You don’t have to install solar panels in order for your home to be eco-friendly. In fact, there are many pro-earth changes anyone can make to improve the general eco-friendliness of their home. The key is to be aware of your responsibility to the planet throughout your design or re-design process.
Need some more convincing? Keep reading for six sustainable decorating ideas for your family room.
Go Minimalistic
As trendy as minimalism is right now, it boasts plenty of benefits that will never go out of style. A minimalistic decorating scheme ensures you have less of everything, including furniture and accessories. In the long run, this will mean less harmful toxins and VOCs in your air.
Observe the Three R’s
Before you even think about purchasing new furniture items, canvas what you already have (as well as the cast-offs of family and friends), to see if there’s anything you can reuse. Since older furniture tends to have lower margins of VOC emissions, the benefits of buying or adopting second-hand items are plain.
Go Low-VOC
You’ve probably heard of low-VOC paint, but have you heard about low-VOC candles? Cheap department store candles tend to be chock-full of harmful VOCs; an eco-friendly alternative is candles that are made out of soy, beeswax, or other natural materials.
Plants, Plants and More Plants
Of course, some amount of VOC exposure is to be expected no matter how careful you are. A great way to offset these toxins is to add a houseplant (or five) to each room in your home.
Swap Out Your Area Rug
Did you know that area rugs are prime culprits for off-gassing? You can rid your home of this source of toxins by replacing your rugs with an organic alternative. Some alternatives include sisal, jute, bamboo, and wool.
Mind Your Curtains
Come winter, you can mitigate your home’s heat loss by installing thermal curtains. If you’re especially attached to the curtains you currently have, consider picking up a thermal curtain lining, which can be used in conjunction with your existing window treatments.
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