I know it’s been a while since I have done a Drab or Fab post, but I have to get your opinion on this one.

Generally, all you have to do is think the word “floral” to make me run screaming in the opposite direction. I’m not a floral kind of girl. Unless of course that floral shows up in a bold, modern damask or close-up photography of flowers in black and white. But red roses? On bedding? Not for me. Usually. This bedding from Gaiam is (I can’t believe I’m saying this) making me reconsider.

The roses are there, and I did have to stifle a bit of a gag the first time I saw this bedding, but the unexpected polka dot background made me take a second look. I’m not completely convinced, but it’s growing on me. On the plus side, the bedding is reversible, so you could switch to the plain polka dot side if the the roses proved too gagtastic for you to handle.

So what do you think? Is this polka dot/floral combo drab or fab? Is it a beautiful example of decor innovation or shabby chic run amuck? Leave your opinions in the comments below!

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton
• Colored with low-impact dyes
• Finished without harsh chemical softeners or chlorine
• Oeko-Tex certified (also known as Eco-Tex)
• As a company, Gaiam is known for its social and environmental responsibility

Price: $36-140 (aff)

Made in: China

Bonus! Get $20 off any order over $100 at Gaiam with coupon code “EWW2V4“. Exp. 11/11/09

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Drab or Fab? Organic Cotton Dots & Roses Bedding

I understand that living in an apartment means that any major changes we make to our living space will probably have to be changed back before we move out. For example, we know that we have a 5-gallon bucket of Kilz primer in our future to cover up all the painting we did. But as tempted as I am, I don’t want to be responsible for switching light fixtures, then having to switch them back. Still, I’m dreaming of a dining room punctuated by a beautiful pendant or chandelier, and this woven option from West Elm just might make me change my mind.

I grew up in the Virgin Islands where it wasn’t unusual to see items made of woven palm leaves. But I guarantee that none of them were quite this stunning. This pendant would be just as at home in a modern, minimal loft as it would be in a villa near the beach somewhere. And at just under $200 for a fixture more than 23 inches in diameter, you get a lot of presence for not a whole lot of money.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of woven palm leaves

Price: $199

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Make a Natural Statement: Woven Pendant from West Elm

I’ve realized something. Looking at individual furnishings is great, but it tends to be more inspirational to see these items in a room that is fully put together. That, and I just love drooling over photos of beautifully decorated rooms All of this is to introduce a new feature here at Green Your Decor: Friday Room Reveal. Every Friday, I will leave you for the weekend with a beautiful, eco-friendly, finished room to admire. Some will be from readers and regular people just like you and I, and others will be from bona fide interior designers. Hopefully, this will inspire you to finish your own rooms with eco-friendly decor and submit them to be featured. As soon as I finish my own rooms, I’ll show you those too

Without further adieu, here are the details for this week’s room: reader Kerri’s nursery for her little girl, Arabella. In Kerri’s words:

I’m an avid reader of your blog and would like to submit my daughter’s eco-friendly nursery to be featured on the site. Almost everything in the room is organic and/or eco-friendly. We live in a rental apartment, so we could not control the paint or wall to wall carpeting. However, we live in a green building so those materials are likely less toxic than in a traditional apartment building. We spent so many hours and months trying to create a truly non-toxic, yet beautiful, space for our daughter. It’s nice to know we succeeded!

What’s Green:

• Crib: Q Collection Junior Solare (aff)
• Mattress: Naturepedic No Compromise (aff)
• Sheets: Cotton Monkey (I also use Amenity, Pixel Organics & Kate Quinn Organics)
• Glider & ottoman: Luca Glider by Monte (aff)
• Blanket on chair, artwork, and crib and floor pillow: Amenity Organic Nursery Collection (aff)
• Small dresser: Argington Sahara Dresser
• Toys: Mi Yim (aff) & Pure Beginnings
• Side table & bench: Ecotots (aff)
• Basket on side table, window treatments, crib skirt & clothes hamper: Sweet Kyla Dew Drop Leaf (organic cotton)
• Area Rug: Anji Mountain Bamboo Shag Rug (aff)
• Not pictured: All of her clothes are organic cotton or bamboo and hang on BGreen bamboo hangers. We use organic cotton cloth diapers, so our Stokke changing table with custom made (Etsy) organic cotton changing pad covers is in the bathroom.

See readers! You can have a beautiful eco-friendly room, even if you’re a renter! Click on the images to see larger versions.

For tips on how to make your rental greener, check out the Green Your Rental series. And if you’d like to submit a room to be featured as a Friday Room Reveal, click here or email jennae {at} greenyourdecor {dot} com!

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Friday Room Reveal: Kerri’s Eco-Fab Nursery

Finding stylish organic fabric is becoming easier these days with the proliferation of companies like Mod Green Pod and others who all make beautiful prints that would make any home beautiful. Finding organic solids, however, is a slightly tougher task, particularly if you want any color other than “natural.” The ladies of Mod Green Pod clearly saw a gap in the market and started offering a wide range of solids not long ago.

They offer colors that are tough, if not impossible to find anywhere else, and for this I’m thankful. The new solids are: cherry, chocolate, earl grey, licorice, mushroom, natural, raspberry and water. And they do look just as tasty as they sound.

All I want is to find an organic solid in yellow, orange or green and I’ll be happy. Are you listening Mod Green Pod?

Why It’s Green:

• Made of 100% organic cotton canvas
• Grown and woven in the United States
• Uses non-toxic pigments
• Mod Green Pod is a member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA)

Price: $29.75/yard for solids

Bonus! Use coupon code “TOTELOVE25” and get 25% off all MGP organic cotton fabrics, vinyl-free wallpapers and tote bags. Exp. 11/15/09. I just used this code to order some of their gorgeous Aspire fabric. You’ll see what I’m using it for soon

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Mod Green Pod Now Carries Solid Organic Fabrics

I’ve been running into great deals on green nursery furnishings left and right. Maybe it’s a sign that my baby fever is turning into self-fulfilling prophecy. As much as I like that idea, right now it’s probably best that I stick to dreaming. Still, the great deals on this eco-friendly crib and high chair don’t help. The twin bed is equally as beautiful, so I’ll keep my eyes on that piece for the daughter I already have.

These prices wouldn’t exactly qualify as bargain basement, but as quality eco-friendly furniture goes, these are pretty good. It’s not uncommon to see this type of furniture priced in the thousands of dollars.

The high chair is available in pink or cherry.

Why It’s Green:

• The birch wood used in Argingnton’s furniture is harvested from sustainably managed forests
• All materials, glues, stains and finishes are 100% non-toxic and are low VOC

Price: $108.90-490 (down from $198-635)

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Green Steal of the Week: Argington Nursery & Kids Furniture

When I do small craft and design projects for my own home, I often wind up with small scraps of fabric, paper and other materials that I wind up throwing away or recycling despite my best intentions to find a use for them. Can you imagine how huge that pile of stuff would be if I were a practicing interior designer doing projects regularly?

Deana Bracken of Green With Glamour knows, and she did something about it. She began creating these cute framed silhouettes featuring a variety of salvaged, upcycled and/or non-toxic materials — mostly remnants from her interior design projects and samples and swatches that would otherwise be discarded. She also creates throw pillows from these materials — each with two fronts — so you can change your style just by flipping the pillow over.

As you can imagine, this means each piece Deana creates is one of a kind, so you can be as unique as you want to be. On the art, I love how the boldly patterned background papers and fabrics are paired with solid, striking silhouettes and painted frames. These are just my style — a little modern, a little glam, and a lot of green.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade in Los Angeles from salvaged and upcycled materials, including fabric and wallpaper castoffs
• Frames painted with no-VOC paints
• Pillow covers made with upcycled cotton fabrics and
• Pilows filled with 100% recycled plastic fiber

Price: $45-175
BONUS! Get 20% off at Green with Glamour with coupon code “POPUP20” through mid-November.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Making the Most of Every Scrap: Art & Pillows by Deana Bracken Design

So…you all know how much I love bird decor, right? If you do, it should be no surprise that I’m drooling over this birdhouse lamp by inke. I have every intention of painting a forest mural on the walls in my daughter’s room, inspired by this gorgeous nursery “before & after” over at Design Sponge. Can you just imagine how beautiful it would be to have this hanging on the wall amongst the trees?

In the main image, you can see it paired with the beautiful inke wallpaper tree I featured last year, made of vintage wallpaper. I’m seriously ready to go get a few pints of paint right now so I can get started on the mural.

The $300 price tag on this baby does give me a little pause, but I guess you have to pay if you want a birdhouse made of reclaimed French oak. It does, however, give me a goal for my next treasure hunt at the Habitat for Humanity Re:Store. I’ll be looking for an old birdhouse to turn into a lamp.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of salvaged French oak
• Compatible with CFLs

Made in: Leiden, the Netherlands

Price: $300

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

It’s For the Birds: Birdhouse Lamp by inke

Lately, I’ve been getting a little bored with my own decorating taste. As a graphic designer, I definitely find myself drawn to clean lines and symmetry, and I tend to design with 2 or 3 colors in a room, rarely deviating from that idea. It works, for sure, but sometimes, I wish I was a little more adventurous. Nothing crazy, but just more pattern and color in unexpected ways.

In this spirit, this Moroccan-inspired pouf from Viva Terra really caught my eye. It looks like a great place to relax when I don’t want to sit on the floor, or when my daughter is sitting for a marathon combing session for her head of beautiful, curly hair. In face, I can picture a few of these poufs together in a corner where I’d be able to read to my daughter or read to myself.

First, I’ll have to convince myself that they will “match” my decor. But that pushed me away from the reason I want to add them in the first place: because they don’t match. I’m going to drive myself crazy.I think I need a design intervention…

On a side note, I made a bold decorating decision today that will add a focal point to our otherwise bland living room. It will require some diligence to find what I’m looking for in a consignment shop, along with a little elbow grease, but I think the result will absolutely be worth it. I’ll share more on that project once I start getting all the elements together.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of silk

Price: $138 (aff)

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Make It Unexpected: Collage Pouf from Viva Terra

I’m always looking for ways to make recycling easier and nicer to look at. Apartment living means that we’ve had to get creative about where we place our recycle bags and bin so that they don’t become an eyesore. They currently reside behind the dining room table in a corner that is visible only from the back wall of that room. I would much prefer, however, a more modular solution that would look more like a part of our decor and less like an afterthought.

I’ve written about Way Basics and their cubes and furniture made of recycled paper before. But as much as I love zBoards and all the design possibilities they provide, the one thing they didn’t do well is hold weight. In other words, I couldn’t turn a Way Basics cube on its side and use it for storage, as the back wasn’t designed for that purpose. Way Basics’ newest product, Recycler 360, remedies that, with a sturdy modular box that locks together via notches, eliminating the need to connect the zBoards with adhesive. I can easily see three or four of these lined up against the back wall to contain our recyclables.

This would look like a design decision that was made intentionally as opposed to our current collection of functional but mismatched pieces. It’s also available in espresso, kraft (as in paper) and white. Not bad for a solution that costs $20 and is fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle.

The kraft paper option looks a bit too much like the moving boxes I’ve been trying to get rid of, but I love the espresso and white versions. And I can think of a hundred other uses for these fun little cubes. What would you use them for? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below.

On a side note, Way Basics was recently selected as a semi-finalist for the Inc. magazine’s Newpreneur of the Year award. A newpreneur is described as “a new breed of entrepreneurs who are using the recession as a catalyst to start a business or develop an idea.” I’m happy to see a green company being represented among the semi-finalists, and I’m definitely giving them my vote.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of post-consumer recycled paper
• Recyclable
• Way Basics is a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council

Price: $20

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Paper, Full Circle: Recycler 360 bins by Way Basics

I go to the extreme when I create my Green Rooms in a Box, insisting that every item included has some eco-friendly qualities whenever I can help it. Apparently, I’m not the only one who goes to these lengths to create green rooms.

At the ABC Kids Expo, the Greenguard Environmental Institute debuted a nursery decorated only with products certified by the organization as having minimal effect on indoor air quality. I know it’s just a trade show booth, but isn’t the result gorgeous? Click on the images to see larger versions.

The room with decorated with products from the following companies:

• Flooring: Anderson Hardwood Floors
• Furniture: QCollection Junior, Rubbermaid, Stanley Furniture, Teknion, Bernhardt Design and Herman Miller
• Mattress: Naturepedic
• Paints & Coatings: AkzoNobel and Sherwin Williams
• Textiles: Knoll
• Window Treatments: Eclipse Shutters

I told you guys I have babies on the brain. This. Does. Not. Help.

Have an eco-friendly finished room design you want to share? Submit photos of the finished room along with some details about what makes the room eco-friendly for a chance to be featured at Green Your Decor. Feel free to pass the word along to anyone you know who might have a room to share!

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Eco on Display: Greenguard Nursery Decorated with Indoor Air in Mind

Every time I throw a glass bottle into the recycling bin, I have the nagging thought that with just a little creativity, I could turn those bottles into something I’d really like to put on display. Unfortunately, that nagging feeling never turned into action — at least not for me. Clearly Etsy seller Tara Ackerman of GreenCycleDesigns has more initiative than I do on most days.

Tara turns used glass bottles and secondhand vases into works of art with nothing but some paint, recycled paper and a bit of imagination. She covers the vases and bottles, often with simple repeating patterns like circles or fleur de lis. The shapes may be simple, but the results are stunning.

Makes me want to head to Hobby Lobby right now for a jar of Mod Podge.

Why It’s Green:

• Bottles and vases are upcycled and reclaimed
• Finished with non-toxic paints and adhesives and recycled paper
• Handmade

Price: $10-25

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

More than Just a Bottle: GreenCycleDesigns Upcycled Vases

I’m coming down with a serious case of baby fever. Perhaps its the fact that we finally have enough room to welcome a new addition to our family, or the fact that it’s been a few years since I held an infant in my arms and I want my daughter to have a sibling in the household, or that so many of my friends, both in the bloggy world and the real world, are either pregnant or new moms. Most of all, it’s probably the lure of a new nursery to decorate. In any case, I’m getting a serious itch to have a new baby. I’m not the only one. My friend Renee over at Cutie Booty Cakes wrote about the same thing yesterday. These feelings, of course, have led to my imagining what my baby’s gorgeous, green nursery would look like.  The new Eicho and Roh nursery furniture collections from Spot on Square are making my itch exponentially worse.

The Eicho collection includes a minimal crib and changing table, and they are both reasonably priced and eco-friendly, which can sometimes be a tough combination to find. There is, of course, some sacrifice involved. Rather than hardwood, these pieces are made of MDF, albeit made of 100% recycled/reclaimed, formaldehyde-free MDF. Still, I think it’s a great value for parents and parents-to-be who want an environmentally-friendly nursery but who aren’t in the position to drop 4+ figures on a crib alone.

The Roh collection is drop-dead gorgeous, but definitely for the more well-off among us unless you’ve done a whole lot of saving in preparation for your little one. Along with a frame made of beautiful locally-sourced Walnut, the side panels of the Roh crib are made of BPA free, phthalate free, recyclable acrylic, making for a contemporary, but timeless look that any parent will be able to appreciate. The crib is available with just one side or both sides made of acrylic, and the ends are available in gray or white. The dresser with available changing tray are equally as fabulous. I’m drooling right now.

Soooo…now I just have to convince the hubby that it’s time for a new baby, and figure out in advance how we’d explain it to our 4-year-old.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of sustainable materials, including 100% recycled/reclaimed, formaldehyde-free MDF, locally sourced walnut and BPA-free, phthalate-free, recyclable acrylic
• Made in the U.S.

Price: $310-1990. Use coupon code “”HLWN10” to get 10% off through 10/31/09.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Nursery Eye Candy = Baby Fever: Eicho & Roh Collections by Spot on Square

Now that I have a whole apartment to decorate, I’ve begun to notice a trend. I never finish one room before trying to move on to the next. The furniture is mostly there (except for the living room, thanks to a move-in mishap), and I’ve even put up window treatments. But none of the rooms feel “finished.”

What’s missing is those beautiful little details that give a room personality. The decorative touches that that it from a room full of stuff to a well-designed space. Amenity’s brand new Arroyo collection is filled with those touches.

It includes square napkin rings that double as placeholders when you’re entertaining, blocky candleholders and soy pillar candles to go inside them, two beautiful tray styles, salt and pepper shakers and a salt and pepper block. The clean, geometric lines are right up my alley, and in my own dining room, the dark tones of the walnut would be a beautiful contrast to my blonde wood dining table. And even though I rarely entertain, I’m thinking about how much fun I could have with those placeholders during Christmas dinner with my family.

They’d also make some pretty awesome gifts for your favorite decor-loving hostess (or host). I’ve always been a fan of Amenity, but whenever they add new beautiful pieces like these to their repertoire, my love for the company soars even higher.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of FSC-certified Walnut
• Handmade in Los Angeles
• Amenity is committed to making environmentally-friendly products

Price: $12-65. Get 20% off ALL items in the Amenity store with coupon code “fall20.” Exp. 11/15/09.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

It’s in the Details: Arroyo Collection by Amenity

My family recently moved into an apartment in an older building that comes with a lot of quirks. The water running from our faucets turns brown on days with a lot of rain, and no matter what we do to get rid of them, we find at least a few occasional spiders and bugs. We can’t do much about these issues, but there were some changes we knew we wanted to make. Among them: Installing a low-flow, handheld showerhead.

The Earth Massage Handheld Chrome Showerhead by Niagara Conservation operates at just 1.5 gallons per minute, which really adds up when you consider the fact that many showerheads spit out water at 2.5 gallons per minute or more. When they contacted me, I couldn’t wait to review it. We can’t see or feel the difference, which is a good thing. In fact, the water pressure is better than it was with our previous showerhead, and we are showering just as effectively now as we were before we made the switch. Knowing that we’re conserving water without any extra effort is a great feeling, and to maximize those savings, we try to keep our showers as short as possible. One of the upsides of living in an older building is that the water gets hot immediately, so there’s no water waste while we wait for the water to warm up.

My favorite feature, by far, is the 72″, tangle-free hose, which makes bathing my 4-year-old a whole lot easier. As I mentioned, we live in an older building, and the surface of the tub shows its age. I’m not really comfortable letting her sit on the uneven surface for a bath, so I turn on the shower and hand her the showerhead, making the experience much more interactive for her and a heck of a lot easier for me.

I do wish that the showerhead came with a few more spray settings. It comes with just 2 settings, although you can moderate the water pressure one of the two settings by rotating the edge of the head. I use the highest settings when I need a hot, massaging shower, and lower pressure when bathing mini me, as she’s not fond of the sensations of dozens of streams of water pounding her sensitive skin.

Overall, I’m thrilled to know that we have a stylish, quality showerhead that is saving us water and energy, even if we don’t have to pay a separate water bill (it’s included in our rent).

Why It’s Green:

• Uses a low 1.5 gallons per minute, which can save thousands of gallons of water a year compared to traditional shower heads
• Can save up to 40% more energy than traditional shower heads

Price: $29.99

(review)

Want to win?

Three lucky readers will win their own Earth Massage Handheld Chrome Showerhead! So how do you win? Visit Niagara Conservation site, then come back here and leave a comment about something you liked or learned. It could be a product or something you learned about the company. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, to enter.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. From now on, subscribers will no longer be entered automatically. This will help me avoid choosing a winner who is a subscriber, but who doesn’t necessarily want a specific prize. If you are an email subscriber and you want to be entered, please leave a comment saying that you are an email subscriber and interested in this giveaway. Subscribers will not be entered automatically. You must leave a comment saying that you are a subscriber in order to enter.
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise. This will let me know that you want to be entered in this giveaway.
3. Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
4. Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.
5. Fave Green Your Decor on Technorati. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Technorati user name so I can verify it.
6. Follow Green Your Decor on Twitter. Then tweet about GYD or this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, to enter. U.S. mailing addresses only! A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Save a Gallon or 10: Earth Massage Handheld Showerhead (+Giveaway)

Photo by mohairpink

After my recent move into an apartment, I wondered what tips other interior designers and green experts had about what renters can do to make their homes as eco-friendly as possible without ticking off their landlords. in this series, I’ll be offering up some of the best suggestions. This final post has been a while coming thanks to the flu, but today, I’ll offer up some of my own favorite tips, including how to create a beautiful, eco-friendly space on a renter’s budget.

Get Your Recycle On

Unless you’re renting a house, chances are you don’t have access to curbside recycling.  The recycling program where we live is actually pretty robust, but as apartment dwellers, there’s no curb on which to leave our paper and plastic. But that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on recycling. It just means we have to be a little creative. Many communities have recycling centers or public access bins where you can drop off common recyclables like paper, #1 and #2 plastics, glass and metal. Visit websites like Earth911 to find out about recycling in your area, then do it.

Even in a space-challenged rental, it’s not difficult to find room for a recycling bin or two. We use two collapsible recycling bags (also made of recycled materials) for our paper, as well as an old unused plastic bin. They’re tucked away in a corner behind the dining table where they’re easy to access, but not in the way. It’s also pretty convenient that we can’t see them from anywhere else in the apartment. It’s not the ideal solution, but it works, and we’re not throwing away perfectly good recyclable materials.

Set Up a Compost System

I admit I’ve got some work to do in this department myself, but composting isn’t out of the question just because you rent. It may be impossible to set up an outdoor compost pile, but lots of companies these days are making bins that allow odor-free indoor composting, with or without the use of worms. And if you have a deck or other outdoor space, you still can get a small outdoor bin. Either way, you’ll be putting your food scraps to good use and turning them back into fertile soil that you can use to keep your potted herbs or houseplants happy and healthy.

Decorate with the Earth in Mind

If you’re lucky enough to be moving into your first rental, you’ll probably be shopping for several rooms worth of furniture. Given that daunting (or exciting!) task, it can be tempting to buy the cheapest items you can find. While budget can definitely be a factor for renters, when you can, I’m definitely a proponent of investing in quality, sustainably-made furniture that will last.  Besides, you just spent all that time seeking out green cleaning products and rugs made of natural fibers to help improve your indoor air quality. Do you really want to turn around and ruin it with furniture made with formaldehyde and toxic glues, adhesives, sealers and paint?

Here are some tips for finding eco-friendly furniture and decor:

• Stick to solid wood instead of wood composites, which are often made with formaldehyde and toxic adhesives
• Look for furniture made of FSC-certified or reclaimed wood, which will have minimal impact on the environment. Bamboo is great too, but try to find out if it was grown without pesticides. Designer and retailer Bobby Berk recommends the Lax Collection, shown above, for apartment settings. “The LAX wall mounted headboard has storage in it, so you don’t need night stands, which we here in NYC rarely have space for,” Berk said.
• For upholstery and textiles like window treatments, stick to natural materials like organic cotton, linen, eco-silk and hemp. Bamboo and soy have some environmental benefits, but the process of turning them into fabrics is questionable, so look to those options as a last resort. If you don’t have chemical sensitivities, you can also consider fabrics made of recycled materials like nylon and polyester, or even recycled cotton.
• New, eco-friendly furniture can definitely get pricey. If budget is an issue, shop consignment stores, yard sales and estate sales for quality secondhand furniture at a fraction of the cost of buying new. Used furniture has likely done all of its offgassing, and buying used helps reduce the need for virgin materials and saves the pieces you buy from ending up in the landfill. Craigslist is a great place to start if there is a page for your city or one nearby. And if you need inspiration for turning found furniture into a masterpiece worthy of your style and taste, check out the before and after sections of sites like Design Sponge. Definitely inspirational!

Photo from DesignSponge

• Need artwork? If you can afford a few gallons of paint, use it to create a large-scale pattern or mural on the wall. Try stripes, circles, branches, leaves or other nature-inspired shapes. Paint is an inexpensive change, and all you’ll need is a few rolls of painter’s tape and some inspiration. I’m going to attempt to recreate the forest mural shown above in my daughter’s room.
• Support local artisans. Try to find locally made furniture, which is often less expensive than pieces that have been transported halfway around the world, and thus have a much smaller carbon footprint. At the very least, look for pieces that were made in the U.S. You can also support the work of local artists and craft-makers when looking for all the decorative details that will make your house (or apartment) a home.
• Shop for unfinished wood furniture, then finish it with your choice of eco-friendly, no- or low-VOC paint or stain.
• Think creatively and make it yourself. With a little brain power and some elbow grease, you can turn a wooden craft frame and some fabric into an upholstered headboard, or a few pre-cut pieces of plywood into a platform bed. Building your own furniture may seem daunting, but great tutorials are available online, and you can always enlist the help of friends and family members. Design Sponge also has a great DIY section, and two of my favorite bloggers, Sherry and John Petersik of Young House Love, are avid DIYers who love to share their experience. “I love the magazine ReadyMade,” said Kristen Banker of Modern Eco Homes. “They have amazing DIY ideas for recycling furniture and reusing what you already have (or what you’ve just picked up on the curb). One of my favorites: box seats.” The seats serve as wall art when not in use, and as side tables/sitting stools when you have company and need extra seating.
• Look for decor made of recycled and sustainable materials, like dishes made of recycled glass,

Those are just some of my favorite ideas. There are many, many ways to make your space as green as can be. Renters, what tips do you have for making your space more environmentally friendly? Please, share your tips in the comments below. Our collective wisdom will change the world! If you enjoyed this series on making your rental greener, subscribe to Green Your Decor via RSS or email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any other great content!

Other posts in this series:

• Pt. 1.: Start with Changes You Can Make
• Pt. 2: Watch What You Bring Into Your Home

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Green Your Rental Pt. 3: Recycle, Compost and Decorate