Repair & Improve

Think Green for Smart Interior Design

Green is the word these days and while there are big things you can do around your home to make it more environmentally friendly, even a few little details can make a big impact.  The following tips come to us from Alison Shoemaker of Alison Designs.  She is a renowned expert in Green Interior Design and one of the few with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accreditation.

1.Pitcher This
Keep a water pitcher near a faucet to conserve water when running the tap. Placing a decorative glass or ceramic pitcher can add a personal design touch to the space, the same way a beautiful vase does in another room. The bonus is saving the water in the pitcher for future use, such as watering house plants.
 
2.Two in Every Room
Place an ornate waste basket in every room for recycling biodegradable items and another for non-biodegradable matter. The baskets can either be uniform or different in style. The key is to focus on getting creative with everyday household items, while helping to save the environment.
 
3.The Zen of the Shoe Basket
Establish an area near the front entry where people can take their shoes off. Approximately 85% of dust, allergens and chemicals in the home are from shoe traffic. For a clean entry look, place the shoes in a low woven square basket with a lid. Maintaining a shoe-free space will prolong the flooring and also control the pollutants in the home.
 
4.Rolling in Bamboo Sheets
Using bamboo bedroom sheets in lieu of synthetic ones are temperature controlling. This means they keep you cool when you are warm and warm when you are cool, allowing one to save on energy costs. Bamboo is one of the softest fabrics in the world and offers a drape-like silk look. It comes from a rapidly renewable resource that does not require pesticides to grow.
 
5.Get Your Green Thumb On
Adding house plants to the home naturally cleanses the air of indoor toxins, while providing a green aesthetic look. House plants, such as Lady Palm, Peace Lily, and English Ivy, are known for their ease of growth and maintenance, removal of vapors, and resistance to insect manifestation.

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