GREEN PRODUCTS: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS WITHOUT SPENDING A FORTUNE

 

There are many ways to be eco-friendly when staging a home. And believe it or not, they don’t always involve spending more money than you would on regular products, or any money for that matter. And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you do one thing and one thing only, it’s still helping the environment. And finally, don't forget that you are staging and not decorating, which helps you budget as well. And yes, there is a difference between the two.
Here are my top tips for staging in an eco-friendly way.

• Reuse Items You Own.                                                                                                  Some items in your home way just need an update. Do you have mismatched furniture? Paint them all the same color to unify them. Have your sofas seen better days? Add some slipcovers. Do your dining room chair cushions have stains? Consider recovering just the fabric portions. See Window Treatments in this blog for ideas on how to get inexpensive fabric).                                                                                                                                                 
  
  

  Remember the Cottonelle toilet paper covers they were giving away with proof of purchase of their TP? I turned mine into a tissue holder that matched my color scheme. 

  Copyright 2011 by Kristen DiNobile                                                                                                                                   


• Repurpose Pieces You Have.
  Think about how you can use what you have in a new way. For example, if you have a tall, narrow bookcase that is no longer useful to you, consider turning it on its sides, add a cushion or throw pillows and you’ve got a bench for your entry or wherever else you may need one. The shelves, now vertical, act as dividers for storage.

 

This started out as a plain white shade. With some leftover paint and some masking tape, it got a whole new look.

Copyright 2011 by Kristen DiNobile 

• Purchase Used Items.
  Shop at garage sales, the Salvation Army, or at the homes of family and friends. Any time you can save something from being throw into the dumpster, you are doing something eco-friendly.


• Buy eco-friendly products.
  Many retailers sell items that were made with earth-friendly materials or environmentally friendly ways. If you buy anything wood, make sure it was made from forests certified by FSC. When painting, use those with low or no-VOC.

Seventh Generation is just one company that offers eco-friendly products.

Copyright 2010 by Elizabeth/Table4Five

•  Dispose of items properly.
  When you stage in an eco-friendly way, it’s also about what you do. If you are throwing things away, make sure you are doing so in an appropriate way. For example, don’t throw paint cans in with the regular trash. If you are unsure, visit Earth 911. Enter the product you need to throw away, along with your zip code, and you will receive a list of places that will accept your items.

This is just a sampling of ideas. There is so much more I’d love to share you with. But I hope you can at least take away an idea or two from here or use something I’ve said to spur an idea of your own. Staging in an eco-friendly manner does not have to be difficult.