Go for green home décor – This is how it’s done

You’ve heard so much from everyone about how necessary it is to go green. If you’re planning to redo your home interiors, you should consider selecting greener alternatives. No more is green equated with dull and drab. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful your home could look with eco-friendly materials.

Here are some ways you can make a difference.

Paint the Walls Green

Well, not literally. If your walls need a makeover, choose paints that are free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or have them in lesser quantities. You can also go for paints made from natural substances such as earth pigments, clay, botanicals, and milk.

If you wish to clad your rooms in wall paper, know that the conventional varieties will be made of or coated with toxic PVC. But don't let that depress you; newer varieties of wall papers are silk-screened by hand or coated with a water-based glaze.

Go Green on Flooring

If you must have wood flooring, go for reclaimed wood. Another green option is only selecting wood that comes from self-sustaining forests. Self-sustaining forests are monitored by authorities so that the same number or fewer trees are harvested each year. New trees are planted regularly and steps are taken to ensure that the bio-diversity is maintained.

You can also go for cork flooring which will look and feel just like hardwood. Cork is harvested from the cork oak tree. The tree doesn't need to be cut down as only the outer bark of the tree needs to be stripped off to obtain cork. The bark grows back in about three years and this makes cork a great option for green flooring.

Bamboo though a species of grass, has the characteristics of hardwood. However, while trees can take around 20 years to grow to maturity, bamboo can be harvested in just 4-5 years. You'll find bamboo flooring options in a variety of colors and grains to suit your decor.

If you have been diligently shipping your beer and wine bottles to the recycler, it will please you to know that those bottles are recycled into glass tiles. These green tiles can be used as flooring in your kitchen and bathroom. You get to choose from a wide array of colors, finishes, and patterns.

Linoleum flooring is eco-friendly and will stand tough against wear and tear. Yes, linoleum is eco-friendly because it's made from cork dust, wood flour, ground limestone, linseed oil, tree resins, and pigments. Vinyl on the other hand, is made from harmful chlorinated petrochemicals.

Switch to Greener Lights

You may love the warm glow of incandescent bulbs, but if you wish to go the green way, replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). By replacing just a single incandescent bulb with a CFL, you can prevent your home from emitting over 400 pounds of greenhouse gases.

An even better option is replacing incandescent bulbs with light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Yes, they are costly but they are a lot more energy efficient and last much longer than incandescent bulbs or CFLs. If you can't see yourself using LEDs or CFLs everywhere, replace incandescent bulbs in hallways, corridors, or places that you don't spend too much time in.

If you need to have the lights in your house switched on when you return home, buy timers that can turn the lights on at a particular time. If you are accustomed to leaving lights on for the whole day while you're away at work or elsewhere, drop the habit.

No matter what bulbs you use, limit your electricity usage. Remember that nothing beats natural light. While you're at home during the day, make use of natural light as much as possible and refrain from turning on lights when not needed. Draw the curtains to let in maximum light. If you must have privacy, make use of sheer curtains and blinds instead of heavy drapery.

Smart Extras

Going green is a state of mind. If you look for ways to consume less energy and emit lesser harmful gases into the environment, you will find them.

• If you can grow a garden outside your house or on the terrace, don't let anything stop you. If you can't, consider placing potted plants around your house. Green plants not only liven up the interiors of a home but also absorb air-borne toxins found in average homes including benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde.

• Instead of using petroleum-based paraffin wax candles, make use of soy candles. These candles are all natural and do not emit any toxins unlike paraffin wax ones.

• Man-made logs that are made from wood fibers and bio-waxes, and free from petroleum based products are better than wood. This is because the man-made ones burn longer and emit up to 75% less carbon monoxide than wood.

• Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones as much as you can.

• Re-upholster your furniture instead of discarding it. If you must get new furniture, donate or recycle whatever you’re eliminating from your home. Make sure the new furniture you purchase is made from eco-friendly material.

• Bath items, rugs, curtains, art decorations, wall hangings, photo frames, and a lot many other items are made from eco-friendly materials. Keep an eye out for the best.

Conclusion

Many people stick to conventional décor options because they assume that greener materials are costlier. This isn’t always true. Moreover, eco-friendly materials will last much longer than other products benefiting you in the long run.

So stop thinking too much and go green with pride!