Green is your style

By Melinda Toussaint

Spring is a time for change, both internal and external. Spring is the time that a lot of people want to change the look of their home or just a specific room. Below is a list of 10 categories of design that can be taken to a green level. These are just a few examples for you to build from.

1. Bedding and Bath- there are many companies that provide organic linens. Two of them are Natura. Natura provides pillows, bedding, and mattresses that are filled with wool and covered with organic fabrics. They aim to provide better sleep and organic fabrics help because they more pure. People with allergies or sensitivities tend to benefit from organic fabrics because they are more pure.

Also, bamboo products are beneficial as well. Bamboo is a sustainable and eco-friendly product that is anti-bacterial and deodorizing. The fiber structure is also four times more absorbent than cotton. These qualities are great for buying towels, shower curtains, bedding, and bathrobes.
Visit www.naturaworld.com and www.bambooandorganiclinens.com

2. Fabrics: Mod Green Pod is a great alternative to fabric. They produce 100% percent organic canvas. The fabric is grown, woven, and printed in the U.S. and uses non-toxic pigments. Visit www.modgreenpod.com to order or just get an idea of what organic fabrics offer.

3. Lighting: One designer that provides an inspirational, creative alternative to lighting is Jerry Kott. He hand makes lighting out of recycled wine bottles. Color Block Hanging Lights by Jerry Kott uses recycled wine bottles that are cut and reassembled to produce lighting art. Visit www.jerrykott.com to discover them.

4. Rugs: There are many options to green flooring. Angela Adams provides wool rugs at an affordable price or go to FLOR for carpet tiles that allows you to decide color, pattern, and size. With carpet tiles from FLOR you can pick up one tile to deep clean or dispose of. Also, when the tiles have reached the end of the life cycle return them to FLOR to reuse or recycle them properly. Visit www.angelaadams.com and www.flor.com for more ideas.

5. Furniture: Around this time outdoor furniture at an affordable price is what everybody wants. World Market provides that with their Kona Collection made from plantation-grown, fast-growing Acacia wood. The collection includes a dining table, dining chairs, side chairs, a coffee table, a side table, a lounger, an occasional chair, and even barstools. All of the pieces are sold individually for you to mix and max your perfect look. Visit www.worldmarket.com for pricing and pictures.

6. Candles: BsaB Candles provide the perfect green alternative for smell. They are made from 100% natural beeswax or soy wax with 100% cotton wicks. Their beeswax bamboo pillars are refillable with their soy wax refillable kits. They are also packaged with plant materials and made with fragrances from essential oils. Check out www.BsaBcandles.com for more.

7. Art: Art is a tricking situation but the following two designers create some great looks. Alexander Girard makes ply prints out of hand-screened prints made in the U.S. from sustainable harvested plywood. He reduces waste by using wood that could not be sold due to imperfections in the wood.
Dolan Geiman also used green solutions by making eclectic art from salvaged wood and found objects. He puts them together and uses recycled paint from Chicago Paint Exchanged Program. Check out www.maximodesign.com for Alexander Girard’s designs as well as www.dolangeiman.com for his.

With all of these designers and tips is gives you the opportunity to think outside the box for green home décor ideas. All of these ideas are inspirational to bring green into your home no matter what room you trying to redesign for Spring. Visit www.greenhomedecor.com for tips on every area of design like storage, windows, pillows, and more. Remember how to make every facet of your design more eco-friendly. Reuse, recycle, rethink, and reupholster everything you already own to reduce your consumption on new items to redesign your home with.