sustainable furniture

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Be an organic home know-it-all!

March 10, 2009 in Food & Drink, Furniture & Appliances, Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

When it comes to organic food and organic home products, there are a lot of choices. It can be overwhelming. However, there’s no need to freak. You will totally look like you know what you’re doing (even when you’re not so sure) with these simple rules…

Organic is not always best: There are absolutely some items you should purchase organic, and then there are the organic items that matter less. Clothing, textiles, and other fabrics for your home are good organic, but you can also choose used or other sustainable fabrics that are just as eco-friendly as organic cotton. For example – hemp, bamboo, and thrift store finds all lower your footprint without the organic label. As for organic food, some purchases offer better health and eco-benefits than others. Check out which organics you need to buy and 11 Ways to Save Money on Organic Food in order to make smart choices.

Don’t go nuts all at once: Small organic changes are just as good as a complete life overhaul, but WAY easier. Don’t try to go massive organic all at once. Start making small changes; i.e. buy organic peanut butter and organic cotton pillow cases. Eventually all your simple changes will start to add up.

Got pets?: Let them go organic too. Many people forget their pets but currently there are many organic varieties of pet foods, green pet homes, and toys out there.

Go organic for health: If you’re only going organic for the eco-benefits, that’s fine, but the health benefits of organic over conventional offer you much more motivation. For example, you can make over your bathroom soaps and cosmetics in order to cut chemicals out of your world or buy a better organic mattress for a non-toxic dream time. Think about organic in a way that personally relates to you because this makes shopping decisions easier.

Make it easy for your kids: Kids raised on organics are in a better position to grow up understanding the long-term benefits. Don’t just go organic – talk organic with the kiddos so they know what’s up. Once they’re old enough to make shopping decisions, they’ll have a far easier time than our generation of adults.

How are you going organic at home?

Create A Green Baby Nursery

March 6, 2009 in Children & Babies by Jennifer | No comments

If your home includes a baby, or your home soon will have a baby, then it’s best to plan a green and healthy baby nursery. With just a few simple choices you can turn a typical baby nursery into a green oasis.

Are you having a baby soon? What green steps are you taking at home to get ready?

Where to Get Eco-friendly Home Office Supplies

January 20, 2009 in Healthy Green Home, Home Office by Jennifer | No comments

Last week we started looking at eco-home office ideas. You can catch up by reading:

It actually used to be hard to find eco-office supplies; at least on a budget. The places carrying these items were few and far between, so you had to pay a lot for even simple things like recycled content printer paper. Currently though, things are a lot better. So many places carry eco-office goods that you’re sure to find what you need at a decent price.

Here are some good places to start your eco-office supply search:

Later I’ll post some cool specific green office products – nice green office bling you’ll adore.

Green Your Home Office – Home Office Eco Ideas

January 15, 2009 in Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | 2 comments

This week we’re looking at how to create a healthy and green home office. The other day we saw some office supplies and products that can help you reduce waste and chemicals.Today some tips that can help you easily green your home office space.

Shredding rules: If you splurge on one amazing piece of equipment, make sure it’s a shredder. You need a heavy duty paper shredder. This will help you keep things tidy and supply you plenty of free and recycled packing material. If you have too much shredding, you can compost the extra, or simply toss it in the recycle bin. It doesn’t pay to buy a wussy shredder though. Get a really nice one, like the OfficeMax Shredder, Cross-Cut. This shredder has a 20 sheet capacity (even with staples) and shreds crazy stuff like credit cards and DVDs.

Try green flooring: Some nice eco-friendly rugs, that still allow your chair on wheels to roll around include:

NOTE: for real rolling ease, you should use a rug mat under the rug you choose.

Bring in some real green: Plants are both healthy and green. Placing two or three around your desk is an easy way to improve the air quality in your office. Opening that window from time to time (even in winter) will help to improve your air quality and green your space as well.

Stay warm, save energy: If you can, set up a home office thermostat that’s programmable. If you’re in and out of your home office quite a bit, you might want to consider a sweater vs. the heat cranking.

If something breaks… You should take more steps than just tossing the item. One, see if your item can be fixed. Two, if it can’t be fixed, see if you can recycle it. Three, if it’s not broke, I’d say hang onto it. However, we all know there are folks who like the latest office gadgets. If this is you, don’t toss your old one, donate it to a cause. Plenty of non-profits can use an extra computer or printer.

Stay tuned for tips on green home office accessories.

How are you greening your home office?

Create A Healthy and Green Home Office

January 13, 2009 in Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

I’m thinking that with the start of the new year, redesigning a room in your house to be greener is a great plan. One easy place to start with a green home make-over is your home office.Over the next few days we’ll look at how you can get your home office, be it a space, or an entire room, into tip-top green shape.These tips can also be applied to your out of the house office if you like.

Your basic home office supplies checklist:

There are basically three sorts of products to watch out for in home offices – products that drain excess energy, products that use too many resources, and products that are chemical heavy. Of course, you want to be on the flip side of this…

Products that save energy in your home office: Read the rest of this entry »

Sustainable Furniture Shops

October 3, 2008 in Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | No comments

The other day we were talking about sustainable furniture, and I promised to show some cool pieces. If you missed the other posts, read: Sustainable Furniture Guidelines and Re-purpose the Furniture You Own.

Green furniture shops to adore:

Modern Bamboo Spring Chair from Design Public: (Comes in Cherry and Ebony as well).

Donato 6 drawer dresser in bamboo from the always lovely Fernwalla:

Smile by David Trubridge from Greenergrassdesign:

Other sustainable shops:

For even more great eco furniture store visit Co-op America.

Re-purpose the Furniture You Own

September 30, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | No comments

Today we’re talking about sustainable furniture. One great way to own sustainable decor, with very little cost, is to re-purpose the furniture you already own. A close second choice is to remake furniture you find at a thrift store, garage sale, or antique store.

Some ideas for the furniture you already have:

1. Add new hardware: A new shelf knob or handle can remake an entire piece. Try something natural, like the Viola Knob from the Carol Beach Pressed Flower Knobs Collection or the recycled glass Drawer Pulls from the Aurora Accents Drawer Pulls Collection (available in six colors; Amethyst, Apricot, AquaBlue, ClassicClear, Cobalt, and Emerald). Both are available at Nature’s Hardware.

2. Refinish with healthy paints and non-toxic varnish: Don’t forget to sand your piece down first.

3. Use stencils: You can go one step beyond painting and stencil cool designs on a shelf or wall mirror. In fact, if you’re really creative, I’d go freehand.

4. Use covers: You can re-top a table with recycled glass tiles or cover that old couch with some new organic fabric.

To learn more read Reasonable Redecorating: Reuse, Refinish, and Repurpose.

Still to come: Places you can score sustainable furniture.

Sustainable Furniture Guidelines

September 30, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | 2 comments

Incorporating green options into your home includes many aspects – building, energy systems, landscaping, interior decor, and even furniture. If you’re going to build or remodel green, why fill your home with toxic furniture?

Home decor is just as important as what’s on the outside of your house. Following are some tips that can make choosing sustainable furniture a little easier:

Look for the right wood: Make sure to buy furniture made from fast growing woods like bamboo or mango, or look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC is a worldwide healthy wood standard.

Re-make what you already have: Maybe you don’t need new furniture. You could refinish your current furniture and make it bright and new. Fresh non-toxic finish or paint, plus some cool new hardware (like shelf knobs made from natural items) can cast a new light on old pieces.

Recycled and reclaimed pieces: Another option is to choose thrift store, antique shop, or garage sale furniture. You can re-purpose a piece, although sometimes it’s perfect as is. You can also look for shops that specialize in reclaimed and recycled woods or full pieces.

Go organic: When it comes to recovering an old couch, or even buying new chairs, look for fabrics that are organic or even vintage (re-used).

Look for healthy finishes: You can have healthy, sustainable wood furniture, but if it’s slathered in toxic sealing chemicals, it sort of cancels out the good. Make sure your furniture is finished in eco-friendly paints and varnishes.

Forget leather: The upside of leather is that it lasts and lasts. Long lasting is a smart eco-trait. However, the downside of leather is of course you have to skin an animal to get it. Also, leather production is costly and an energy drain – you have to have pastures for cows, factories for production, and forests are cleared for grazing. Leather is not a good eco choice.

Buy local when possible: It’s not always easy to buy everything local, but if you can, it’s better for the earth. Shipping is a large energy drain and doesn’t foster community.

Later we’ll look at some sustainable furniture options – and some ideas for re-purposing what you already own.

[Reclaimed Wood Table with Stainless Channel Tray shown above available at Acacia]

10 Tips for Greening Your Nursery

August 6, 2008 in Children & Babies, Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Cleaning, Organics, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

This week we’re going room by room, looking at how we can green up all the spaces of your home. It’s really important to keep your little one’s sleeping space free from chemicals, toxins, and other icky things. Babies, with their smaller bodies and immune systems are more sensitive to everything. Following are ten tips that can help you green your nursery.

organic baby nursery

  1. Get rid of smelly baby odors (think diaper pail) with natural methods.
  2. Install energy saving lights and light bulbs. You can also set up lighting on a timer or sensor – for example, a night light on a sensor can save a ton of energy.
  3. Use non toxic paints and finishes on the walls and furniture.
  4. look for refurbished or recycled furniture. If you refinish it yourself, remember to use healthy non lead, non-toxic laminate or paint. Avoid materials like plywood and particleboard, because it usually contains formaldehyde.
  5. Be sure to buy a  safer, greener, baby mattresses. These used to be spendy, but you can find great deals on green mattresses and it’s worth it. While you’re at it, make sure to invest in organic baby bedding as well.
  6. Look for flame-retardant and sustainable floor coverings and rugs.
  7. Invest in toys made from sustainable wood, non-toxic materials, and made with Fair Trade practices. These type of toys cost more, but it’s better to buy fewer toys that are safe than a bunch of plastic toys chock full of chemicals. You can even consider what you have around the house as toys. Babies still love to bang on pots, play with cups, and dance with you – try to have fun with fewer toys overall.
  8. Invest in greener diaper choices.
  9. Keep your baby clean with natural soap and care options.
  10. Stock up your baby’s closets with natural and organic clothing finds. For some ideas visit the following stores: