by Marvin Double

Created on: December 11, 2008   Last Updated: December 01, 2011

Going green is defiantly a fashionable trend. But, when it comes to redecorating a room it can be confusing to know what makes something green.

Green decorating might require thinking in a slightly different way. It's about more than just what looks good in a room. Green thinking also involves considering how the choices we make will impact the environment inside our homes as well as outdoors.

Painting is a fast and inexpensive way to give any room a fresh new look. However until recently most house paints gave off Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Unfortunately, while the paint may be beautiful on the wall, research has shown that these airborne compounds are environmentally undesirable and dangerous to human health.

Selecting paints with low or zero VOCs will reduce indoor pollution and is also better for the environment. According to the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) any paint that contains less than 5 g/l (grams per liter) of VOC is considered zero. Paints that are low in VOCs must have no more than 250 g/l for water based paints or 380 g/l for oil.

If your decorating plans call for new furniture, you might consider stripping and refinishing existing furniture. Another option would be to buy something used to refinish.

Reusing old furniture reduces the need to harvest the timber to build something new.

Stripping furniture might not seem environmentally friendly but, there are eco-friendly green furniture strippers and water based stains which do not contain VOCs or toxic materials. By reading labels, asking sales staff or researching the internet you'll be able to find the greenest products. When possible, buy products made of real wood and avoid laminated chipboard products. Adhesives in the board contain VOCs which contribute to indoor air pollution. Wall to wall carpets are another source of VOCs. You might also consider replacing wall to wall carpet with real hardwood. To be really green buy products which are made from sustainable sources such as managed woodlots or quick growing bamboo. Use natural fiber area rugs on hardwood floors to replace carpets. Rugs add color, dampen acoustics and provide warmth under foot. Good quality rugs will last for years can be removed to be cleaned and, are more easily changed if you want a new look in the future. With a little thought green decorating can be easy and stylish too.

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