Green Home Furnishings

A house has to be made into a home. We fill them with love, memories, family…and furnishings. Furnishings are some of the biggest home investments we make and they stay with us longer than most. And that’s exactly why they should be green. Not only are eco-preferable choices in home furnishings better for the environment, but they also tend to be better for our health. We’re sitting, sleeping, and eating on the stuff all day, so what it’s made of—and possibly releasing into the air—counts big.

Top 5 Green Tips

1. Go Minimal

Cut back on the furniture you buy. For example, if you usually eat at the kitchen table, no need to outfit the dining room to the nines. Since you’ll be buying fewer pieces, make sure they can do double-duty – like a kitchen cart that can function as a movable island and a storage space.

2. Quality Counts

Consider the benefits of a higher quality piece against an extra initial cost. If you spring for the piece you love, you won’t want to upgrade so soon. Likewise, quality workmanship will cut down on repairs and breaks. Be wary of trends, too; opt for a timeless piece then accessorize with trendy items.

3. Play the Reclaim Game

We hate deforestation. But we also love wood furniture, and while we have fewer trees to use, there’s still plenty of wood to be found. Many designers are crafting furniture using reclaimed wood from old furniture, flooring and buildings. The resulting pieces are one-of-a-kind, beautiful, without a harvesting a single tree.

4. Sustain It

Buying sustainable materials doesn’t mean sacrificing style or your budget. Consider items made from materials like bamboo, Kirei board, or cork. Look for FSC or Rainforest Alliance certification to verify a product’s sustainability. Traditional cotton products are responsible for 25% of the world’s pesticide and herbicide use so make it a point to purchase bedding made from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, or organic wool.

5. Embrace the Already Embraced

Even better than purchasing furniture made from reclaimed, recycled, or sustainable materials is buying already-existing pieces - new stuff won’t be used and old stuff won’t end up in landfills. Vintage options are available in all price ranges, from antiques to Craigslist gems; less pristine pieces are made new again with a slipcover, some reupholstering, or a coat of eco-preferable paint or wood stain.