by Natalia Jones

Created on: September 15, 2009

Decorating does not have to be a drain on the environment. There are several ways to create spaces that are unique and beautiful while still keeping down your carbon footprint.

1. Use eco-friendly paints and stains. Paints that contain no VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds are the best choice. These paints are water based and they won't give off the awful chemical smell that is normally associated with painting. Varnish that is made from natural resins is the better option as traditional varnish has a synthetic resin that contains chemicals that are not only damaging to manufacture but they are also difficult to safely dispose.

2. Use sustainable materials. From curtains to countertops there is a sustainable way to decorate every surface. Some of the popular green choices are; hemp for curtains, bamboo or cork for floors, recycled glass and even concrete for countertops and back splashes. These materials are all as gorgeous as they are environmentally friendly.

3. Shop garage sales. By shopping at garage sales and other second hand dealerships you are buying things that are not taking any additional resources from the environment. This is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly.

4. Refurbish the things you already have. The only action that is more environmentally friendly than buying other people's used items is refurbishing your own. In some instances all it takes is a can of paint or an easy reupholster job that can be done with a staple gun.

5. Slip cover. You may need to change the look of a sofa or even throw pillows or maybe you are changing your color scheme and your current set won't work; instead of getting a new set you can make or buy ready-made slip covers that coordinate with your new design. This saves you a bundle on replacing furniture and it is also a better alternative for the environment.

Eco-chic interior design is actually very trendy so there is an endless supply of furniture, accessories and products on the market to make the process as painless as possible. Keep in mind though, that the most eco-friendly move is always to reuse what you already have and then if you must buy new, be sure that you buy products that are in keeping with your eco-chic theme. There are manufacturers of furniture and accessories that carry various environmental labels. If you are unsure of what a certification means, do some research to make sure that you know what you are getting and what standards were adhered to in making the product you are about to buy.

Eco-friendly design is a conscious decision and the choices you make may require some research and thought, but all your efforts will be worth it simply for the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to preserve the environment.

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