Eco Decorating | pg.3

Painting is surely one of the easiest and most budget-friendly decorating tricks to brighten up your home. And if you use paint that’s safe for both for you and the environment, you can’t go wrong (except, of course, when the color looked so different on your wall than it did in the store … ).

Carbon-neutral consumption at its best!

Wood is a renewable resource, especially when it comes from responsibly managed forests. And there’s another way to help the planet when purchasing wood furniture — one that can also help your budget: buying used!

If you think about it, flea markets are green markets, and I can’t help but get that pat-myself-on-the-back feeling of satisfaction when I give a piece of furniture a second chance at life.

Most of the outdoor furniture you’ll see at your local big box stores is plastic or metal, but there is a wide array of outdoor furniture made with natural fibers or other eco-friendly materials. Here’s a guide to five types of materials to look for in eco-friendly patio or deck furniture:

I was surprised when some friends of mine recently installed cork floors in their bathrooms. I’d heard that chefs love cork floors for their kitchens because it is 50 percent air and very buoyant. It is also incredibly durable, as is noted in the New York Public Library, where the 50-year-old floors are as good as new despite heavy traffic. But bathrooms?

It was 80 degrees last weekend (don’t shoot the messenger; it’s one of the perks of living in the South) and I spent some time relaxing on the patio. Cold glass of water in hand, I surveyed my surroundings: worn furniture and barren pots as far as the eye could see. Time for a patio makeover … and since I wrote a book about making green choices all year long I have no real excuses not to do it green. I’ve learned a lot about how to choose products that are green yet also practical and affordable.

Mardi Gras is this week — and its colorful mix of cultures brimming with delicious spices is fantastic inspiration for home design. Bold use of COLOR is the new trend in all the design magazines; I think it reflects the times — a bold new world and mold-breaking new administration.

Many people give me a guilty look when they tell me they have wall-to-wall carpet in their homes. I always feel badly that they are embarassed, especially because there is so much misinformation about how toxic carpets are and why — and because I know that carpeting can be a lot cheaper than other types of flooring. I myself would have enjoyed wall-to-wall carpet in a few rooms when my daughter was younger, as I think that soft surface would have been cozy for her.

Talk about sexy … eco comes in amazing color guaranteed to fan the fire. I love this organic cotton “Lucia” bedding ensemble from Gaiam

The bedroom is a place where we are embraced and held dearly, and where we get to be totally uninhibited. Yet all too often I see this room as one of the most neglected. Because it is our own private space, out of public view, it often tends to be the ‘catch all’ for projects, laundry and junk.

I have been accused of putting the mental in environmental. I truly believe the most successful spaces always get the details right: proper use of varied lighting, complexity of texture, subtle art, and the many other nuances that transform a space to make it exceptional. Taking it one step further (hence the mental reference), I also delve into the ordinary elements that make up one’s home. It’s all great and good if it’s an ‘environmentally friendly room’, assembled with eco paint, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) furniture, pure vegetable dyed rugs, etc, but try to dig a little deeper to appreciate the impact of the ordinary items we use everyday but don’t usually think about. Stuff such as healthy cleaning supplies, non-petroleum based candles and cosmetics, recycled paper goods. Even nail polish!

We all now have an opportunity (like it or not) to streamline our lives and derive greater joy from the things we already own. These green decorating ideas and resources will help you liven up a room for holiday guests

or create a fresh new look once the holidays are over — all in ways that are kind to the planet.