Whether you have
installed solar panels on the top of your roof or are still wondering what a
compost pile is, we can all admit that there are some ways in which we can make
our homes more green. From the extreme to the essential, homeowners may not be
sure what they can do to infuse a little earth-friendly decorating into their
home. Since it will take all of us to create a world where recycling and
alternate energy-sources abound, the best place to start is in the home.

One Rug At a
Time: Out With the Old, In With the New

It may seem simple
but exchanging one not green rug in your house at a time can be the first step
in making your home eco-chic. When your area rug, indoor-outdoor patio rug, or
downstairs entryway runner begin to look a little bare- don’t run for the
cheapest replacement. Instead, consider replacing it with a recycled neon area
rug. A little more costly than your run-of-the-mill off the rack varieties,
these rugs can literally save hundreds of units of energy per square foot.

Earth friendly carpet companies like Shaw are offering customers the opportunity to blend their favorite
brands, textures and colors with their exclusive nylon varieties. Whether you
re-carpet your whole house or just replace some of your chemical-clad rugs with
this type- you won’t see any difference in quality or appearance. The
technology is getting so good now, that designers can’t even tell the
difference between earth-friendly and unfriendly carpets and rugs.

Bedazzle With
Bamboo

If you love
interior trinkets it can be hard to pass up the sparkly bowl of fruit or the
environmentally unsound veneer of those cheap candlestick holders- but you can
always decorate end tables, oak dining tables, and oak coffee tables with sticks of
bamboo. Synonymous with eco-chic decorating, this plant is not only visually
stimulating but it also a poster child for green interiors.

Cut a few long
sticks and place them in recycled Mason jars or hurricane glass from your local
antique store; fill halfway with water. This seemingly simple centerpiece makes
a statement of fresh beauty and can awaken any dull space. Forget silk flowers
and polluting scented candles- instead look to nature’s best accessory and fill
up on your fair share of bamboo.  

Tin Lampshades
and Soy Candles: Low Environmental Impact

It is kind of a
scary thought, but every single one of us has items in our home that have the
potential to harm the environment. Something as simple as throwing away a
less-green lampshade and replacing it with a tin lampshade can do the trick.
The same goes for candle lovers. It can be a costly endeavor to fall in love
with scented balls of wax- and replacing them with soy varieties are not going
to cut the cost of it either.

However, the air
quality in your home can be greatly affected by the fumes of candles that have
been filled with additives and unnatural scents. A simple switch of these two
lighting elements can cut down on environmental impact, and keep your home
safer for your family and loved ones. No matter what simple step you choose to
take first, it doesn’t take much to turn your home more eco-chic every month.