Green Design Tips

One of the big trends today is being green. The message out there is that each of us can do our part to save the planet for future generations. That’s a big weight on our shoulders, isn’t it? If you don’t recycle YOU WILL RUIN ANY CHANCE OF YOUR CHILDREN LIVING HAPPY LIVES! Well, actually it’s not really hard to do our parts. There are tons of little things that we can do to help the environment. Since this is an interior design post, I am going to give you some tips on decorating green.
One of the most basic changes that people make to their homes when decorating is choosing materials that are low in hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). When choosing your paint, opt for low VOC paint. VOC’s give off gas into our indoor air through paint, furniture, fabrics, carpeting… The VOC’s negatively affect our indoor air quality. Benjamin Moore makes a beautiful paint product called NATURA. By selecting a low VOC paint you can reduce the off-gas in your environment. That was easy!
The same goes for your carpeting. Rather than replace your worn carpeting with new, consider installing responsibly harvested bamboo flooring. It’s beautiful and long wearing.
Another way to “be green” is to re-use or re-purpose furniture. Anything that is vintage or antique is green. Try shopping at flea markets or antique shops for your next furniture purchase. Even look online. 1st Dibs is an amazing resource for interior designers in the know.