Living room REFRESH!
Try these small changes to give your home a toxin-free makeover
The living room is often the hub of a home. It’s where we gather, read, watch films and rest. And if your home has a dining room, it likely plays host to family dinners and brunches with friends. In short, we spend most of our waking hours in these rooms, and making them as non-toxic as possible will only make that time more enjoyable.
TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF
So much of the dirt that we track into our homes can be eliminated by one simple act: removing your shoes at the door. Make a space in your entry area for storing shoes, and keep a pair of slippers handy so you won’t be tempted to tramp your germ-covered soles over freshly washed floors. Not only will you have to tidy up less often, but your home will feel cosier and cleaner, too.
GO GREEN
Adding plants is the easiest change to make, and one that will serve to make your space more inviting in addition to making the air more breathable. Just as the furniture and shelving in your house requires dusting, so do your plants. Use a damp cloth to gently wipe the dust off each leaf as often as needed.
CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING
Take a look at your cleaning supplies, eliminate the most chemical-laden ones – think furniture polish, odour eliminators and spot removers – and concoct your own non-toxic solutions for cleaning upholstery and polishing furniture. Safe and sustainable basics include vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, olive oil, cornflour and lemon juice.
NATURAL TABLE CENTREPIECES
Creating table centrepieces from all natural materials is another sustainable practice to adopt, and decorating with cut flowers can bring colour, fragrance and a sense of joy to a space (especially if you do so as sustainably as possible). Rather than accumulating unnecessary knick-knacks, or using disposable decor for special occasions, use things you have on hand, or natural toxin-free items in unexpected ways. Bowls of fruit can add colour and freshness to your table. For a long dining room table, a branch or piece of driftwood can make a lovely attraction. Your favourite books can also make visually interesting and curiositysparking table centrepieces.
FLOWER POWER
Cut flowers are a wonderful way to brighten up a room with colour. But as beautiful as flowers are, the industry that produces them causes some major environmental issues. Cut flowers are often grown and preserved with toxic pesticides, and packaged in plastic. However, there are sustainable ways to enjoy cut flowers. Shop for flowers that are local and seasonal to your area, and grown without the use of toxic pesticides. Also, support shops that wrap their bouquets in recyclable paper.
THE BIG PICTURE
There are lots of bigger elements to consider as well: from the paint on the walls to the materials your furniture is made from. Look for solid wood furniture, and opt for upholstered pieces filled with natural wool or organic cotton. You can also reduce waste by buying vintage furniture.