After a long day of work at home or at the office, you really deserve a comfy and tranquil place to rest at night.  So, if you’re working on turning your home into a truly green home, non-toxic bedding like mattresses, bedsheets, and organic pillows are a great place to start.  Here are some organic pillows that made me want to stop blogging and take a nap!

The neck pillows above are encased in a 100% silk cover, and filled with organic buckwheat hulls.  Apparently it’s not just for pancakes anymore!  These organic pillows are actually sold as yoga accessories, but I think they would be a great addition to a bedding set, or handy to keep in the car for long trips.  I found the buckwheat neck pillows at Yoga Accessories.Com.  [Read more →]

I don’t know about you, but when my home gets to be a disorganized mess, I don’t care a whole lot if it is a green home or any other color.  So, whenever I get the time to add environmentally friendly home organizers like bamboo baskets, recycled plastic bins, or reusable wooden crates to any room in my home,  I do.  In short, I crave a life that is free from the distractions of clutter.

When I saw this bamboo mail sorter, I thought this would be the perfect addition to an out of the way kitchen corner or back entry way.  Stash the mail for sorting later, hang up keys (keeps them off the counter), and there’s even room for a few magazines. The mail sorter is available at Plow and Hearth.

Here’s a round shelf basket made from rattan and recycled paper.  This could be used as a waste paper basket, or placed on a bookcase for holding just about anything.  The recycled basket measure 14″ x 10.25″, and it is available at World Market.

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.

Perk up your green home decor with this droopy table lamp. The “Droop Lite” has a base made from a recycled glass bottle that’s been heated in a kiln to give it that droopy look. Combine this table lamp with a bamboo end table and compact fluorescent light bulbs, and you’ll be on your way to creating a cozy little corner in your green home. The Droop Lite is available at 3R Living.

Want a table lamp that’s a little more formal? These Babette Holland lamps are made with reclaimed and recycled aluminum, and they’re available at Lamps Plus.

It’s not just for socks anymore! Wool is often overlooked as a natural resource, but it’s making a comeback as a green living option. If you’re building a green home, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is how to insulate it.  Here are some of the benefits of wool insulation:

1) Non-Toxic:  Wool insulation is non toxic, in fact, it’s sometimes used to to clean up toxic buildings because it absorbs toxins. And, since wool fibers are naturally larger than those used in synthetic insulation, they don’t pose a threat to those with asthma or other respiratory problems.

2) Efficient:  Wool insulation has a higher R-Value than fiberglass insulation, and can absorb more than it’s weight in water without becoming wet to the touch.

3) Reusable/Biodegradable:  Wool insulation can be reused, and if discarded, it’s biodegradable.

You can find more information at Good Shepherd Wool, a manufacturer of wool insulation.

Don’t forget about the other ways you can use wool to create a green home, including wool blankets, wool area rugs, and wool upholstered furniture.

When choosing curtains, draperies, and window blinds for a green home, it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying. Window treatments are an often overlooked source of indoor air pollution due to toxic plastics and sealants. Here are a few suggestions for choosing eco-friendly window treatments and coverings.

Bamboo Blinds: Bamboo is a wonderful and sustainable resource for green living. When choosing bamboo window treatments, it’s important to select styles that do not contain any toxic sealants or wood finishing products. Non-toxic window treatments usually have indicate that on the label or box.

Natural Silk Curtains: Produced by the silkworm, silk is a natural protein fiber that can be found in curtains, sheers, and other household items such as silk bed sheets. Like bamboo, silk can sometimes be treated with toxic fabric protectors and fire retardants, so look for manufacturers committed to non-toxic production.

Flax Linen Curtains: Curtains and draperies made with 100% flax linen are an environmentally friendly window treatment option. Natural flax is a rich beige color that works well with just about any color scheme.

Here’s an environmentally-friendly product for creating a cozy area in your green home. This bamboo room divider is made of pesticide-free bamboo stalks. It rolls up, and is flexible so you can position it in nearly any shape. You could use this green home accessory for hiding an unsightly computer area, creating a cozy corner for reading, or as a backdrop for large potted plants.

This bamboo screen is pesticide free and it is treated with a non-toxic water repellent. Not sure if I would try this with your green landscaping- it’s rated for indoor use only. I found this green living idea at Real Goods.

Your weekly trip to the supermarket can be a strategic part of a green lifestyle if you plan ahead. Here are a few ideas for green grocery shopping.

Avoid single serving packages: If you’re trying to shop green and reduce waste, avoid food and drinks in single serving sizes. These items cost more and require more packaging materials. When grocery shopping, purchase the largest package of the item you need, and then divide it up into reusable containers when you get home.

Choose items you can recycle: A big part of any green home is recycling. However, all of us at one time or another have been stuck with a package or box that isn’t recyclable. Before leaving for a day of green shopping, make a list of the types of materials you know you can recycle, and look for food in packages made from those materials. By planning ahead, you’ll avoid being stuck with an empty package that cannot be recycled.

Skip the bottled water: Plastic water bottles are a growing environmental problem. Producing and transporting them requires serious fuel consumption, and they’re filling up our landfills. Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a water filtration pitcher and stainless steel water bottles to avoid the waste and expense of plastic.

Conserving energy for a green home is truly a constant battle that must be fought diligently to be effective. If you’re home doesn’t include these 2 quick and easy energy savers, you’re missing out on some simple ways to conserve power and live green.

Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat for controlling the temperature setting on your heat and air conditioning will elminate the possibility of forgetting to turn the temperature down when you leave or before you go to bed, and prevent energy-guzzling fluctuations in home temperatures. Programmable thermostats begin around $40- a cost you’ll quickly recover in energy bill savings.

Water Heater Blanket: Another energy saving tip for your home is to wrap your water heater in an insulated water heater cover. These things are a snap to install- simply wrap around and tie the laces. Insulated water heater blankets help prevent the escape of heat from your water heater, allowing you to conserve energy, live green, and save money.