Sustainable Furniture

According to various interior decorators and designers, the current fad for any household or business, is that of the use of more earthly, warm as well as natural colors. Now they say warm earthy colors, however they do not specify the use of natural materials.

So let’s go a little deeper into this latest fashion trend for your household or business, interior decorating needs. First off, one must think GREEN. What I mean by this is that you should use sustainable furniture. Sustainable furniture is that which was created without the use of any carbon-based materials. This includes but is not limited to items such as, solid wood or bamboo tables and chairs, furniture, shelving and flooring; sustainable options can be made out of recycled materials as well as the use of materials that have not been pillaged from Mother Nature.

This does not mean that you cannot use mahogany, as are several large plantations throughout the Asian continent actually have planted specialized growing farms of mahogany trees. When it comes to flooring there are several alternative options, why not use more natural looking tile that is composed of an energy-efficient and possibly recycled material to help give your home that warm feeling it needs.

The use of recycled materials for furniture is not a new idea. For the last 20 years throughout the United States, companies have been reclaiming the timber that is used to build the various barns that can be found throughout the country. The companies will go out and place a bid on a barn that is destined to be torn down; they then go through the effort of removing all the nails and bolts, then re-milling the timber into a usable piece of wood. From this piece of work, they can make things like shelving, fireplace mantles and even tables.

This of course, is only one example of the many different forms in which one can get sustainable furniture. Other forms may also include purchasing items from consignment shops, purchasing from antique shops, or even just going out for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon stroll and visiting the various garage sales and yard sales throughout the neighborhoods of the community you live in.

Every time you make a purchase of an item that has been recycled and is sold through a local retailer, you are contributing not only to your local resources, but you are also adding to the sustainability of your local market. By purchasing these recycled or consigned items, you are keeping our landfills free of items that another person can actually use.

By utilizing this style of furniture for your home, you are putting forth an effort to help sustain our economy for the future generations. Since the purchasing of a recycled or consigned piece of furniture, uses no more additional resources to create, you are helping the environment. In more ways than one can imagine.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the biggest trend was to spend as much money as you could possibly spend so that you can have something better than your neighbor. Nowadays though, the trend is to get as much as you can at the best value that you can get it. So let’s help keep our planet Green, and think about purchasing sustainable furniture for your home, instead of the balky and flimsy particleboard assemble yourself home furniture.

Carie Cave is co-owner of EarthFriendlyGoods.com, a website that features all things hemp, organic, and natural. Ms. Cave’s passion for green living was inspired by her father’s terminal illness and evolved into her offering sustainable, recycled, and eco-conscious products. She is committed to sharing her knowledge and experience with others through her company. For more information please subscribe to the Earth Friendly Goods newsletter.

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