Creating an eco-friendly bedroom is all about skipping those harmful materials that can jeopardize the planet’s and your own well-being. To adopt green living, you must begin from the place where you spend most of your time. You breathe in and lie on many things that may seem cozy. They can be toxic, however, so it is vital that your surroundings are not just comfortable but eco-friendly as well.
Sustainable living is all about using the best of what you have, repurposing and reusing things, and recycling and rehoming whatever undesirable or unnecessary stuff you want to purge from your room. There are many aspects to look at when adopting this lifestyle, from the materials used in the bedding to the overall environment.
These tips are a starter’s guide to creating an eco-friendly bedroom. They’ll give you some tricks to simplify and detoxify your life-style and kick-start your green living once and for all.
1. Use Organic Pillows
Detoxifying your room by switching to organic pillows is a really good way to start your eco-friendly endeavor. Mattresses as well as pillows can contain toxic substances like polyurethane. The worst problem with these substances is that they start off-gassing, and with your nose resting closest to the pillow, these harmful chemicals enter your system every night.
Starting a healthy, eco-friendly lifestyle means to reduce our carbon footprint and switching to environmentally friendly pillows made with natural materials. A good latex pillow is a great choice. Another good substitute is to get wool pillows from a trusted eco-friendly bedding company.
And not just going organic but keeping your pillows cleaner can make a great impact. Dust mites, dead skin, and facial oils can build up a lot of bacteria, giving you bad allergies and skin problems like eczema. Switching to an organic pillow and keeping it clean and disinfected with a natural disinfectant will make a big difference to your system and to planet Earth.
2. Change the Mattress
The dangerous substances like polyurethane and toxic flame retardants that mattresses typically contain have been linked to hormonal disruptions, respiratory issues and cancer.
While the amounts of chemicals that mattresses off-gas increase health risks to adults over time, babies and children who spend about 14 hours sleeping on these beds are more prone to feeling hazardous health consequences more acutely because of their smaller size.
Therefore ridding your bed of a non-organic mattress and replacing it with a sustainable alternative is a great way to start.
When getting an eco-friendly mattress, you should look for Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification to avoid petroleum-based polyurethane, flame retardants, chemical adhesives and pesticides. Also, make sure to responsibly dispose of your old mattress.
Mattresses made with materials like 100% latex, pesticide-free cotton, wool, hemp, bamboo and food-grade polyethylene have proven to be great eco-friendly options for many consumers.
Though the cost may be slightly higher, let’s not forget health is the real wealth! For more about the benefits of an organic mattress, check out our detailed article on Why You Should Switch to an Organic Mattress.
3. Incorporate Natural Fabrics
We live in a more informed time where what we know that what we wear and what we choose to sleep on makes a difference to our well-being. On the surface the things we use, such as synthetic fibers in bedding, may seem inexpensive and durable, but they are actually leaving a strong negative impact on us.
This is why many bedding companies have started to introduce more sustainable, chemical-free natural fibers. Ordinary cotton sheets may contain lots of chemicals so switching to pesticide-free cotton or 100% linen sheets will keep your health in check. Also washing these every two weeks and disinfecting your sheets with a tea-tree oil-based solution will remove bacteria.
The natural fiber philosophy also applies to your comforters and duvet.
4. Introduce Plants To Your Bedroom
If you are a frequent Instagrammer, you must have seen the latest trends on indoor plants and their benefits. Plants in the bedroom will help you in two ways. First, they help clean up the air by absorbing the pollutants and gasses emitted from any toxic substance. Secondly, they create a fragrant and relaxing environment to sleep in.
Orchids and snake plants are ideal to have by your bedside because these release oxygen during the night time, instead of carbon dioxide, as other plants do.
5. Declutter and Recycle
When being minimalist and more eco-friendly, getting rid of anything that is taking up necessary space in your bedroom is important.
Decluttering your cupboards and drawers of pens and papers and donating extra toys or clothes to a local shelter is a good start. Freeing up all that space is also like freeing up your mind of worries because extra stuff is always a burden.
Try to remove as much of the extra as you can, but don’t waste anything. If you have any old-T shirts, convert those into cushions. Take up a DIY project, make yourself a headboard of eco-friendly materials or knit some pillow covers with wool for yourself. Redecorate and redefine your bedroom with that eco-friendly lifestyle you are aiming for.
6. Don’t Use Any Chemical Fragrances In The Bedroom
Using chemicals will create another hazard for your health and your environment. The air fresheners that we often use contain artificial fragrances and toxins that stay in the air for a long time. So skipping these and creating your own natural air fresheners with essential oils will be a great alternative. These are much cheaper in cost too.
Speaking of fragrances, did you know that scented candles can be harmful too? The problem with scented candles is that they disperse toxic chemicals with the smoke. These, combined with other air fresheners, can lead to dermatitis, migraines and respiratory issues. If you cannot skip scented candles, it’s better to keep your windows open. But if you have an enclosed space, it’s best to avoid these.
7. Don’t Waste Electricity
Using eco-friendly lights in your bedroom will have an impact on your carbon footprint because these are energy efficient and have fewer harmful UVA and UVC rays. Replace all your lights with LED light bulbs. Avoid compact fluorescent lighting and mercury bulbs that emit a high grade of UVA and UVC rays.
Remove any appliances that are unnecessary in the room or turn them off when leaving your home or going to sleep. Don’t leave your phone or laptop charging at night.
You can create a more eco-friendly bedroom by making small changes, one thing at a time, while keeping your budget and resources in mind. Start with little things, save for bigger ones, and recycle whatever is extra. If you’re not sure where to purchase sustainable products, visit our guide to Sustainable Home Décor & Accessories for some inspiration.
As you decorate and renovate, always keep in mind that green living has to start with a responsible and caring attitude towards the planet and ourselves.
Feature image: Tan Danh; Image 1: Drew Beamer
