For those who seek to make a positive impact on the environment, there are things you can do in addition to composting and recycling. It's possible to decorate your home in a green way - without using the color green. Here are some decor ideas for the environmentally friendly.
Conserve energy
You can cut back on the environmental damage that the energy used for heating and AC can cause by better insulating your home. Using cellular shades in the summer keeps the sun from heating up the room, and installing additional film over windows helps cut back on draftiness in the winter. Taking these measures will reduce the need for air conditioning and heating which, in addition to saving you money, will help to shrink your carbon footprint.
Upcycle
Rather than buying a new vase, why not use a nice looking glass bottle? Reusing recyclables or items around the house instead of buying them is referred to as "upcycling," and is an environmentally friendly way to decorate. Giving old products more value instead of throwing them away reduces the need to use new materials. Next time you go to buy a new product, ask yourself if there's something around the house you can use instead.
Have houseplants
What's more green than houseplants? In addition to being visually appealing, having foliage indoors can improve air quality. NASA has discovered that they can use common plants to keep space stations breathable for humans, According to the University of Minnesota. Through photosynthesis, plants remove toxic gases from the air, like carbon dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde. If it's good enough for space, think about what it could do for your home.
Use renewable resources
Bamboo is a grass product and grows much more quickly than a tree. Using bamboo for floors, furniture or of course window shades is a terrific way to make your house feel more environmentally friendly, while also using your wallet to encourage bamboo production.
Image: Blackout cellular shades are a great insulator and keep your room warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
