Redecorate Naturally!

One of the most fun and exciting parts of being a home owner is decorating. With so many choices and different ideas floating around out there, it can be pretty darn hard to choose a particular style or “theme” for a room. Perhaps the most difficult part of it all is coming up with decorations that are natural and environmentally responsible! I sat down one day in my barren bedroom and began brainstorming ideas on how I can turn my house into a gorgeous palace without putting our planet Earth in jeopardy. Here’s what worked for my home:

Environmentally Responsible Paints

Paint is where every redecorating endeavor begins, so it is important to choose paints that are both healthy for you and the environment. Focus on definitely buying low or zero VOC (volatile organic compound) paints (VOCs release toxic emissions into our air) and look for natural paints made from water, plant oils and dyes and mineral dyes. These are safest for you and your family’s health as well as for the environment.

Buy It Used

You would be amazed just how many good quality “used” products are out there these days. Whether you are going for that “vintage” look or a funky modern theme, any number of second hand shops, flea markets and swap meets will have exactly what you’re looking for. Small trinkets, unique coffee tables, good quality couches… they’re all there at your disposal and at a fraction of the cost.

Window Coverings

Finding a good window covering can be a challenge, especially with the diversity of window sizes and shapes these days. Fortunately, there are now a number of natural and environmentally friendly window coverings available to you. You can find drapes made of organic materials as well as shades made from grass or bamboo.

Flooring

You don’t need to stick to that boring ol’ carpeting. Try using a natural fiber weave carpet, such as: Sea grass, coir, jute, rush, or sisal. When purchasing natural fiber weave carpeting, do be sure to ask about how durable and stain resistant each are. If carpeting is not your thing, you can still always go for natural wood flooring. I had an old house that we tore down, but saved some of the wood from. We were able to have this old part of our house turned into a floor for our new house. Ask around and see if you can find any quality, recycled wood.

photo by Allison Choppick