As the effects of climate change become undeniable, a growing number of households have sought to reduce their carbon footprints. While nearly every area of a modern-day home could stand to be more eco-friendly, bedrooms should receive a fair amount of focus in light of how much time is typically spent in them. Fortunately, getting the eco-friendly bedroom of your dreams doesn’t have to be costly, strenuous or time-consuming. If a conservation-conscious bedroom is what you seek, put the following pointers to good use.
Invest in Organic Bedding
Your bed is the undeniable star of the bedroom. Sure, you may watch TV, surf the web and engage in other leisure activities in this space, but when most people think about bedrooms, sleep is generally the first thing to come to mind. Fortunately, getting a guilt-free goodnight’s sleep has become easier than ever. For starters, a dependable organic mattress base is a comfortable, cost-effective alternative to traditional bed frames. Additionally, once you’ve gotten your hands on a good base, make sure to complement it with a good organic mattress, as well as sheets and comforters made from organic cotton.
Temperature-Blocking Window Coverings
Most of us love to feel nice and toasty during the overnight hours. However, if you live in an area that’s prone to harsh winter weather, staying warm throughout the night may be easier said than done. When faced with chilly temperatures, many of us won’t hesitate to turn up the thermostat. While this is often effective against cold, it isn’t exactly good for the environment, and it can also result in costly heating bills during the winter months. With this in mind, consider investing in temperature-blocking window coverings for your bedroom. As the name suggests, these coverings are designed to prevent cold temperatures from entering your bedroom through the windows. In addition to being easy to install, these coverings are affordable on virtually any budget.
By the same token, you may also want to look into energy-efficient windows for your bedroom. These windows are much thicker than traditional windows and therefore better equipped to prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering. Furthermore, during the summer months, energy-efficient windows can prove effective at keeping cool air from escaping and warm air from entering, thereby saving you a small fortune on air conditioning costs.
Opt for Non-Toxic Paints
When the time comes to slap a new coat of paint on your bedroom walls, you’d be wise to opt for a non-toxic variety. Many traditional paints contain a bevy of harmful chemicals that can prove damaging to both the environment and your long-term health. Prolonged exposure to certain paint chemicals can cause allergies to act up and contribute to respiratory issues. Instead of surrounding yourself with walls that are rife with carcinogens, look into non-toxic alternatives the next time your bedroom finds itself in need of new paint. While non-toxic paints can be a little pricier than traditional ones, your personal safety is well worth the additional cost.
Install Eco-Conscious Flooring
There are numerous benefits to ditching traditional carpeting in favor of eco-conscious varieties of flooring. For starters, most types of carpeting contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and irritating to skin. Since most of us won’t hesitate to walk barefoot on bedroom carpeting, the risk of exposure is very high. Furthermore, dust and dander have a tendency to get stuck between carpet fibers, which can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions. On the flipside, hardwood and bamboo flooring are nontoxic, longer-lasting and easier to clean. Additionally, since they don’t trap dust or dander, they generally don’t need to be cleaned as often as carpeted surfaces.
Over the last decade, eco-consciousness has been adopted by a growing number of households and enterprises. With climate change impacting people all over the world, there’s little wonder as to why eco-friendliness has caught on in such a big way. However, this isn’t to say that reducing your carbon footprint has to be difficult or financially strenuous. The adage “Changes starts at home” rings particularly true when it comes to conservation, and when looking for ways to go green, many of us can start by making minor adjustments to our own bedrooms.
