SUSTAINABLE HOME DECOR EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET CHOOSY ABOUT WHAT YOU BRING INTO YOUR HOME.
BEDDING, LINENS & THROWS Look for natural fabrics, like 100 percent cotton, linen, wool or hemp. What to avoid: polyester and other synthetic fabrics, which shed tiny microplastics that end up in oceans and waterways.
FURNISHINGS Reclaimed wood is beautiful and certainly on trend. For upholstered pieces, look for kiln-dried wood framing with certification from a trusted entity, like the Forest Stewardship Council. Something old helps break up the matchy-matchy newness in a space: consider a previously-loved vintage piece. If you find pre-owned dressers and desks made of real wood, look for dovetail joinery and snag that highquality piece.
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PLANTS ARE DECOR They’re more than pretty: they are aircleaning machines for improving your indoor air quality. Ferns, spider plants, succulents…indoor plants repay you for their care and tending, in that they dramatically lower the amounts of formaldehyde, benzyne and other pollutants.
DRESS THE WALLS Buy art locally. It’s much more special when it’s not mass produced, and the artist might be your neighbor. Wicker baskets on walls: we’re seeing this trend just about every-
where. Same for throwback 70’s macrame wall hangings — look for ones made without polyester fibers.
RUGS A 100-percent wool rug will not let you down. Other materials that are gentler on the environment: jute, hemp, cotton and sisal.
PAINT If you’re of a certain age, you remember the smell of paint so strong, it induced lightheadedness — not good for anyone. Look for Zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint that’s a better bet for living things.
