Teach Talk: Green Interiors

Our homes have now become everything for us! That means that we have been a lot harder on them now than we were before, pre-pandemic. But we have also learned a lot more about our homes because we are spending so much more time in them lately.

I have worked from home for years, so I have made sure that my home serves me well. As a result, I have a slightly different perspective, and I’ve learned many different things over the years.

My goal is to share what I have learned with you through my Facebook group, Love Your Everyday Green Home, through teachings from my book, Living Green Effortlessly, and also through the people I meet.

2020 was the year of the grand experiment for many of us! Now that we know that we are free to experiment, we can become more intentional with whatever we decide to do in our homes. You don’t have to do it all. Just pick a few of the things I suggest, and go try them out.

Today, I will focus on the interior of our homes. It is important to have a comfortable home with beautiful spaces that serve your health and wellness. Your home should provide you with the kind of spaces that you want to be in.

Our pre-loved sofa

We recently bought a second-hand recliner sofa. Although we knew it was unlikely to be our forever sofa, we needed a space to be comfortable together. Our pre-loved recliner sofa was a perfect fit for us!

Using pre-loved, or second-hand furniture

Using pre-loved furniture makes it very easy to make short-term, intentional decisions for a specific need. When something we bought second-hand is no longer useful to us, we can put it back into the marketplace for pre-loved furniture and pass it on to someone else.

Off-gassing and older furniture

One of the advantages of buying older furniture is that it has had time to off-gas any chemicals or toxins that could be in the fabrics or the wood.

New furnishings

With new furnishings, you want to do some research to look out for what you are buying. There is a group called Sustainable Furnishings Council. It has a list of companies that adhere to a set of practices in the manufacture of furniture to ensure they meet the sustainability levels.

Things to watch out for

You need to watch out for the materials used in furnishings, rugs, soft goods, and window treatments for their potential to off-gas. It is always best to use natural products whenever possible.

A list of go-to’s

Having a list of go-to’s for what works well in your home will be helpful for you. Look for products that are sustainable, renewable, or more chemically responsible whenever possible.

Paint

Choose safer paint, preferably with no or low VOCs.

Wallpaper

When choosing wallpaper, you need to consider what is in it and ensure that you select a safe and healthy option for the people living in your home.

Floor coverings

You need to select carpets and flooring products that are safe and healthy for the people living in your home. Carpets and long-shag rugs tend to be dust-traps, so they are not the best option for people with allergies. Try to choose materials and products made from either renewable materials or recycled content. Choose materials that can eventually get recycled to keep them out of the landfills.

Ceilings and walls

Ceilings are usually covered with paint. Ceilings and walls influence the way that the light plays in your home. Light is an important part of health and wellness. Consider that when choosing a color for the walls and ceilings in your home. Light-colored ceilings and walls help to magnify the light.

Heat

Having dark-colored floors and walls is great for holding the heat in your home during the colder months.

Cabinetry

Pay attention to your cabinetry. Formaldehyde is a chemical that you want to steer clear of. It is still in some products, especially those made from pressed wood.

Bathrooms and kitchens

As you fine-tune, remodel, or rebuild your kitchen and bathroom, you need to be specific and intentional about the choices you make. Your choice of tiles, walls, and flooring needs to support your health and your comfort.

Plumbing fixtures

Choose plumbing fixtures that will require little maintenance, last a long time, and optimize the use of the water coming into your home most effectively. Pay attention to the toilet. You might want to upgrade an older toilet to a new one that flushes better and saves you lots of water.

Moisture

You want to keep your kitchen and bathrooms dry. Make sure that nothing you choose for your kitchen and bathrooms mitigates moisture.

Soft surfaces

You want your soft surfaces to be as comfortable and cozy as possible. Use great fabrics that will be safe and healthy to have in your home.

Green Labels

Green labels will help you make better choices for the things you use in your home.

Referral Links:

My website Green Home Coach

Book: Living Green Effortlessly

Facebook Group: Love Your Everyday Green Home

Curated collection for you

What Goes IN Your Home: What To Think About, What to Look For, What to Choose

The Stuff our Homes Are Made of – Resources and Materials

A Place to Dream, Design, and Discover with Sheridan Foster of Elemental Green

Green Interiors

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