Unique Eco Friendly Furniture Blog

Bathroom remodeling appears to be one of the most well liked home remodeling projects today. Remodel projects can go from total demolition and remodel all the way to changing out a few decorative items. No matter what you choose to do, it does not have to be a difficult or expensive process. What's really exciting about remodeling today is that you have a number of eco friendly furniture and home decor remodeling options. 

Once you have determined the budget for your project, move on to measuring the space. Keep those measurements with you while you shop. For eco friendly decorative items, like bathroom vanities, you will want to do your shopping online. That is where you will find the largest selection of eco furniture. You'll also find good retailers that are willing to help you to ensure that you are finding top quality eco products.  

Once your new floor plan, concept, and needed tools and equipment are established you may begin the actual remodeling process. Make sure you review all of your design concepts with your contractor, if you're hiring one, prior to starting the remodeling project to ascertain everything will be accomplished the way you want it.  

People utilize and waste more water in the bathroom than any other area in the home. Throw in all that water utilization with shampoos and soaps and the power employed to heat the water, and your bathroom could be causing a lot of harm to the environment. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be the case. 

To be more eco-friendly when working on a bathroom remodeling project, use energy-efficient light bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are 90 percent more efficient compared to incandescent lighting. The most ideal lighting for a bathroom is lighting that is bright enough to perform your daily bathroom tasks such as applying makeup or shaving without any trouble, but gentle enough to look pleasant while you do it. Select bright white power-saving bulbs, and emulsify the light by placing them behind frosted glass or situating them at eye level on either side of the mirror. 

Another thing you can do to be more eco-friendly is to have dual-flush toilets. The majority of toilets sold today utilize around 7 or 8 liters of water per flush. Older toilets utilize 10 to 12 liters. Similarly, employ a low-flow showerhead or air shower. A regular showerhead dispenses 25 liters of water per minute. On the other hand, a low-flow showerhead dispenses just 6 to 15. Replacing old fixtures, such as leaky faucets can help too. 

Bathroom decor need not be expensive or damaging to the environment. Try recycled materials like reclaimed glass tiles. Glass is entirely water-resistant, making it an ideal option for bathroom flooring, walls and countertops. This is just a sampling of the many ways that you can make over your home to be more eco friendly.

Keep in mind that small steps are the best way to transition into a greener lifestyle without getting overwhelmed or becoming unmotivated. Take your time and you will soon begin to enjoy a life that has numerous personal and Earth friendly advantages. 

1. Know The Basics 

It helps to know the basics of becoming more eco friendly. Familiarize yourself with the most common ways to conserve. When you are ready to purchase a new car, consider a fuel-efficient one. Recycle, whether it's curbside or if you take your recyclables to a local recycling center. Get to know more about global climate changes, save energy and water at home, and stopping junk mail. You could also start consuming chemical, hormone, and pesticide free foods and support businesses that encourage environmentally sound practices. 

2. Cut the Lights 

When it comes to conserving energy, you don't have to use candlelight at night or anything like that. But one of the simplest things you can do each day is to turn off the lights whenever you don't need them, such as when leaving the room. 

3. Conserve Energy and Electricity 

Some simple steps here, some you may already even do, lower the thermostat in the winter by just a few of degrees than usual and raise it in the summer by a few degrees than usual. And turn down the heat during the night and when you will be away from home for several hours. Most likely, you won't even notice the changes as far as feeling too hot or too cold. This one is nice too because it can save you some money too. 

4. Save Water 

Sometimes all it takes is to turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth instead of letting it run the whole time. You should do a similar thing while showering-don't leave water running when shaving or lathering up. 

5. Switch to Eco Friendly Furniture and Products 

Utilize low energy, enduring fluorescent light bulbs and rechargeable batteries when possible. There are several products out there that help save the environment, such as eco friendly furniture and lighting fixtures. When you are ready to add new furniture to your home, look for living room furniture made from bamboo, solid wood furniture, or recycled furniture. And when you dispose of your old furniture, be sure to donate it to a women's shelter or place like Goodwill. You can also pass it down to a family member that is just starting out . 

6. Reuse and Recycle 

Not everything in your home is totally useless. Be creative and try to use things for different purposes. For instance, you can save so much more money as well as the environment in your little ways if you reuse grocery plastic bags for your trash bins instead of buying new bin liners. Utilize cloth napkins or rags to clean instead of paper napkins or try not to use disposable paper products like plates and cups, they cost money and you just throw them in the trash. Buy second-hand or used items whenever possible.  

7. Purchase Only What You Need 

Create a list of things you want and need around your house. Don't purchase items by impulse. This will prevent you from buying too much and ending up with heaps of stuff you never needed in the first place. And of course, this will also help you save more on your monthly grocery expenses. 

8. Shop Online 

There are several excellent sites where you can buy green products for far less money than you would shell out in walk-in shops. Online shopping is also very convenient. You will often find a much larger selection of green products online too. 

9. Support Your Community 

Get into a co-op. Food co-ops are an excellent way to support local growers and merchants. Help others become more aware of living a green life while supporting those who are already trying to conserve the environment. 

10. Live Green Even on Holidays 

Do what you can anywhere you are. Even little things count, such as making sure the lights are off when leaving your hotel room, utilizing public transportation as much as possible, not forgetting to turn off the air conditioning, and going for a no laundry service.

As the idea of living green grows and more people are getting involved and trying to minimize their impact on the planet. As this trend continue to grows, eco friendly furniture is finding a place in homes throughout the country. This type of furniture is made of recycled wood or other organic and environmentally sustainable materials and practices. Used in this sense, sustainable sometimes refers to the use of materials that can be re-grown in their natural state in a relatively short amount of time, thus helping to keep them from becoming depleted by the needs of manufacturing. Furniture made from these materials, including bamboo, is now being designed and built for every room in the home. 

Bamboo is an excellent example of an accepted sustainable building material. It grows quickly and has a density comparable to hardwood when processed. It finishes out beautifully and imparts a feeling of richness and permanence. Bamboo has already been used for a number of years as a viable, durable, and beautiful alternative to hardwood flooring. These days it is appearing with increasing frequency as the principal material in eco friendly furniture such as living room furniture, coffee tables, dining room chairs, sideboards, drawer chests and even wine racks. Bamboo furniture items come in a variety of finishes intended to complement many different decor styles. 

Perhaps not as visible but infinitely practical, eco friendly furniture is appearing in closets and pantry organization systems as well. These same sorts of units are also being used as beautiful and functional open wall shelving systems. If the prospective buyer is dealing with the right retailer, these modular systems can be custom designed to fit a particular space. The shelve are often adjustable and can be locked into place, making the entire unit extra strong.

As time goes on, we will see more and more eco friendly furniture and household applications of eco friendly materials and practices. The Internet not only is a great place to shop for eco friendly furniture to fill current needs, but also a place you can go to research and plan for future redecorating projects. If you like, you can even opt in to receive an electronic newsletter from many retailers that will keep you informed of future developments in this green industry.

Buying new furniture is a big project, but can be a lot of fun finding just the right items. Most shoppers are looking for the best combination of value, style, and quality. Being green is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and manufacturers. It's also an important societal topic today. Buying sustainable furniture is one way to help the planet. It's a fantastic way to be environmentally friendly while also adding an item to your home that you need. Whether you are shopping for living room furniture, bedroom furniture, or flooring options, you are sure to find an environmentally friendly option that is right for you.  

It's important to know that you are truly getting an environmentally friendly furniture product. To know if the furniture you are purchasing is sustainable there are some key elements to look for when shopping. One thing to look for is to make sure that the wood has been properly harvested for making the furniture. Look for eco certifications and to see if the company is a part of any eco friendly groups or organizations. Another thing to look for is to make sure that any and all waste resulting from the manufacturing process of the furniture is properly recycled and that efforts are being made to reduce where ever possible. By recycling the waste, you as the customer is not only getting the eco friendly furniture you want and need, but you are also doing your part to save the planet.  

When shopping for sustainable furniture it is important to shop only at stores that sell this type of furniture. Before going out to buy new furniture call around to different furniture stores to ensure that they carry the furniture that needed and to make sure that the wood that the furniture is made of has been legally harvested. You can also shop online, you will find a very large selection and shopping online allows you to do easily do side-by-side comparisons. By doing so, you can make sure that you are being green, protecting the earth, and still get the furniture that you need.

Shopping for furniture can be a fun experience. And looking for sustainable furniture is a great way to satisfy your home décor needs while also reducing your personal environmental footprint. You will find vast selections of furniture for every room in the home as well as a range of prices, so you are sure to find something that fits your personal style as well as your budget at the same time.

These days it is becoming more and more easy for a consumer to find eco friendly furniture. Paint is made without harmful fumes, and manufacturers are becoming more aware of the benefits of sustainable furniture. A popular and beautiful material for anything from floors to chairs, to decor, is bamboo. Bamboo grows in a stalk, and can be used 1-4 years after being planted. The growth of bamboo is much faster than a tree, which can take 30 years or more to grow and be used for wood. It is also stronger and more durable than wood, so it is very versatile. Bamboo living room furniture is one way to reap the benefits of earth friendly furniture in your home.

Using bamboo not only makes furniture very study and durable, but the bamboo can be steamed and made pliable to be bent into various shapes. The reed retains both flexibility and strength. Bamboo is naturally water repellent so it can hold up to frequent use in the home. Bamboo furniture can be colored to suit any design style, or it can be polished and kept in it's natural beauty. Bamboo living room furniture can include chairs, coffee tables, desks, entertainment systems, anything that traditional furniture is made from can be substituted with bamboo.

Bamboo living room furniture has been popular for hundreds of years in countries like China, and now this eco friendly option is gaining momentum across the world. Consumers find that bamboo is not only better for the environment, but also stylish and practical. Sustainable furniture can be found to fit any style, from traditional to modern.

Choosing bamboo living room furniture is a smart choice for you home. You will gain a piece of furniture that will be long lasting, and therefore you will be saving money since it will not need to be replaced as soon as traditional furniture. You are also doing your part to help protect the environment by supporting sustainable furniture. Not to mention, your family will enjoy the beautiful and comfortable addition to your home for many years to come.

These days many people are trying to do what they can in order to be more environmentally friendly. There are a lot of different ways to do this, but not everyone realizes how easy it can be to be environmentally friendly with your home decor. One way to do this is to consider getting bamboo furniture when you replace your current furniture or get something new.

Bamboo is a very renewable resource since it only takes about five years to re-grow bamboo that has been cut. This is compared to 50 or more years for most types of hardwood. It also spreads very quickly, almost like a weed, so it doesn't take too long to grow in quantity. This is why it is considered to be a greener option than many other types of wood. Another benefit is that you don't need to use pesticides to grow it, or fertilizers, so bamboo is usually an organic furniture product and using it will help keep extra chemicals out of the environment. There won't be pesticide residue on your furniture either.

There are a number of different types of bamboo furniture available, and also a lot of different styles. Just make sure that you get the real thing, and not imitation bamboo furniture. You can get pretty much any piece of furniture you might need made out of bamboo. This furniture doesn't have to look like it is made out of bamboo, since many things that are made out of bamboo can look like they are made out of any type of wood, without the tubular look that some bamboo furniture has. If you are going for the bamboo look, then you will find plenty of that too.

Not only is bamboo environmentally friendly, it is also very durable and resistant to swelling. It is more scratch resistant than most hard woods so it can take a beating. Furniture made with bamboo can last a long time if properly cared for. You can treat it virtually the same as any other hardwood furniture, and it can be used either indoors or outdoors as long as you keep it away from excessive moisture, which might damage it after a prolonged exposure. So next time you are considering a furniture purchase, check out the bamboo options that are available.

Living a more eco friendly or sustainable lifestyle is quickly becoming a very hot topic for many Americans. Not only is this a matter of saving the earth, it is also a matter of being frugal, too. Kids aren't cheap and recycling and reusing are great ways to help save the Earth and save money. A lot of people really just make it a hobby to find creative new ways to recycle and reuse various household items such as shredded paper for example. Here are some great and simple ideas for recycling paper, conserving water, saving electricity, and adding eco friendly furniture to your home.

You can use paper in your garden. Shredded paper is wonderful to add to your compost pile as it provides an additional carbon source. Just throw the shredded paper onto the pile and mix with the green materials to have homemade compost. Shredded paper may also be used as mulch in and around gardens to control weed growth. Don't forget your pets when thinking of ways to be more eco friendly using shredded paper. Many veterinarians recommend using shredded paper in the litter box after neutering or spaying. The standard litter can get into the cat's stitches and cause infection. Using paper reduces this threat. Shredded paper can also be used as bedding for rodents and rabbits.

To conserve water and be eco friendly, there are many things you can do. First, turn off the water; do this while shampooing your hair, brushing your teeth, and shaving, too. This will make a huge difference in your water bill while saving you money. Also, while watering your garden, use a soaker hose rather than a sprinkler. A soaker hose directs water to the roots of plants and less is lost to evaporation.

Being eco friendly by reducing electrical consumption is easy. Turn you thermostat up a few degrees in the summer and down a few in the winter. It makes a huge difference. Also, unplug electrical equipment when not in use. Cell phone chargers use a considerable amount of energy whenever they are plugged in, not just when a phone is charging. Purchase a smart strip power strip which will cut off a number of appliances at one time and prevent them from using idle current. This will lower your electricity usage and save you money. Also, use smaller appliances during the summer such as crock pots and toaster ovens rather than using your regular oven. The temperature in your home will be cooler and you electric bill will thank you.

Furniture shopping is a standard when it comes to owning a home. So the next time you are about to set out shopping for a new piece, consider shopping for eco friendly or sustainable furniture items, you'll find that the selection is growing every day. Online is a fantastic place to shop for this type of furniture because it allows you to do easy side-by-side comparisons on the level of eco friendliness and price.

Eco friendly furniture is becoming more and more viable as we're headed toward a truly becoming a reducing, reusing and recycling nation. We've come a long way in the fight but we still have a long way to go which is why there's such been a big buzz about furniture that's eco friendly. Getting louder and louder are the voices of change and manufacturers are listening! Products are popping up all over the place that claims to be environmentally friendly.

So What is Eco Friendly Furniture all About?

When you think of eco friendly you might think cardboard, paper and other things that can be reused or recycled in one way or another. But even furniture can be eco friendly in a few different ways. For example, manufacturers who replant the trees they cut down to make their furniture are considered eco friendly. Furniture made of recycled material such as crates, glass and even aluminum are considered eco friendly. Furniture made from ultra renewable resources such as bamboo furniture are eco friendly. In fact there is such diversity when it comes to eco friendly furniture that just about any style can be accommodated, making it a great option for the DIY designer.

How to Know if It's Tryly Eco Friendly

In most cases an eco friendly product retailer is more than happy to tell you all about it from the get go so finding the stuff you want shouldn't be much of a battle. However there are some pieces of furniture on the market that confuse consumers by using buzz words in their marketing, creating doubt as to whether the product is what it says it is. If in doubt, purchase eco friendly furniture that comes complete with a certification issued by an eco friendly group, such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

 Find Eco Friendly Products Online

A lot of times it's hard to find eco friendly furniture at your local stores, so the Internet is an excellent resource. This method of shopping makes it easy to compare product prices, shipping prices, quality and even reviews of the furniture you're interested in purchasing.

Shopping online is also a great way to keep up to date on the latest deals, coupons and discount codes. Many online furniture retailers also offer free shipping. If you don't have a coupon code, just ask, chances are the online retailer will accommodate your request.

The shopping public is a very fickle monster that retailers work hard to carefully understand and serve. What is popular one month will be out of vogue the next month. Popular styles will differ even in different parts of the country. Environmentally sustainable furniture is a fairly new concept to the buying public. Many people believe that it sounds like a good idea but they do not really know what sustainable furniture is. The key is to not take more from the environment then can be replenished naturally. This includes the materials that the furniture is made from to the toxic chemicals that are emitted from the manufacturing plant where the furniture is created.

One of the first rules of eco friendly furniture is to lessen your impact on the environment as much as possible. Reduce, reuse, and recycle is one of the best things to keep in mind. Do what ever you can to keep your pieces of furniture out of your local landfill. For instance, when you finally manage to replace your husband's beat up arm chair, consider giving it to someone who will continue to love that monstrosity of a chair.

The definition of sustainable furniture includes using materials that have been recycled or re-purposed or are made from a renewable resource. These furnishings will also use materials and manufacturing processes that are safer for the environment. Transportation of goods also adds to the economic impact that furniture will have on the environment. Online retailers are also an interesting environmentally friendly shopping option. You don't have to drive to get to and from the store and because there is no brick and mortar store, the retailer has a smaller environmental footprint. Plus they have the ability to bring you an amazing selection and ease of comparison shopping.

Eco furniture can also be made from reclaimed materials. These materials may include wood, iron and glass. Buildings that are no longer being used can be stripped of these materials and then re-purposed to make a chair for your living room. Wood that has been reclaimed has become extremely popular because of the unique markings that it will usually have.

No matter what direction you choose to go with your sustainable furniture choices, be sure to consider an environmentally friendly disposal option for your old items. Pass down to a family member or friend who is just starting out on their own, or consider donating to a women's shelter or somewhere like Goodwill.

Giving your home an eco friendly makeover is not as difficult as it may sound; and it can even be a fun family project and home design effort. You simply have to familiarize yourself with the basic ways of living greener and then moving on to finding more alternatives and new ideas on conserving the environment. 

First, recycle! Look around your home and see if you can find waste wood and metal. These materials can be easily trimmed off and recycled. Some components can be reused and others may be advantageous to a salvage company. Your city or your refuse service may provide curbside recycling, so just call and ask. If not, many grocery stores or your city will have recycling drop-off locations.  

Next, improve your insulation. A makeover doesn't only involve aesthetics. Think about your comfort while considering how much you can save. Anytime you're working on your walls or ceilings, there's a chance to add insulation and other barriers to exterior air intrusion. You'll save on cooling and heating expenses and add more comfort to your home; while using less power in general and helping out the environment at the same time. If you're replacing lighting fixtures, utilize those that can handle compact fluorescent bulbs or LED technology. When appliances need to be replaced, look for energy star rated items that function more effectively. If your old appliances still work or just require minor maintenance, consider handing them down to a family member or friend or donating them to a local women's shelter or resale shop. This is a far superior option to taking them to the local dump.  

Now consider finishes. Utilizing paints with low or no VOC and water-based wood finishes on cabinets and floors will enhance the indoor air quality of your living space considerably. In addition, stay away from exotic woods obtained from rain forests. Attempt to utilize local materials and manufacturers or locally salvaged wood for cabinetry and flooring. You'll save on shipping as well as contribute to the earth's preservation. Select enduring species that can be repeatedly refinished. Think about employing cork flooring or bamboo furniture. These cost just about the same as hardwood, but it has a unique ecological benefit-sustainability. Cork trees are able to regenerate every 9 years, compared to many other trees, which can take 30 years or more. Cork floors are highly resistant to mold and water, and are able to insulate against temperature and noise. And bamboo is one of the Earth's fastest growing plants, also making it a fantastic eco furniture choice. 

Try to use natural light whenever possible. Employ energy-efficient windows so you can save on your energy bill. You could also switch from heavy draperies to lightweight shades, employing a skylight to illuminate a dark room and painting walls a lighter shade. Artificial light can also be environmentally friendly. Think about replacing your ordinary light bulbs with those that are energy star rated-they utilize about two thirds less energy and endure up to ten times longer. 

Making your home more eco friendly can be as small or as large of a project as you are interested in taking on. It's also something that can be done over time. No need to replace a brand new item, until it needs to be replaced.

Being eco friendly and living a more sustainable lifestyle is a hot topic these days. As a result eco friendly furniture is hitting the online shopping market with full force. There is a variety of choice already available; so if you are looking to live greener, read on for how to find the hottest eco friendly styles. 

You might be asking yourself; just what is eco friendly furniture exactly? Eco means that the furniture is produced in a way that it has the least negative impact on the environment possible. This includes things like when wood is utilized, it is derived from renewable sources, protected lands are not involved, and any chemicals employed in the process do not contaminate or damage the environment. Eco can also mean that a minimalist approach is used for manufacturing-for instance, delivery and mileage are kept to a minimum and the manufacturer is recycling energy and product wherever possible. 

Another form of eco friendly furniture can be defined as furniture that has been made-in part or whole-from recycled materials. Furniture created from recycled items helps keep waste materials out of landfills and minimizes the need to consume precious resources.

Many retailers are now offering various environmentally friendly products. Many furniture retailers are actually now selling more environmentally friendly furniture pieces along with their other products due to customer wants, so don't hesitate to ask staff if eco friendly furniture pieces are available. For this type of product, shopping online is ideal; you can compare and contrast designs, costs, and level of eco friendly materials faster and in the convenience of your own home; it's also the perfect place for environmentally sustainable furniture because most online retailers are using less energy due to not having a brick and mortar store, thereby making them greener too! Also be sure to use the internet for finding tips on how to buy and find environmentally friendly products. 

When you decide to purchase new furniture, be sure to dispose of your old items in the most eco friendly way possible. You have several options available to you. You can donate the items to places like Goodwill or your local women's shelter. You can hand it down to a family member that is just getting started with their first apartment. Or you can even sell it at a furniture resale shop. Your items will surely find new life with a new owner because there are several ways of giving furniture a new look; reupholstering, a new coat of paint, a slipcover, a few throws and new pillows. So, please consider recycling before you put your items out at the curb.  

Environmentally friendly furniture is stylish and readily available, so get shopping.

If you're searching for ways to help maintain environment and live a more sustainable lifestyle, there are so many things you can consider, from eco friendly furniture all the way to using green cleaning products in your home. Search for products that have the least negative impact on the environment and organizations or businesses that aim at preserving the earth with their products. Several of your best green cleaning options may already be available in your very own kitchen.

Green Cleaning Basics 

There's no reason to scrub floors, tubs and counters with harsh chemicals that can harm your indoor air quality and damage the environment when you can utilize some very familiar household products to complete your cleaning tasks. Some fundamental ingredients for do-it-yourself cleaners are lemon, baking soda, salt, vinegar, hot water, and pure liquid soap. Look for reusable scrubbers and wipes to reduce your use of paper towels.  

Selecting Green Cleaning Products 

Green cleaning products not only benefit the earth, but also assist in safeguarding the residents of a home from unnecessary chemical exposure. Although there is a common perception among homeowners that their cleaning products may not be as strong or effective as they want them to be, green products are just as effective as their chemical counterparts. 

When selecting an environmentally friendly cleanser, check beyond the label. Without any regulation standards in place for green products, claims of eco-friendly products are everywhere, you need to find manufacturers that self-regulate their products and practices. Manufacturers are also not obliged to indicate all of the chemicals employed in their cleaning products, so it's good to do some research on these manufacturers first.  

If you are interested in a certain brand, do some research on the manufacturer online. Consider some important factors, such as how long the company has been manufacturing green products. Assess how well the company website explains their products (ingredients, how these ingredients work, and so on). Another good thing to look for is what the company is doing to be more eco friendly in their own practices. If they are environmentally conscious, you can be more confident that their product is legitimate. 

Green cleaning products have few disadvantages, so why not take this small step to become more earth friendly. Of course, don't just toss the cleansers you currently have on hand. Either use them up and replace them with eco friendly items or consider donating them to an animal shelter.

Reducing your impact on the environment is quickly becoming a priority for many people. A fantastic way to do this is through environmentally sustainable furniture. Because it is such a growing niche, it's now more possible than ever to be eco-minded with your furniture choices, while remaining in touch with current trends and finding items that reflect your personal sense of style.  

Eco friendly furniture is furniture is labeled as such because it is produced in such a way that it has the least negative impact possible on the earth. One example of this is that where wood is utilized, it has come from renewable sources or from a company that is certified for only using wood that is not treated with chemicals and is not taking wood from protected areas. Eco products come from companies that work to reduce their impact, such as minimizing delivery and mileage as much as possible, using organic fabrics, chemical free dyes, recycled components and parts, renewable woods like bamboo, and much more. 

Another popular way to obtain eco friendly furniture is by shopping at thrift and resale shops; reupholstering and a new coat of paint can go a long way. So, whenever you choose to buy new furniture, be sure to consider a resale or thrift shop or even donation before disposing of your old furniture. This will make your eco friendly furniture purchase extra beneficial to the environment because you will not be taking up valuable land fill space by throwing old furniture away.  

The majority of manufacturers and carriers of eco friendly furniture implement strict guidelines that reflect a care and concern for the planet's limited resources. Do your research and educate yourself regarding eco friendly practices and then begin your shopping search. When searching for a particular brand, ascertain that company policies are attempting to stay eco friendly. Certain companies demand that 100 percent green materials are employed; but be aware there are varying degrees of environmental friendliness.  

The reasons and benefits of shopping and using eco friendly furniture and other products are great; ranging from protecting and maintaining our planet as well as limiting the amount of chemicals and dyes, etc... we expose ourselves to in our own homes. Shopping online for eco furniture will give you the greatest selection and best opportunity to compare environmental standards, quality, and price.

Furniture is referred to as eco friendly based on how it is produced and how that production impacted, or rather, didn't impact the environment. Everything from the process of harvesting the wood to production of upholstery fabric is a factor in whether furniture is environmentally friendly or not. Since several manufacturing methods are usually involved in producing furniture it can be challenging to find pieces that certified as environmentally friendly. With the availability of furniture online, however, finding eco friendly furniture is much easier than it used to be. 

When shopping for and choosing environmentally friendly furniture, look for certified woods like Smart Wood; meaning the wood comes from producers that do not chemically treat the wood and they work to maintain protected areas. Smart Wood is just one example of many types of forestry guidelines that require producers to meet strong environmental, economic, and social performance standards, and these certifications are usually indicated on environmentally friendly furniture. Another option is to look for items that use wood and other items that weren't moved over long distances-often referred to as going local. 

Another popular sustainable furniture material to look for is bamboo. It is known to be one of the greenest materials because it grows and renews itself quickly and doesn't call for pesticides. Other environmentally friendly furniture materials include glass and reclaimed or recycled items. 

For foam filled and fabric covered furniture pieces, you should also consider the type of fabric, treated foams, and fabric dyes involved in the process. Try to look for organically grown cottons, use of natural fibers, and environmentally friendly dyes. 

Once you've purchased your new furniture, consider the disposal of your old. Environmentally friendly ways to do this include; handing down to a family member, selling it at a second hand shop, or donating to a charity like a women's shelter.  

The advantages of buying eco friendly furniture are many. Selecting eco friendly products is good for you and for the earth. As living a green lifestyle becomes the trend, and as with any trend or new way of thinking, it will evolve and grow and environmentally friendly furniture will only become more widely available and affordable.