Here’s a side table that would work well with any living room furniture or as a nightstand. It’s made from a reclaimed wine barrels, something often tossed out by wineries. According to Viva Terra, more than 200,000 wine barrels, made from the seasoned lumber of centuries old trees, are thrown away in California each year.

The top of this recycled table is made from the top of a barrel, and the legs are barrel staves. It measures 22X25, and it’s available in both light and dark finish. The wine barrel table retails for $239 at Viva Terra.

Here’s another idea for putting recycled wine barrels to use around your green home. Used Barrels.Com sells used wine barrels for making your own green furniture, shelving or other household items.

Sometimes the “almost perfect” room needs just a single finishing touch to become the “perfect” room. If you’re looking for green decorating accessories to put the final touches on your green home, you might want to consider occasional tables, coffee tables, and end tables like the one pictured above.

This eco-friendly coffee table is made from 3 pieces of SmartWood, which is rain forest certified and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable forestry practices. All the wood for the environmentally-friendly furniture is harvested in North America, and it’s finished with non-toxic, formaldehyde free, water-based finishes. In addition, this end table is UV sealed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wondering how they’ll ship it to you? The table folds flat to reduce packaging and shipping requirements. I found this occasional table at BuyEnergyEfficient.org, which offers a wide variety of environmentally-friendly household items, including green furniture and green kitchen appliances.

Choosing environmentally furniture can be a complicated decision. Here are a few things to consider when choosing furniture for a green home.

Start with the Finish- When selecting green furniture, especially wooden furniture, be especially particular about the finish. Even the most environmentally friendly materials in your furniture can be ruined by chemicals and toxic finishes. Specifically ask for furniture treated with non-toxic substances.

Examine the Construction- Durability is an important factor in choosing environmentally friendly furniture. After all, if you’re just going to have to replace a supposedly green furniture item after a few years, then you really are just creating more waste.

Go Vintage- Perhaps one of the best ways to add green furniture to your home, is to skip the new purchase altogether. Could you rescue a sofa or end table from your local second hand store and add new upholstery or a fresh finish? There are many varieties and shades of non-toxic furniture finishes widely available for such projects.

Living green doesn’t have to mean giving up the beauty and durability of wooden furniture. Many furniture makers are now offering alternatives to traditional wood furniture with green furniture selections made with sustainable woods. Here’s one I found today:

This environmentally friendly dining room table is made by Atlantico. It’s handmade using woods harvested via sustainable forestry practices, and it’s certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible forestry. This table is made without toxic chemicals and preservatives and is finished with only a coat of Danish oil. The table is simple in design and I think it would blend well with any green home decor. I found this green furniture selection at Bluehouse.

Hand carved from a solid piece of cedar, Maui Chair is my lounge chair dream come true. It’s almost too nice to use as outdoor furniture, though it really blends in with its natural surroundings.

Available at Usona

* NOT to be confused with the ubiquitous plastic Maui stacking Chair by Vico Magistretti for Kartell dating back to the 50’s.

I don’t know about you, but I can never have enough storage space, enough secret drawers or compartments. That’s why Moheli wooden chair with a drawer is a perfect match for my newly revamped bedroom. I can conveniently hide my personal belongings from my guests’ eyes, yet have them readily available at my fingertips when I need them. Sold at Usona Home Furnishings.

via CribCandy

More wonderful concepts from Bless - Perpetual home motion machines. My first thought was that these would work really well in a studio or a college dorm room, but not exclusively. These living mobiles are a really innovative way to experience your own space. It’s a dynamic display of your daily possessions versus the static nature-morte, which is what the designers aimed to accomplish. Sculpture slash green furniture, if you like.

Bless# 22 concept: “A moving fragment of a person’s wardrobe and furniture which allows to reflect and transmit privacy. This furniture arose from the question of how to keep garments tidy and on display at the same time, suitable for both private and public use. The result - a new type of wardrobe: a hanging, room encompassing, perpetually twisting piece of furniture in perfect balance. Bless design doesn’t exist without interaction, selfexperienced application and love of the user.“

The Modern Bamboo Spring Chair became an instant wish list item for me from the moment I saw it. Just wish it didn’t cost an arm and a leg, plus the other arm and leg ($700 each, to be exact). Designed by Anthony Marschak last year, the Spring Chair is made from a single piece of 100% laminated bamboo and comes in three colors: Amber, Cherry and Ebony. As you can see, the name Spring Chair is derived from its body-conforming curve and the flexibility of the material.

Another cool eco-piece from Visionary. The Rattan Chair is as fun and leisurely inside as it is outside. Sink into its soporific wonders for a tea and Sunday paper. Handmade in India, $ 364.95

The clothing brand Rogan recently branched out into furniture. Their minimalist new line consists of tables, chairs and lighting and can be seen on a separate website: Rogan Objects. The simplicity of design, combined with natural colors and textures, is reminiscent of their clothing pieces. And the best part about Rogan Objects is that they are constructed from recycled industrial materials and treated at an environmentally low-impact tannery . The purity of form and rugged finish keeps in the spirit of their concept and charms you into the timeless world of relaxed casual American ruggedness. I’m personally a fan of this steel and bull hide square chair with ottoman. Looks like a cozy Sunday paper seat.