At Home...Naturally
Earth Day may have taken place last month, but when it comes to home improvement trends for 2015, the word NATURAL is happening all year round. As a culture we are moving towards more care for the earth and more responsible thinking and action in every area of life. Home d�cor and improvement projects are no exception.
Here are a few ways natural and ecologically responsible lifestyles are showing up in our homes:
PURIFY - With the focus on our health and its connection to our direct surroundings coming to the fore, making our homes toxin-free is a growing trend. Consumers are choosing more all-natural, biodegradable, ecologically sound cleaning supplies and personal care products, as well as installing air and water filtration systems to purify their surroundings. If you're planning a home improvement or redecorating project, research non-formaldehyde cabinets, mattresses, and sofas. Make sure lumber and other materials are not treated with harmful chemicals. When selecting carpets or area rugs, natural fibers with no toxins to off-gas into your home help keep your air clean. And don't forget houseplants! Peace lilies, ferns, and other green potted plants help purify your air while bringing life and color to your d�cor.
REDUCE - Homeowners are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment and are taking steps to reduce their footprints. When purchasing new appliances or installing new heating or cooling systems, more of us are making "energy efficient" choices to reduce the amount of energy needed to run them. Energy efficient windows and doors, now found everywhere, will also help reduce our energy impact. The happy side effect of all of this energy efficiency is saving dollars on utility bills.
REUSE - A growing trend in home improvement and home d�cor alike has to do with repurposing and reclaiming "used" articles and reimagining them for a new purpose. When we throw something "away," where does it go? Reusing keeps tons of still usable items out of our landfills. An old wooden door can be turned into a rustic dining table, an old ladder reimagined into a bookshelf or a pot rack...whether you're a DIYer or you're purchasing the many "new" repurposed items available in every catalogue, whatever you reuse reduces the amount of waste that winds up in landfills. Shop flea markets, craft fairs, and consignment stores for better buys and for the greater good of the environment.
RECYCLE - Recycling has been a global issue and a buzzword for decades, and now consumers are applying it to their home improvement projects, especially in the area of countertops. While they used to be Formica, plain and simple and not ecologically sound, the trend to and through granite and quartz has had an impact on the environment due to mining. Newer thinking has lead kitchen and bath countertops in a whole new direction: recycled glass, stainless steel made from recycled materials, recycled wood...even ceramic tile, which is biodegradable and can be made from recycled materials...all growing trends, all wins for the environment! These products have varying degrees of durability and levels of necessary maintenance, so do your due diligence and research to make sure your favorite selection is going to meet your needs.
There are many more ways to keep your environmental footprint low and enjoy the natural world in your home environment, from letting in natural light for a lower heating and electric bill to using the technology of smart phones to control your systems from afar and reduce your energy usage. However you choose to bring a more natural lifestyle to your home, you're contributing to the world community that's home to all of us.
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