Having a home that’s eco-friendly doesn’t have to start with the construction phase. You can create a “green” environment in your home that includes a touch of elegance, while keeping the environment healthy. Green home styling focuses on improving and maintaining the health of you and your family. It also focuses on decorating while concentrating on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The benefits of going green with your home styling are twofold. First and foremost, it’s better for you, your family and the environment. Secondly, going green always saves you money over your home’s lifetime. Here are some of the basic financial benefits of having a green home.
- Air sealing and proper insulation help to keep the costs of cooling and heating your home lower.
- Other ways to keep these costs down are having energy-efficient lighting, appliances and windows because they use less electricity to operate.
- Green home appliances, paint and other materials have health benefits. The materials are toxin-free, which decreases the chances of mildew and mold.
- Going truly green means having alternative energy sources for your home. This helps to reduce the amount of conventional sources of energy you use everyday.
- Green materials use less natural resources than non-green materials. Many of them are manufactured with the green principle of “resource conservation” using recycled contents.
Green Home Styling
Here are a few ways that you can use environment-friendly concepts to decorate your home without compromising style and comfort.
Energy Efficient Appliances and Lighting
Many people have a deep desire to go green in order to save money. Electronic appliance manufacturers understand this need. That’s why they’ve found innovative ways to incorporate green technologies into the way they build their products. Energy-efficient lighting like LED lights regulate your personal carbon footprint. They also provide a good source of bright light, and LED light bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs. Green lighting in your office and home doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many designs and styles to choose from, that you can always find the right lighting to fit your décor. Some green appliances and electronics include energy-efficient washing machines, ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners and LED TVs. They not only cut your electricity costs, they also come in sleek, modern designs.
Energy Efficient Windows
The home improvement market is currently flooded with specially engineered green windows. They are built with two-layered glass that includes a section of insulating gases like krypton or argon in between them. Energy-efficient windows stop harmful UV rays from entering into your home. This is not only helpful to you and your family, it stops your furniture from fading. This also helps to keep your home cooler naturally. Only the rays of light enter the home, which are naturally transformed into heat inside the home. These special windows keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing the need for excessively running your air conditioner and heater.
Organic Materials
Do you know that plastic is harmful to the environment? Many people use colorful, plastic containers in their see-through kitchen cabinets as a way of decorating their kitchens. But, there are organic alternatives to this technique. Try opting for decorative ceramics or china. It may be a bit costly at first. But, they’re a good investment. They keep their value longer, and don’t leave a carbon footprint as large as plastic. To cut down on the initial costs, just add a few pieces at a time.
Using Plants for Interior Décor
Potted plants have a way of adding personality to your home, both indoors and outdoors. Plants produce oxygen, making the air in your home healthier to breathe. They also add beauty to your home style with the plant colors, as well as the pots themselves. Beautiful flowers blooming in corners of various rooms, by windows or on your porch make your home feel cozy.
Green Gardening
Water is one of the most precious resources on earth. Your garden needs water to survive. The greenest way to water your garden is with natural rain water. But, this isn’t always available, as many areas don’t get the amount of rain needed to keep your garden green and blooming with beautiful colors. Another green method for garden watering is an automatic sprinkler system. By setting the timer properly, you ensure that your garden gets watered when and where it needs it. This is one of the most efficient ways to conserve water when watering your garden.
Written by: Princess Galsim, home improvement and mommy blogger from Blabbering of a Kikay Mama
Photo: Wooden door and ivy around a tree from Shutterstock
