chic actually centers on re-using quality furnishings that have fallen on hard times. The key is to develop an eye for quality that can see past the inevitable nicks, dents and scratches of a lifetime of use. Stores such as those operated by The Salvation Army, Goodwill and many other charities often carry this items. Some designers recommend giving recycled furniture and accessories a fresh look by painting them white, one of Shabby Chic’s basic colors.

I got most of my “new” furniture from a flea market and recently, I got good finds from a garage sale in the neighborhood. Now I have new vases, chairs, a matching table and some great kitchen decors that I got for a lot less compared if I bought them in a department store. Even on a big sale, I don’t think it will beat the price out of what I got from the market and the yard sale.

Going environmentally friendly also means being aware of the materials used for your home decors. Non-toxic components, renewable resources, organic and such are better for your health too.

On the other hand, if you’re fond of an existing part of your home decor that’s made from natural materials – such as a wool area rug — you don’t have to replace it. However, if you’re striving to “green” your decor, consider some of the new area rugs offered by several manufacturers. These stylish rugs are made from recycled materials and colored with non-toxic dyes. Being modular, they give plenty of flexibility in arranging your “green” decor.

As you find old things you will no longer reuse or store, make sure you dispose them properly. Segregate your waste, donate them, sell them or hand them over to organizations or companies that recycle old items. This way, you’ll also be doing the environment a huge favor.

Finally, if you do purchase some new items for your “green” decor, don’t have to fret that you’re not really being green. Underwriters Laboratories – yes, the folks who set the standards for light bulbs, toasters, coffee makers, etc. — has just launched a new UL Environmental. Its purpose is to work with manufacturers to validate, test and certify environmentally sustainable projects and to help consumers make sense of products’ “green” claims.

Be good. Be wise. Go green and see how simple things make a difference to the environment, your home and your health.

Our best hint for Natural Home Decorating, is to use area rugs – and the shag bamboo rugs will suit any modern furnishings.

Making A Difference With Eco-Friendly Area Rugs

February 6th, 2010 No comments

People who once said that going green is a drag are now probably eating their words. Environmental protection is not just the in thing but already a global campaign. United Nations has taken a strong stand. Powerful countries have supported the importance of eco-friendly living. So why should we wait any further? Let’s join the bandwagon and do our share in conserving the environment.

Let’s start our eco-friendly lifestyle right at home. A certain proverb says that one should clean his own backyard before pointing a neighbor’s unclean yard…sounds perfect for a home decorating article. You can take it literally but I like to go deeper and think figuratively as well. Before doing something more complicated or before spreading the word of going green, starting at your own turf is a good idea. You will then practice what you preach. I know I do…

Good designing means going for the maximum style potential in your decorating. As always, make sure that the theme is consistent with what you are trying to express. In the case of green home decor, there are a lot of natural area rugs that go quite well with the rest of your furniture. Light colored ones would look good in a sitting area to maintain that warm, welcoming feel and darker ones can be put in places such as your bedroom.

There are a lot of natural area rugs that are available in a variety of designs, colors, shapes and sizes that can go easily with any theme. So you don’t have to worry that there in not enough natural rugs to meet your eclectic taste in home interior design.

Natural rugs don’t only look good but they can affect room temperature. Rugs made of wool and cotton absorb heat pretty well, which means you wouldn’t feel too stifling in the hot summer days. Because of this, you’ll get to save on electricity bills from excessive air-conditioning. Fanning yourself is actually a good workout for your arms but it’s no fun, so might as well welcome the relief from cooling area rugs.

Moving on to money saving from the above given cases, you can save more from paying cheaper electricity bills. Natural area rugs are also sturdy, hence expect to have them around for a long time. You won’t need to buy new pieces if you don’t want to because they can withstand wear and tear. Of course, proper care is also a must to preserve their tip-top shape.

Natural area rugs are the best deals. They will make your home a more attractive place while keeping you safe from toxic materials. You’ll save energy and some money too. Just think how you will do the environment and your finances a lot of good. Support eco-friendly home decorations, natural area rugs in particular so you can add to the demands for these goods. See how your home transforms. Hopefully, after natural area rugs, you can move on to other decorative items. Pair that with recycling and you are an environmentalist at heart.

Keep up to date with Natural Interior Decorating trends and enhance your home with natural bamboo area rugs.