When it comes to making your bedroom more eco-friendly, many of the changes you make will be beneficial to your health and living space as well as the environment. Some of these suggestions will take more work than others and they can be implemented piece by piece to suit your needs and budget. This post is sponsored by Amerisleep, an eco-friendly mattress company.
5 Tips To Make Your Bedroom More Eco-Friendly:
1. Energy Star Lighting
Make sure that you are using Energy Star approved lighting. Switching from traditional lighting to Energy Star certified lighting offers energy savings of 75% or more! Energy Star certified CFL and LED bulbs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes for any application— including recessed cans, track lighting, table lamps, ceiling fixtures, accent lighting and more. You can even find Energy Star certified bulbs that can be dimmed. You can choose the light color that the bulb gives off by selecting on the Kelvin scale (K). Lower K (like 2700) means warmer, yellowish light, while higher K (like 5600) means cooler, bluer light. For tips on choosing which types of bulbs are best for your space, visit energystar.gov
2. Paint
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way to freshen up and change the look of a room. However, if you need to paint, choose a zero VOC paint to ensure that you are not releasing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into your bedroom air. It is important to consider that many labels on paints don’t account for the VOCs in colourants added at the store, which can boost VOCs considerably. Check with the paint store to see if they have no- or low-VOC colourants. Also make sure to dispose of excess paint in a safe way. Consider donating it to a local school if you have enough for a mural project. If there is just a bit of pain left in the can, you can remove the lid and allow it to dry for safer disposal.
3. Mattresses
Mattresses can be another hidden source of chemical emissions. It is important to choose eco-friendly mattresses made without:
- prohibited phthalates
- ozone depleters
- PBDEs
- mercury, lead and heavy metals
- formaldehyde
- And made with Non-Toxic Fire Retardant (FR) barriers
Amerisleep offers mattresses made in the USA and they are made without the aforementioned list of things to avoid. Amerisleep plant-based Bio-Pur™ memory foam provides a more eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based foams. Bio-Pur utilizes plant-derived oils and extracts to replace the majority of petro-products as well as environmentally-conscious manufacturing processes. The Columbus Bed™ offers a 2″ Bio-Pur™ memory foam and a 6″ Bio-Core™ support layer. The Americana Bed offers a plush comfort layer while minimizing pressure points that relieve discomfort with a 3″ Bio-Pur™ memory foam and 7″ Bio-Core™ support layer. Both options are SFC (Sustainable Furnishings Council) Approved and made in the USA.
4. Furniture
Lots of options exist for eco-friendly furniture choices- from antiques, to thrift store shopping, to quality crafted pieces that use wood from sustainable forests. You can also find a full range of furniture built from bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and other environmentally safe materials. Be sure to buy furniture that is durable and it is another added green benefit if it is locally made. If you need help locating eco-friendly furnishing manufacturers, you can use this website sustainablefurnishings.org
5. Flooring
When it comes to eco-friendly flooring, there are many routes. The most common flooring choices are hardwood or carpet for bedrooms. If you need to replace your flooring, I suggest considering that some carpets will outgas. Ask retailers for information to select lower emitting carpet, cushion, and adhesives. Eco-friendly rugs that are made with more natural fibers such as wool or jute are one option. Another option is recycled fiber carpets that can keep up to forty plastic containers out of our landfills per square yard. When selecting hardwoods, look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified woods or check out bamboo flooring.
Consider organic drapes and linens to finish off your new eco-friendly bedroom. I hope these tips help you to make your bedroom more eco-friendly and a more enjoyable space.
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Eco-Friendly Paint and Safe Painting Tips
Such great tips! I’m always looking for some green cleaning ideas and tips.