Over the last years environmental-consciousness has become an inevitable part of our lives. When we buy household appliances we look at the Energy Star label, we get the funny spiral energy-efficient light bulbs and we separate the waste to recycle it. Home eco-decor is a relatively new concept that has also gained popularity. Here are a few ideas that will help you introduce eco-decor to your home.
When you start remodelling your home, or you are moving into a new one, you could easily upgrade it and use environmentally-friendly materials at the same time. The pure elegance of the organic cotton, the sheer functionality and simplicity of the bamboo, as well as the creativity, put in the recycled items will compliment your interior design and reflect your desire to live green.
Cotton:
According to painters & decorators, organic cotton costs twice as more as the conventional cotton, yet it's price is well deserved, since it has been grown without the use of pesticides and other non-natural means. There is a huge variety of items manufactured from organic cotton: towels, sheets, table cloths, crib linens, bath mats and etc. While pure organic cotton products are available, you can also eco-friendly goods of blended origins like mixtures from organic cotton and linen or hemp.
Bamboo:
It is a very sustainable material, as it doesn't require fertilizing, replanting and can be harvested 3-5 times a year. In addition to it's overall sustainability, bamboo could be made into many household items, starting with food bowls, utensils, frames, window shades, baskets, rugs, cutting boards, mirrors, bath mats and etc. An interesting, yet unconventional, use of the bamboo is as kitchen flooring. It is durable, inexpensive and very, very “green”, so if you are planing to replace your old kitchen flooring, you might want to consider it.
Recycled Materials:
What do you think happens when you recycle an item? It goes through a special treatment, and is later used to manufacture new items. You can find recycled glass, paper, metal, plastic and even textiles, remade into different kinds housewares. Carpenters London for example, incorporate reclaimed wood from old boats, buildings and wine barrels into picture frames or decorative sculptures.
Eco-materials are the perfect solution, if you want to redecorate your home, as they will both increase the appeal of your interior design, and give you the satisfaction of knowing that by using them you are actually helping the environment. As far as the price goes, eco-materials and eco-goods are more expensive than regular ones, because they are more labour intensive. However, shopping at second hand stores, flea markets, refurbishing your old stuff and reusing products, you already have at home, is also a way of supporting the green living and contributing to the sustainable development. No matter how you approach the issue, once you go green, you will feel the difference it makes.
