Nowadays, we can already see the results of being careless about our planet’s resources, which is why it’s more important than ever before to make some serious changes. Fortunately, there are things anybody can do, and your own home is the best place to start. Your furniture, for example, can be both beautiful and green – if you want it to be. With that in mind, here’s why it’s important to opt for sustainable furniture, and where you can find it.
There is less impact on the environment
You can probably guess that wood is the most common material for making furniture. However, many companies don’t care about how much timber they take from the environment, which eventually leads to deforestation and everything else that follows. On the other hand, when you opt for furniture made of recycled wood, or wood that comes from a sustainable forest, you are not taking anything from nature. Therefore, if you want to have wooden furniture, make sure it comes from the right source. Fortunately, there are many furniture manufacturers that don’t contribute to deforestation, so make sure to do some research on the brand if you choose to buy new items.
It is better for your health
Besides being better for the environment, furniture made of sustainable materials is also better for your health. The typical furniture items are usually packed with all kinds of chemicals that can damage your health. This is especially important if you have kids, as kids are much more sensitive when it comes to such chemicals. Moreover, those chemicals won’t harm you just for a day or two after arriving in your home – some chemicals can emit harmful gases for months.
You can make a statement
Nowadays, being environmentally conscious is really something you can be proud of. It’s also something that you can and should encourage others to be. This is where eco-friendly furniture can help you, as you can use it to make a statement in your home, and thus, show your guests how stylish and gorgeous eco-friendly décor can be. So, besides the usual basic pieces, you can also spice things up with eco-friendly accessories. A beautiful natural rug in the center of your living room would be a great choice. It would definitely be noticed, and you can easily match it with natural pillows and window coverings.
It’s more durable and attractive
While eco-friendly furniture might be a bit more expensive at first (even though it can be very affordable, as well), the reason for the price is not just the environmental effect but also the quality. Green furniture is made to be durable, so once you buy it, you can rest assured that it will last you a lifetime. Moreover, people usually assume that furniture made of recycled materials is ugly and old-looking, but that is far from the truth. Eco-friendly furniture can be as unique and stylish as any other. Plus, thanks to its durability, items made of sustainable hardwoods, for example, would look as good as new for longer.
How to find it and recognize it
As mentioned, one of the ways of finding sustainable furniture is by doing research on the brand and manufacturer. If you go on their website and you see that they use sustainable manufacturing practices and materials, feel free to support them. Also, you can always buy second-hand furniture, since, even though it might not have been made in a sustainable way, it’s already there. So, it’s not going to affect the environment anymore, and you wouldn’t be supporting the company that made it but the person or organization that is selling it. Plus, there aren’t many things more stylish than vintage pieces.
As you can see, there are more than a few benefits of choosing eco-friendly furniture for your home. So, if you’ve just moved into your new house, or if you’re thinking of doing some remodeling, consider your choices and improve your own environment by adding eco-friendly furniture to your home.