Top 10 Ways To Go Green With Your Home Décor

Posted by John Wells on 4:54 am. Filed under Heating & Air Conditioning, Home Remodeling, Photo Gallery Category, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Top 10 Ways To Go Green With Your Home Décor

It’s happening right across the globe. People everywhere are searching for ways to make their home and lifestyle greener in an effort to help the planet. Construction materials such as insulation are making the walls and foundation more eco friendly, but the choices of finish, design and home décor can also make your home green. Besides positive effects on the environment, these options will benefit you in other ways.

1) Better Air Quality

The way that products were manufactured in the past didn’t often take air quality into account. There were off-gases emitted from carpets and sickness due to the use of formaldehyde and glue in cheap furniture. Because of the inferior air quality indoors, the condition called Sick Building Syndrome (or SBS) became prevalent. Noxious fumes and gases weren’t properly vented away and made people sick.

With more natural home finishing choices you will significantly reduce the risk of SBS. Sea grass, bamboo, alpaca wool and sisal carpets are natural choices, as is well made, solid wood furniture built with sustainable timbers. These options will create superior air quality and help you breathe better.

2) Light The Way

Changing small details in your home, such as light bulbs, can help in big ways. Replacing your traditional incandescent bulbs with new compact fluorescents (or CFLs) will reduce your energy use and shrink your hydro bill. Since they contain mercury and require careful disposal, CFLs may not be the greenest choice out there.

The industry is pushing for the development of LED (light emitting diode) bulbs that will work for residential standards and can be purchased for a reasonable price. It is getting closer to the mainstream. Energy-efficient LED bulbs can last more than 20 years and would save a significant amount of money even over CFL bulbs.

Solar landscape lighting systems create a safe and cozy atmosphere throughout the evening. They collect power from the sun and use it to create a soft light in your yard after the sun goes down.

3) Plant Trees With Forethought

For help with climate control and to reduce your dependency on air conditioners, plant trees around your home. In the summer, deciduous trees will shade the windows and cool the interior. Evergreens act as a wind block in the winter, deflecting cold breezes. All year round trees improve the atmosphere by transpiring water with leaves and absorbing carbon dioxide. To improve the value of your property plant healthy, thriving trees in helpful spots.

4) Take The Kitchen Out On the Deck

Opt for a barbecued meal more often in the summer time and you will keep the heat out of the kitchen. When the stove isn’t in use, your air conditioner won’t have to work overtime. Create a comfortable lounging area with cozy furniture like outdoor porch chairs. Gain a double advantage by relaxing in the yard while also reducing your energy usage.

5) Feel The Warm Breeze

Your home is airtight and well heated throughout the winter. When the warmer weather comes you can open up the windows and air out your home for a natural, healthy atmosphere. It’s cost efficient, comfortable and simple to do with removable screens installed.

6) Reduce Your Water Usage In the Yard

Backyard designs that are centered on xeriscaping will result in significantly less water usage. Include hardy native plants that require less frequent watering and use a rain barrel for those plants that do need to be watered. These and other conservation techniques will not only help the planet, they’ll help to save you money on the high cost of water over the summer months.

7) Buy Quality To Keep

Although inexpensive furniture may be attractive, it will generally end up in the landfill in a short period of time. Skip that disposable mindset and buy quality furniture that will last for generations. Chairs, tables and other furniture made with sustainable timbers like Western Red Cedar have naturally occurring rot and bug resistance. These pieces will be beautiful and strong without dangerous preservatives or sealants.

8) Natural Harmony And Grounding

Home décor convenes a feeling or mood in your space. With green décor, that mood will be peaceful and harmonious, connected to nature. With wildlife and woodland color schemes and scenes, as well as wood furnishings and finishes, your décor will be well grounded. Inside opt for wooden cabinets and floors. Cozy outdoor porch chairs or benches create a peaceful retreat from the pace of the day.

9) Opt For Peaceful Relations

The less plastic you buy, the less the nation will rely on foreign supplies of oil. This can be an important tool in the cause to promote peace and good international relations. By choosing greener, more natural products you are making it easier to work for peace.

10) Be A Friend Of Earth

We have this planet and that is all. That means we need to be as friendly as we can to earth by reducing the carbon footprints we leave and choosing green options more often. With little steps to make our homes greener, we are maintaining a healthy friendship with planet earth.

You can see that there are various advantages of making your home décor greener. From healthy air and lower bills to a better planet for all to live in, a green home is an essential first step.

About The Author

Jay Chua, the publisher of PorchSwingSets.com, enjoys admiring nature in the outdoors. Living with his wife Deisy in Vancouver, Canada, the couple can be found in the garden, on travels together or busy designing backyard retreats. Jay loves to hang out on his outdoor canopy swing with a coffee, a good book in hand and his wife snuggled beside him. For sustainable wood and metal porch swing options, visit PorchSwingSets.com where there are plenty of relaxing, durable and green choices.

Comments are closed

Photo Gallery

Log in |