Green Home Decorating

Times are changing and these days we are compelled to rethink the things we buy. No longer are items made of wood or synthetic materials considered to be the status-quo as before. Now, it is all about protecting the environment and using reusable materials wherever we can. Let's take a closer look at the eco-friendly home, also known as the "Green" home.

A good way to start off is to look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or any other appropriate environmentally safe mark on furniture you intend to buy. Buying an item with this mark means that the materials used to make this product have either been recycled or "upcycled." Upcycled refers to products made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded during the manufacturing process. Ideas here include lampshades made from recycled paper, chairs made from left-over cork or wood, containers made from rubber that were used during the manufacturing of shoes.

It sure isn't easy to hoard environment-friendly products when majority of what we see are goods made from high quality mahogany, molave and narra timber. If we would place these alongside the recycled and upcycled furnishings, surely, the new stuff will kick the used ones out into space. So how do you overcome this?

Think about an antique shop for a moment. We know that antiques are highly coveted stuff. They say so many stories and impress so much strength acquired through the years. Owning one is like being privy to history or someone else's past. And most of the time, antiques look classically appealing that owning one is like showing off a battle mark. Consider this and remind yourself that the brand new oak-made chair may look tempting, but another tree has been cut down to make that chair. The moment you buy a re-used product, you open another slot for another of that recycled material to be sold, thus saving another tree from being logged down, plus you're adding a demand for recycled goods. Small things do make a world of difference. That single tree spared from being made into a chair can help save lives from flooding or can serve as shelter and food source for animals. It also supplies us with clean air to breathe.

Perhaps you're now squirming in your seat, stricken with guilt yet still hesitant to buy this "green home" idea. You do want to make a difference don't you? However, you're thinking that not all FSC marked products go well with your home decors or furniture, and that you would rather scout the bigger market of brand new stuff. So what do you do?

There really is no need to panic because there are decorating items that can help you balance out and improve your home's look even with some out-of-place goodies placed in the corners. One of the best is transitional rugs. Transition is the definitive word - these rugs can change, alter, modify, shift or convert the way your home looks. They have elements of some or entirely all of what your decors have. In other words, you can mix and match items with a transitional rug to boost the look and you can easily blend transitional rugs with other things in your home by their designs, colors, patterns, and shapes.

You can do more for the environment by purchasing transitional rugs made of wool. Getting wool from a sheep doesn't mean slaughtering the poor animal, so if you're an animal-lover, you have no reason to ban wool altogether. Think of it as the sheep getting a buzz cut and hair will grow back in no time and fortunately, the environment is not put at risk. Picking out the right rugs will blend all the pieces together, old and new, for a great interior look.

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