Due to the issues the earth is having with climate change and the increase in pollution the world over, most people are trying to reuse, recycle, and repurpose when they can. Even when it comes to decorating, you’ll want to be as sustainable as possible to avoid adding more pollution to your environment.
- Don’t Buy New Furniture – One of the most significant pollutants around in manufacturing is furniture and clothing. The chemicals used on the fabrics, the materials used, and more are almost always bad for the environment, except for some natural fibers (although you still can do better by buying used).
- Buy Used Furniture Made from Natural Materials – When you start furniture shopping, look for good solid furniture made from natural materials that are easy to redo and repurpose.
- Increase Natural Lighting – If you can, one way to save energy is to use as much natural lighting as possible. If that means adding a window to your living room or a skylight, you should strongly consider it.
- Pay Attention to the Adhesives Used in Flooring – Many of the adhesives used in all types of flooring, even natural hemp fibers, use petroleum-based adhesives that are not environmentally friendly.
- Use Natural Floor Covering – If you can avoid any unnatural fibers in the materials in your home, you’ll be much better off, especially when it comes to flooring. It’s nice to have carpet for kids but research the options to ensure it’s as natural as possible.
- Consider Adding Solar Power to Your Home – Many communities are offering inexpensive solar options now. If you can get in early on the plans and add solar power to your home, you’ll be glad you did.
- Use Zero or Low VOC Paint – When you paint, make sure that you use low VOC or no VOC paint. This is going to improve the air quality of your home immensely. Houses today are very tight, and it’s best not to introduce these chemicals at all as they will get trapped.
- Create Activity Zones for Your Living Room – When you set up your living room décor, you can cut down on the need for lighting and cords if you zone the areas for a particular use.
- Use Specialized Task Lighting – Once you create zones, consider how much lighting you’ll need, and other factors, you can add specialized task lighting to ensure that you can see well without having to light up the entire living room.
- Use Salvaged Finds for Decorating – When you decorate, try to find used things that you can turn into décor that is useful and beautiful at the same time. For example, you can turn your hat collection into a fun feature wall near the entryway instead of buying more stuff to hang on the wall.
It’s not hard to create a low-pollution environment if you give it some thought before you jump in and buy new. You will be shocked that there is so much out there that looks new but is used. You don’t need to spent tons of money to make your home look good while lowering your carbon footprint.
