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Bringing Natural Materials into Your Bedroom

July 30, 2020 0

Your bedroom ideally is a place of calm. It should be somewhere that you can relax and unwind after a long day. Or perhaps spend a few hours reading or meditating in the afternoon. While modern interiors have a lot to be desired, you might not want to purchase an entire room of mass-produced items. Perhaps you have the notion of bringing natural materials into your bedroom, and the rest of your home. Finding a balance between some of the amazing bedroom furniture for sale online, and natural touches is a slow and enjoyable project. 

The option to bring multiple items from nature into your home is something that many homeowners have enjoyed for years. In general, humans love blue ocean waters, jade green trees and forests, and even cold stones. And when placed well in a home, they can make it feel welcoming and safe. 

Here are a few ways that you can bring some natural eco elements into your home. 

Stone Walls

Many people like to have an exposed brick wall in their home, but you can take it a step further and have more of a natural finish using more natural stones. The texture and the coolness that it brings into space can be a nice change from having wallpapers or painted walls. 

You could opt for more modern brickwork, they have a slightly more industrial feel but can be painted to match the rest of your interior. 

Wooden Furniture

While you can buy beautiful wooden pieces from some of the more popular furniture stores, there are many designers that create beautiful wood pieces. Artisan crafted wooden furniture can give you one-off pieces of furniture that can be an eye-catching centerpiece. 

Wood can be finished in so many ways, from shabby chic, with a whitewashed sanded down appearance. Or slick dark mahogany that can give an edge to the bedroom. Many people opt for darker woods for bed bases and headboards, as they feel and look luxurious.

Amish furniture has long been beloved, due to its classic yet timeless appearance and natural elements that blend effortlessly into modern living environments. A visit to an Amish furniture store will provide unique pieces you will cherish for years; Amish craftspeople use traditional methods and tools in creating their pieces making each one truly one-of-a-kind pieces that become conversation pieces as you watch their fascinating process of furniture making unfold before your very eyes! 

Going Green

Some of us dream of having a room as green and lush as a greenhouse, others appreciate the little pops of green through the home. The bedroom is a great place to have plants. They bring color and have air cleaning properties too. Green as a color is great for productivity and relaxation too. 

For some people a modern look with a natural twist is really what they’re looking for. You can go for a range of beautiful sculpted plants like cactus or bonsai. Or plants that have three boxes plaited and grow to huge heights. If you want a softer theme, perhaps more romantic feel and flowering house plants like peace lilies, or kids, can look stunning. Of course, if you have animals, you might need to consider what kind of plant could be poisonous to them.

But in general, plants can make a room feel welcoming, luxurious, and improve your air quality, which will improve your sleep.

Underfoot

There is something quite luxurious about cold marble floors, but one of the most common floor features is laminate wood flooring. This can be easy to clean, which means your bedroom won’t take long to get back into proper order. But sometimes a rug makes a big difference too. Woven seagrass natural flooring or sisal is both beautiful and durable. They are great in the winter as an insulator, and comfortable to walk on with your bare feet.

Bring More of the Outdoors Inside

Even when you have plenty of plants in the room, being able to see more green and some blue skies is even better. Humans respond positively to both blue, which is why we love the ocean water so much; and green, which is why walking in the woods is so good for us.

If you are surrounded by grass, trees, and more natural scenes, then consider changing your window style. Giant windows not only let in more light, which will give you a nice boost, but it can blur the lines between inside and outside. 

If you have small windows, and the possibility to make them more substantial isn’t available, using your walls to decorate with grassy scenes, photos and artwork can make a huge difference. 

You can make your window more of a feature, think about dressing your window with more relaxing pale colors. And let the greenery outside do the talking. If you don’t have a great view, you can add potted plants along the windowsill, and perhaps even window boxes.

You can go one step further here by making sure that you plant either natural plants or herbs and flowers that will support nature’s pollinators. This is great for your local ecosystem and local wildlife.

Wood Cladding

If you don’t like the idea of the exposed brick wall or natural stone walls, then perhaps wood cladding would be ideal. It will turn the sleeping space into almost one of those beautiful wooded cabins that often so coveted during the summer months. The wood will give a natural smell to the room for quite some time, and you can paint it or decorate it in any way you like later on. Although simple exposed timber and simply letting all the natural grain show can be beautiful too. 

Faux 

Not everyone has the budget to buy everything, or will have wood panels and expose brickwork. But the quality of the faux options is very high nowadays. This means you can benefit from those beautiful green flowers without the price tag and the maintenance. They last forever; you’re not going to need to water them, and they still have the feeling of freshness. 

You can also do this with exposed brick walls in the form of wallpaper, and artwork instead of expanding windows.

Wood, again

There are so many new ways to use natural wood in your bedroom and home in general. Wooden flooring, wood cladding, and even beautiful beach wreck wood can make a bold statement. However, some people have found a lot of joy in creating branches as decorations. They won’t die, and they need no maintenance. 

You can hang them on the ceiling, use them in an unused fireplace, or create your own mini thicket. 

Of course, it will depend on how much room you have, and you should always clean and well before you turn them into artwork. They can even be used to frame photos.

Woven Baskets

Woven baskets in a similar material as your floor can help tie your bedroom together. Not only are they handy, but they can also be used as plant pot and storage, they look great and don’t require much maintenance and cleaning. If you tend to have a lot of bits and bobs around your bedroom, woven baskets can provide the quickest storage possible. Ratten, bamboo, and we can all look great and hard-wearing. Which makes them an excellent investment. 

Base

To let all of these natural materials shine through, it’s best to have a clean base. White, pale grey, mossy grey greens are all perfect for keeping your space cool and calm.

Reclaim and Reuse

There are more online tutorials than ever before for recycling, using reclaimed materials and upcycling. You can turn doors into tabletops, and even replace door handles. Finding some old French window shutter and attaching them in your bedroom can be a real talking point. 

This is just as much about being eco-friendly as it is about being green. Giving things a completely new purpose means that they don’t go into a landfill, and you don’t have to purchase flatpack or factory-made furniture. It also means that each and every single piece that you create is entirely unique to your home.

Natural Fabrics

Rugs, throws, and pillows are a great way to add some natural fibers and fabrics. Of course, the bedroom has always been a place of comfort, but you can take that to the next level. Soften your natural theme with a range of fake sheepskin, soft cottons, and even wools. You can often source wool and other natural materials from artisans, and they can often come with a guarantee that no animals were harmed in the making of them.

In the end, your bedroom is meant to be somewhere that makes you feel safe and calm. You can let go of the day that you’ve just had, and slowly recharge to relax and rest getting ready for the day ahead. Bedrooms should be luxurious and personal spaces. But they can also be a great starting point for creating a natural and eco-friendly feeling throughout your entire home. 

Getting experimental with natural materials like sackcloth, bamboo, and even adding cactuses can see a room become comfortable and almost glamorous, but without all the extra effort. And Pinterest is brimming with incredible ideas on how you can make your bedroom feel more natural and a range of ways to use organic materials in your bedroom decor.

4 Low Effort Ways to be More Eco-Friendly

July 30, 2020 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: This article wasn’t written by me. Thank you for supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.

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We all want to reduce our carbon footprint on the environment. We need to be resourceful in order to carefully steward this planet we call our home as science continually shows us that much of what we do on a daily basis has a direct and negative impact on the world.

Thankfully, we can all do seemingly small things consistently over time that will add up to do the most good. In this article, we will discuss four ways that you can easily be more eco-friendly:

Eat Meat Less Often
One does not need to become a vegan or live a stringently vegetarian lifestyle to make a difference, but making the choice to eat meat less often can have a significant global impact. It has been calculated that it takes more water to produce a pound of meat than it does to produce an equivalent amount of vegetables or grains. For example, producing a pound of Tofu requires 832 liters of water, while it takes between 6,800 and 9,400 liters to produce the same amount of meat. It also takes about 15 times the amount of fossil fuel to produce meat as it does vegetables or other foods.

All of this additional energy usage contributes to greenhouses gases that cause global warming and other deleterious effects on the planet. If everyone simply cut back on their meat consumption a little, it would have a tremendous impact overall.

Being Responsible with Your Waste
It’s understandably difficult for people to make the time to recycle the things that they no longer want or need. It takes a great deal of time and effort to collect and sort your items, as well as hauling them all the way to the recycling facility. It can be equally time consuming to load these items into your car for disposal in a landfill dumping area, not to mention the negative impact dumps can have on environment.

If you don’t have the time, do some research into alternative waste removal solutions. There are many companies out there who would be happy to pick up your recyclable waste, such as this London based rubbish removal company. They may cost a little more, but it would have a very positive impact on the environment.

Plant Some Trees
If you want to do something that will last for future generations, the best way is to plant a tree. Not only are they beautiful, but they provide our planet with necessary oxygen and are a habitat for the many creatures that depend on them for food and shelter.

In addition, you can save on your cooling bills by strategically planting trees to block against the wind while also using them to provide shade for your house. By doing so, you will require less planetary resources and fossil fuels to cool your home, making your carbon footprint that much smaller.

Change the Way You Travel
Changing your mode of transportation is one of those ways you can make a huge difference, as it is something that you do every day. The effects will be cumulative and will, hopefully, over time, become a habit.

If you drive a car, you can take the bus or subway if there is one in your area. If you do need to drive your car, try to figure out the most direct route you can take. Riding a bicycle is great for your health and for the planet, and when and if you are able, you can try walking to work!

If you want to reduce your impact on the environment, try implementing some of these methods and habits. We all have to do our part, and together, we can help preserve this planet and save our environment for all of our children.

3 Ways To Green Your Personal Care Items

July 30, 2020 2
Earlier in the week, I shared with you, ingredients to avoid when purchasing personal care products. There are also many things you can do to green your personal care regimen. Green Chic touches on many areas, I want to share my favorites with you. I thought these were the simpler things that you can do and the reasons why you should.

1.  Green your Toothbrush + Floss 

50 million pounds of toothbrushes are thrown away annually. Minimize your impact by using a toothbrush that’s not made from virgin plastic. Choose either a toothbrush that is made from 100% recycled #5 plastic-like Recycline’s Preserve Toothbrush or throw less away by using a toothbrush that has a permanent handle and replaceable head, like Eco-Dent. Also, try to choose floss that comes in a recyclable package or compostable flossers. (Which are my son’s favorite, fun to use, and even more fun to put in our composter.)

2. Green your Razor

2 billion, yes that’s billion, disposable razors are thrown away annually. Choose a razor with a reusable handle and changeable heads and if possible choose one with a recyclable handle like Preserve’s Triple Razor. It’s package doubles as a reusable travel case and can be returned for recycling using their postage-paid label.
 
3. Green your Tampons

Typical tampons are made from non-organic cotton and rayon, which is derived from wood pulp in an energy-intensive process that wastes about 2/3 of the wood’s material. The tampons are then bleached with chlorine that releases dioxins. (This is not healthy for us or the environment.) Not to mention many have plastic applicators that are not recyclable. There are companies making organic cotton tampons with recyclable applicators like Natracare or an applicator free product like Seventh Generation. If you are adventurous, you can try reusable products or a Diva Cup.
 
What other ways do you green your personal care products?
 

How to Make Natural Organic Kid’s Glue

July 30, 2020 2
This is a great natural and non-toxic glue that is perfect for your children’s art projects. It works well and there is no need to worry if they decide to try a taste or two. Read on to get started:

Ingredients:
1 cup of organic flour
1/3 cup organic sugar
1 1/2 cup water
1 tsp. organic vinegar
Natural colorants

Directions:
Warm all ingredients together over a warm stovetop until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool. It will keep for weeks in an air type container in your refrigerator.

Your Quick Guide to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycling at Home

July 29, 2020 0

If you want to start to live in a more sustainable way, then it starts at home. There are plenty of things that you can do, right from the comfort of your own home, in an effort to live sustainably. The main focus of this kind of living is three points; reduce, reuse, and recycle. You are likely to have heard all about those three things before, but what do they really mean? Here are some ideas for you, to show how you can reduce, reuse, and recycle at home.

Reduce

Reducing is all about using less and cutting down on the things that we use in the home, as well as the waste that we create. It can be about your energy levels too and how much energy you consume in the home. If you want to reduce how much waste you create, then it can start off with where you shop for groceries, for example. Look at how much waste plastic packaging there is, as well as deals and offers that are on. Do you really need certain items? If there is a buy-one-get-one-free deal, would you actually make use of the other item or would it end up being wasted? Of course, it could be given to someone else, but still, if it isn’t something that is a necessity, then is there a point taking up the deal if it will just end in unnecessary waste? 

If you want to reduce how much energy you use, then there are a number of ways that you can do just that. Your laundry is one of the main places to start. If you normally run a hot wash, then put your clothes on a cold wash instead. This can save a pretty significant amount of energy, believe it or not, as you don’t need to use up a lot of energy to heat up the water for the machine. The same goes for using the dryer too. Could you hang clothes out to dry outside instead? 

Reuse

Reusing things in our home can be one way to reduce, as well as recycle. We won’t need to buy more if we are reusing what we already have. One thing that is growing in popularity is water reuse. It is something that is easy to do, and yet it can make a massive difference. Bath water, waste water leftover in the sink, or collecting the water that you use from showing can all be used for things like plants, watering the lawn, and flushing the toilet. Collecting rainwater is another thing that you could do. 

No doubt there are a lot of things that you will throw away in your home. But how about looking at ways to reuse them, rather than just throwing them out? Could you keep old milk bottles or laundry liquid bottles and use them for other things? You should also think about the furniture that you have in your home too. So many bulky items end up in landfill when really, they are in  fine condition and could be used again. Take a table and chairs, for example. With the right kind of tools, you could be able to reupholster the chairs, or the table could be sanded down or repainted for a new purpose. The wood from the table could be made into shelving perhaps too. Just make sure that you have the right power tools for the job, as you can see here, and then you’ll be able to make something great. Reusing, and making a habit out of it, is something that can benefit everyone. 

Recycle

There are so many things that we can recycle. However, there are some materials that will require a little extra effort on our part, in order to get them to be recycled. Collect them up, find out where they can be recycled, and then you can go from there. Just because they can’t be recycled with your trash collection, doesn’t mean that it can’t be recycled at all. You can get a little creative with recycling too. There are so many things that you can make with waste boxes, packets, and bottles, and things like ripped clothes could become cleaning rags. 

When you live in a more sustainable way, it is great for everyone. You don’t need to spend a lot in order to live in this way. It is all about switching your mindset and thinking about the things that you can do that will make a difference. 

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