Eco chic

Tips 1-5 You don't have to build a straw-bale house from scratch to show Mother Earth you care. Turning your home into a haven of environmentally conscious design is doable if you take a gradual approach. Here are 10 small ways to make your home –- and the planet -– a more beautiful place to live. 1 Colour your world "green"Freshen up your walls with eco-friendly paint. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in conventional paints are bad for your health and contribute to global warming, so opt for low-VOC or VOC-free lines instead. Other options: milk and biodegradable paints, which are nontoxic, and recycled paints, which reduce landfill waste.2 Go au naturelIf privacy isn't an issue, leave your windows unadorned. The airy look lets in light, which can warm a cold room, and also means you have one less item to dispose of when a drapery style becomes passé. If direct sun makes the room too hot or you're feeling shy about naked panes, select window treatments that are made of natural textured materials, like linen, bamboo or seagrass.3 Say no to PVC Instead of buying a vinyl shower curtain, choose a cloth one. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in most plastic varieties emits carcinogens (bad for your health) and is non-biodegradable (bad for the earth). If you're about to embark on a bathroom reno, consider designing a shower area with a glass door or partition, so you don't need a curtain at all. 4 Watch what you tossTake eco-friendly waste disposal beyond the recycling bin and compost heap: keep your renovation garbage and old furniture out of landfill. First, consider reusing items: Do you need new cabinets or just doors? How about reupholstering that chair instead of discarding it? If you can't use an item, donate it to a charity or used-building-materials supplier like Habitat for Humanity's ReStores. For unwanted refuse, it's surprising what's recyclable these days: most metals and plastics, yes, but did you know asphalt shingles, concrete and sometimes even drywall can find new life? Contact your local sanitation department to find out more.5 Grow your decorNot only does a little greenery make a room look more homey and lived-in, but plants also filter out harmful airborne chemicals. Add palms, ferns or potted gerbera daisies, which all have high ratings for their ability to remove chemical vapours, throughout your home and you'll find you'll breathe easier. Tips 6-10 6 Tread softlyChemical dyes, stain-resistant treatments and heavy-duty adhesives in some carpets off-gas harmful toxins. Instead of noxious pile, roll out alternatives like sisal, seagrass or coir (made from coconuts), or rugs with recycled content. Carpet tiles are a smart choice, too: you can replace only the worn or stained sections, reducing the amount that goes to landfill.7 Sleep soundlyEver wake up feeling a little stuffy? Your bed could be the culprit. To alleviate the problem, choose bedding made of organic cottons or linens; they're harvested responsibly and expose you to fewer allergy-inducing chemicals than ordinary cotton or wrinkle-free sheets. When it's time to replace your mattress, purchase an all-wool or natural latex model.8 Furnish with care More retailers are taking up the cause, making it easier to find earth-friendly furniture. Look for pieces containing reclaimed wood or wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and organic fabric and upholstery fill. Avoid particleboard, plywood and other wood composites, which often contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. Also consider buying vintage or antique furniture; you may even find a gorgeous piece in a now-endangered wood, like African afrormosia, that you wouldn't dream of buying new!9 Lay down friendly floorsThere are plenty of options underfoot; for instance, salvaged wood has a beautiful patina, and fast-growing bamboo comes in a variety of looks to suit different tastes. For new wood flooring, look for FSC-certified products. Other options: sustainably harvested cork, polished concrete, stone, recycled-glass tiles or old-fashioned linoleum.10 Be label consciousFor each new product you buy, look for certification from these reputable programs: Energy Star (energy-efficient appliances), FSC (wood from well-managed forestry operations), Green Label Plus (low-emitting carpets and rugs), Green Seal (paints), Greenguard (low-emitting interior products), Rediscovered Wood (forest operations that use reclaimed or recycled wood materials) and Scientific Certification Systems (recycled content and biodegradability). Eco-smart design has come a long way from rustic hippy chic -- these days you can outfit your home in the latest fashions while showing the earth some TLC.