If you are among the consumers who are actively “going green” these days,
you are making various lifestyle choices that contribute to minimizing your
environmental footprint. You’re probably using cloth bags when you grocery-shop,
and you almost certainly are wheeling the recycling cart out to the curb on a
weekly basis. But what about when you decorate your home? The products you
choose and the way you dispose of those products can contribute to your ability
to “go green.” Here are five suggestions:
Use low- or no-VOC paints. VOC
stands for “Volatile Organic Compounds,” and it’s best for the environment to
use paints and other products that have little or no VOC content. Read more here.
Reduce wasted paint. Did you know that
approximately10 percent of all the paint purchased in the U.S. is left over? You
can do your share to reduce this percentage by buying only what you need,
finding ways to use up whatever is left in the can and ultimately disposing of
any paint that is unused responsibly. Click here for more information.
Look for products that use
recycled materials and are recyclable themselves. There are plenty of decorating
products—paintbrushes, roller covers, drop cloths and more—that fit into this
category. More on that topic here.
Use products with safer
ingredients. If you are cleaning your deck, stripping an old coffee table before
refinishing, or attempting to remove mold and mildew from the crevices in your
bathroom, there are product options that are both safe and effective. Read about them here.
Look for environmentally friendly
wallpaper and window coverings. Wallpaper and the products used to hang them are
becoming increasingly eco-friendly. There are window shades on the market that
are built to stop the energy leaks that may be occurring at your windows. Click to find out more.
For more ideas on “going green” in
all aspects of your life, visit the St. Louis Green Living Examiner.
vir: http://www.examiner.com/x-18979-St-Louis-Interior-Decorating-Examiner~y2009m8d15-Five-tips-for-going-green-when-you-decorate
