A central feature of any home is its furnishings, those decorative touches that let the true personality of a dwelling and its owners shine through. But some furniture choices are better than others when it comes to safeguarding our families from common environmental pitfalls. Here are our suggestions for decorating your home in sustainable style:
Choose furniture that contains as much solid wood as possible. Composite woods like plywood and particleboard are made from glues that contain formaldehyde, which is slowly emitted in vapor form as its host materials age.
Look for wood that’s certified by organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to come from sustainably-harvested, well-managed forests.
Look for finishes and laminates that are free of volatile organic compounds; they won’t release hazardous fumes when new.
For sofas and chairs, choose natural stuffings like cotton batting over synthetic foams. Most foams are treated with brominated flame retardants, which enter a home’s environment as the foam breaks down over time.
If natural fiber batting is not an available or affordable option, look for foam products that are free of brominated flame retardants and phthalates. IKEA is one company that has phased out these hazardous materials from its products.
Choose natural fiber upholstery when possible.
Don’t buy furniture that’s been treated for stain resistance. These treatments use unhealthy chemicals that can pollute your home’s environment. If they’re offered as an option, refuse them.
Consider sustainable alternative materials for your furnishings like bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recycled metal or plastic.
Consider reupholstering and restoring your existing furniture instead of replacing it.
Another option is to choose antique furniture, which requires no new resources to make.
One organization that certifies furniture for environmental safety is Greenguard. For more information about their programs and certified products visit www.greenguard.org/.
Print
Email
Share This
del.icio.us
digg
reddit
facebook
newsvine
