Your bedroom is your most private area where you are most vulnerable. That is why you need healthy, safe and non-toxic bedroom furniture and bed linen. For most people, it is important that the bedroom decor is cozy, tasteful, and reflects the personality of the owner. Environmentally friendly furniture can serve all of these purposes. Materials from sustainable sources reduce your environmental impact and are healthier for you and your family.
So you can design the bedroom of your dreams with eco-friendly upgrades that make it easier for you to sleep at night.
1) Buy used furniture
Whether you buy lovingly restored antiques in your favorite high-end boutique or gently used items from local goodwill, buying used furniture is always more environmentally friendly. A brand new chest of drawers from China has a 16-fold carbon footprint like an antique office, simply because of the resources used in the manufacture and the emissions that occur on the way from the factory to the end user. Buying second-hand can be an inexpensive way to purchase beautiful, sturdy, and well-crafted handmade furniture that lasts years or decades longer than contemporary pieces. This means that buying used furniture can help you reduce waste further over the years. Antiques are often of good value and can even increase in value over the years. You should therefore consider it an investment rather than a purchase.
2) Upcycle fabrics and pillows
According to the EPA, landfills received 11.2 million tons of textiles in 2017 alone. Most home textiles can be recycled, and it's easy to turn your old clothes, curtains, bedding, and other textiles into cozy blankets, storage solutions, new curtains, lampshades, furniture cushions, and more. Don't you have a lot of old clothes lying around? Search thrift stores for used bedspreads, window treatments, old wool sweaters for felting, and more. You can also buy remnants of fabric in most fabric stores at a reduced price.
3) Buy an organic mattress
Your mattress may be the most important piece of furniture in your home. It is most commonly used – after all, you spend at least a third of your life doing it. And if you're still sleeping on a conventionally made mattress, it's time to switch to an organic mattress. This is because your conventional mattress is full of toxic chemicals. When you take a traditional mattress home with you for the first time, the synthetic materials contain volatile organic exhaust compounds (VOCs) that can cause serious health problems. The conventionally grown cotton in traditional mattresses is soaked in pesticides – it is one of the most pesticidal plants, and many of the pesticides used to grow cotton are toxic to humans and animals. When you buy an organic mattress, you can be sure that it is free of VOCs and most pesticides. Organic mattresses are made from sustainably produced, natural materials such as organic cotton, wool and latex. They are available from retailers such as AvocadoGreenMattress.com. They are a little more expensive than conventional mattresses, but they are worth it. They are sturdy, non-toxic, durable, comfortable and inherently flame retardant.
4) Use green certified colors and stains
If you paint or stain the walls or furniture of your bedroom, buy green certified, low-VOC or VOC-free paint. Most major manufacturers have non-toxic latex paints that you can use to refresh your decor without exposing your family to the risk of inhaling harsh toxic chemicals. For furniture, cladding, cabinets and walls, you can use chalk paint, which gives your pieces a chic vintage look with their soft, matte surface. You can even use it to refresh the look of fabric upholstery! Milk color is another non-toxic, water-based option that has been used for thousands of years.
5) Invest in organic bedding
Organic bed linen, duvets, pillows and other bed linen are the perfect addition to your new organic mattress. Since most bedding is also made from cotton, it is a good idea to invest in organic sheets and blankets that are not made with heavy pesticide use. That way, you don't thwart the purpose of using an environmentally friendly mattress by putting some chemical-enriched, toxic sheets on it. And who doesn't love fresh, cozy new bed linen? A fluffy new duvet, some soft percale sheets, and plump pillows make you look forward to bedtime even more than you probably already do. When it comes to upgrading your bedroom, spend extra time and money getting it right. Sustainable bedroom design is not only better for the planet, but also for you – and there is no time like today to take measures to improve your health and well-being.
