Paint is one of the most important components in any interior design project. Painting a wall will impact the design in an enormous way. Most paints contain chemicals that are extremely harmful to the environment. These chemicals are breathed in by people, which can result in severe health problems. Improper disposal of the paint container can also cause these chemicals to leak out into the earth, harming both the surface and the air content of the earth.

Choosing the perfect eco-friendly paint has become a very easy task. Several companies such as AFM Safecoat, Anna Sova, Eco Specs by Benjamin Moore, Bioshield and Green Planet offer interior designers a wide variety of colors to choose from. The majority of these paints offer low or no volatile organic compounds. These are chemicals that have proven to be extremely harmful for the environment. Some companies choose to create paints that contain clay or other natural materials. Because these paints contain no harmful chemicals, they are typically odorless. Eco-Friendly paints are also a great choice for pregnant women who want to paint or select a color for their nursery. These paints are not only beautiful to look at, but they provide the same quality of paint job as other leading brands.

Wood is another very common component in interior design. Wood products are used for flooring, shelving, furniture, and other decorative pieces. Wood flooring is often looked at as a valuable and luxurious item to have. Wood flooring increases the value and appearance of a home. Wood floors that contain maple and oak take several years to make. Each of these trees takes hundreds of years to grow and fully mature. This is looked at as an un-economical style of floor. More green designers are turning to bamboo and cork to fulfill their flooring needs. Bamboo takes around five years to fully mature. After five years, a floor maker is able to harvest the bamboo and cut it into long, thin strips for flooring. Due to the short period of time it takes for bamboo to grow, this is considered a very green product. We do not need to wait hundreds of years for more bamboo to grow, thus it will never be a scarce product. Bamboo flooring is beautiful and just as strong as an oak floor. Cork flooring is an extremely eco-friendly wood product. Cork flooring is produced by removing a thin layer of the bark on maple trees. This layer will continually regenerate itself, which means that the tree will still live even after the harvesting process. Cork is a beautiful and soft flooring option. It is very comfortable to walk on and has a good durability factor.

Wood furniture does not have to be maple or oak either. Rubber wood has been an increasingly popular option for furniture. Rubber trees are used to produce latex. These trees can produce latex for up to twenty five years. When the trees stop producing the product, they would be cut down and burned. Rubber wood, also know as Parawood, is an eco-friendly wood because no part of the tree goes to waste during its life cycle. The tree will continue to produce product during its entire life span and then be used as furniture when it dies. Parawood has been used for several years to construct high end furniture in Thailand.

Another green solution for interior furniture is reusing the furniture that you already have. Simply restore the furniture by applying an eco-friendly friendly fabric cover over the cushion. Consider purchasing an organic cushioning product to re-stuff the couch or chairs before covering. Stopping at a used furniture store or a thrift store will also allow you to recycle furniture for your home. You can always find someone else’s old furniture set for your home.

Lighting your home can also be a very green choice. Using Energy Star, Solar, or LED lights allows you to light up your home, with less dependability on the environment. By switching over to eco-friendly lighting in your home, you are able to reduce your electric bill by up to ten percent a month.

By taking all of these green steps when completing your interior design project, you are able to create a beautiful and environmentally friendly atmosphere inside of your home.