Furnishings

10 things you can do to Green Your Furnishings

Don't fret if your home or apartment isn't an eco-palace, appointed floor to ceiling with green furnishings. There are easy ways to introduce sustainability into your home decor—from table to chair, boudoir to living room—without sacrificing comfort and style. Most importantly, you won't have to resort to extreme measures (for example, fashioning a coffee table out of used beer cans) to give your digs a green makeover.

  1. Opt for used furniture

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    Not only will you save money, but buying secondhand furniture also saves trees and prevents useful products from ending up in the landfill.

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  2. Choose an eco-friendly mattress

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    Mattresses made from natural, renewable materials, such as organic wool and natural latex, trump those made from non-renewable petroleum-based materials.

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  3. Buy a table made of FSC-certified wood

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    Sustainable tables for sustainable meals and entertaining. Choose this for your dining room and you'll be supporting the sustainable management of forests around the world.

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  4. Choose low-toxin furniture

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    Rid your home of toxic furniture and replace it with one of these low-emissions options, made from untreated fabrics, low-VOC paints and stains, and nontoxic adhesives.

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  5. Buy certified carpets and rugs

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    When you buy certified carpets, you're buying from manufacturers that have reduced pollutants and waste. Look for SCS Sustainable Choice, California Sustainable Carpets, Green Label Plus, or Rugmark.

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  6. Buy chairs made from reclaimed or recycled materials

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    Show off your penchant for recycling with these practical, stylish pieces made of salvaged materials.

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  7. Choose a bed made with rapidly renewable materials

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    A bed made of grass, you ask? Yes! They use materials that grow faster than trees, which protects our forests. And they couldn't be more stylish.

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  8. Recyle your mattress

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    Mattresses can be disassembled and reprocessed into new products, preventing useful materials from being wasted and reducing consumption of raw materials and energy.

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  9. Recycle your used furniture

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    Replacing your tired furniture? Be sure to recycle old pieces, if possible, by salvaging the wood and metal for other purposes to be used around the house or sent to a recycling facility.

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  10. Choose natural fiber carpet and rugs

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    Opt for natural fibers such as wool, cotton, sea grass, and jute. Not only are they from renewable sources, but they're also biodegradable.

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