Rarely get to enjoy the outdoors? You’re not alone. American’s spend 90 percent of their time indoors, as reported by the EPA. It may come as a surprise that the concentration of pollutants indoors are much higher than the outdoors. With so much time spent indoors, it’s important to be mindful about what we bring in with us. Additionally, many common products and home furnishings are full of chemicals and toxins that could potentially cause health risks. But you can minimize the level of pollutants by decorating with natural fibers, solid wood and organic upholstery. You don’t have to sacrifice style to be eco-friendly. If you’re ready to take another green step forward, here are a few ideas.
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Eco-Friendly Rugs
The number of companies distributing environmentally-sensitive products has grown so much that you’d be hard-pressed to find a product that doesn’t have an eco-alternative…and that includes rugs. When shopping for rugs, remember:
• Natural fibers like organic cotton, jute, seagrass, sisal, coir and either untreated or minimally-treated wool are best
• Make sure the rug has non-toxic backing and underlay pads sewn (not glued) to the backing—wool, jute, or natural latex are recommended
• Even if a rug is made from natural fibers, it could have been treated with stain, insect, or flame repellents, so make sure the label says it is organic, untreated, minimally-treated or non-toxic
• Know about certifications that guarantee renewable resources were used
For more details, Apartment Therapy’s guide “How To Shop for an Environmentally-Friendly Rug” outlines everything you need to know.
Natural Window Treatments
Design and architecture magazine Freshome explains that natural light and healthy living go hand-in-hand; natural light helps the human mind, body and spirit connect with the outdoors. Additionally, the Lighting Research Center reports that natural light can even improve health and increase comfort and productivity. Of all the places you should find comfort, your home is perhaps the most important. Instead of blocking natural light from coming through the windows with heavy, dark-colored draperies, look into green and eco-friendly shades that are designed with sustainable materials like bamboo and grass, which still allow natural light in, but reduce glare and heat absorption.
Sustainable Furniture
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, many commercially-produced couches and other upholstered items are filled with harmful toxins including flame retardants that can pose serious risks to health. But did you know that you can buy toxin-free couches, beds and other furniture? More and more furniture makers and manufacturers are changing their standards to make products non-toxic, but the changes will take time. If you’re in the market for new furniture now, check out this guide from the NRDC to see where the recognizable brands stand (e.g. La-Z-Boy, IKEA) in their transition away from flame retardant use. To make the search for sustainable products easier, the Sustainable Furnishings Council website allows you to search for eco-friendly companies in four categories: materials, furnishings, stores and designers. Aside from upholstered furniture, anything made from wood should be either recycled or FSC-certified, which means the forest it came from was managed in a way that did not disturb the natural ecosystem.
Lauren Topor is a multimedia journalist and alumna of Arizona State University. Her professional work has appeared in notable publications, including HuffPost Arts & Culture. When she’s not writing you can find Lauren training for her next marathon or posting to her blog.