As the years pass, more and more families are becoming more conscience of their surroundings and what their bodies come in contact with – and not just with food. While going green has become a trend (and not a bad trend to follow, if you ask me), it’s also easy, better for the environment and, in some cases, better on your wallet.
Indoor paint
We’ve been moving rooms around, creating a nursery for our newest family member and sprucing up our living space over the past few months. Whenever we paint a room, we only use a No VOC paint to avoid harmful toxins that are said to linger over the years. Yes, with a tinted paint, there will always be some traces of VOC, but we have found the smells to be minimal and even livable as soon as that same evening.
Flooring
There are many options when it comes to eco-friendly flooring. Sustainable wood, eco-conscience carpeting, green laminate… I’ve even seen painted concrete with eco-friendly area rugs as an option and a way to utilize the home’s existing materials. Mohawk’s very own EverStrand carpeting uses P.E.T plastic beverage bottles for a higher-grade, gorgeous and eco-friendly option for flooring and the SmartStrand area rugs provide your spaces with an eco-friendly rug option made from renewable corn resources.
Lighting & Electricity
Replace the light bulbs in your home with energy-efficient LED bulbs that not only conserve electricity – and cut down your monthly electric bill – but also eliminate the bulbs containing mercury.
Getting in the habit of turning off lights, unplugging unused appliances and educating your family about conservation also contributes to a greener home.
Reuse and Recycle
If you can’t or prefer not to buy new, eco-friendly furniture and accessories, reclaiming, redoing or reusing old furniture helps cut down on waste and actually decreases your footprint. So next time you find a wooden side table or coffee table at a garage sale, second-hand store or antique shop, stop to think about how you can reuse or redo the piece to fit your lifestyle. Besides, who doesn’t love a fun DIY project?
Written by:
Christina Holt, Writer/Teacher- Mommy Loves Coffee
