10.02.2011

Green Up Your Space: Eco-Friendly Decorating Ideas

By Chuck Lorrell

Home decore can not only be expensive, but also uses a lot of excess materials and sometimes materials or chemeicals which are detrimental to the environment. Why not save the Earth, some money, and spruce up your space in a unique way. Here are a few decorating tips you can do with materials you may already have.

Brighten up plain curtains, tablecloths, or sheets with non-toxic dye.

Get mismatched chairs from a thrift store and decorate them with colorful paint, decoupage, or upholstery.

Use old glass jars and bottles as pretty vases.

Wrap shoe boxes in wrapping paper and use them to store small items like cards, office supplies, or cosmetics
If you’re crafty and enjoy wine, you might be interested in making your own wine cork bath mat.

Buying or making cloth napkins will save trees!

In addition to these DIY methods, there are also a number of eco-friendly products on the market, as green living is becoming more and more popular. For example, you could get curtains, bedspreads, and tablecloths made of organic cotton. Or you could paint your walls with non-toxic paint that contain zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – these emit gases that can be damaging to your health over time. Many products, like wallpaper made of recycled paper and bamboo floor mats are made of recycled or sustainable materials.
Another eco-friendly way to decorate is to recycle other people’s unwanted stuff. You never know what you might find at a garage sale, thrift store, on Craigslist, or even free boxes on the street. You can always update something with a colorful coat of paint or some pretty fabric upholstery. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive! 

Chuck Lorrell is a construction management enthusiast who writes about various topics including everything related to construction and is the owner of the site Construction Management Degree.

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